Indiana Native's Family Celebrates Win

Ryan Joseph Newman was born in South Bend, Indiana. He might not have a “ride” next year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. However, that did not stop him and his young family from enjoying his victory in the Crown Royal Presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at The Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com.

Fifteen-year-old Thornton stays focused

Fifteen-year-old series rookie Giles Thornton had a career-best fourth-place finish in the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Colorado National Speedway on July 27, 2013.

Fifteen-year-old NASCAR K&N Pro Series West series rookie, Giles Thornton
(http://gilesthorntonracing.com)

In April Giles stated, “I am excited about racing in the full 2013, K&N West Pro Racing Series along with a few selected super late model events. Staying focused consistently and being surrounded with positive role models like Thorne, Crawford, and Sharpe as well as the rest of my team, will be the key to a successful season.”

The Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 will air on SPEED on Aug. 1 at 3 p.m. ET.

The next event on the series schedule is the Pork Be Inspired 150 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa on Friday, Aug. 2.

Click here for Giles Thornton’s Facebook 

Click here for Giles Thornton’s Twitter

NASCAR-Doing my laundry!

I can hear you all now, “so what does doing your laundry have to do with NASCAR!?!”

Well, NASCAR Race Mom was invited by Crown Royal to attend their big race* at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

NRM has to get her laundry done before packing. I will be traveling tomorrow to attend the ‘Crown Royal Presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com’ this weekend as a participant in the ‘Capture the Crown’ scavenger hunt!

Photo of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(via http://manjr.com/2012/sports/capture-the-crown-curtiss-shaver-brickyard-400/)

Stay tuned this weekend as I blog, Facebook and tweet about this dream trip. You can follow me by:

• Blog at http://www.nascarracemom.blogspot.com/;
• Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/zwriter
• Twitter at https://twitter.com/zwriter

Hashtags:

• #Brickyard400
• #CrownHeroes
• #samueldeeds400

Want to stay in the know for the Brickyard 400?

• @BigMachine
• @CrownRoyal
• @IMS
• @JustinColeMoore
• @marinegunney

Be sure to encourage me and my team (via social media) as we race around the speedway trying to complete tasks such as securing an autograph from a crew chief or snapping a photo with Miss Sprint Cup.

NASCAR Race Mom would really love to be on the winning team of the ‘Capture the Crown’ scavenger hunt!

*This race is part of the Crown Royal ‘Your Hero’s Name Here’ campaign, an initiative that awards NASCAR race naming rights to a local hero who exemplifies service. Remember to please drink responsibly.

Can you draw NASCAR?

Now is your chance to be featured in the 2013 editions of NASCAR Pole Position or ROAR! magazines

Send them your NASCAR themed artwork – car, driver, track, etc. They will feature the best drawings during the 2013 season, and select lucky winners will receive a race jacket of their favorite driver!

There are two simple ways for you to submit your entry: ONLINE or VIA MAIL!

Click here for details.

Teams On Track to Raise $250,000

Chip Ganassi Racing Teams On Track to Raise $250,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® Inaugural St. Jude Culinary 500 scheduled for July 24

INDIANAPOLIS (July 22, 2013) – Six-year-old Michael Wanser, affectionately known as “Iron Man Mike,” lost his life to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in October 2011 but he continues to inspire hope in the fight against pediatric cancer.

His parents – Laurie Wanser and Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) Indy car Team Manager Barry Wanser – are driven to honor his legacy by hosting an inaugural tasting called the St. Jude Culinary 500 on Wednesday, July 24, at the team’s Indy car racing headquarters in Indianapolis.

Actor, humanitarian and public speaker Ashley Judd will host the event.

The event will feature cocktails, live and silent auctions, entertainment and gourmet food from some of Indianapolis’ finest restaurants for more than 200 business professionals, dignitaries and special guests, including the racing community.

Already, the benefit is on track to raise a quarter of a million dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to support its daily operating costs of $1.8 million per day for continued research and treatment of cancer and other deadly diseases.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital relies on funding from everyday people like the racing community. Thanks to their generous support, no patient family ever receives a bill from St. Jude and doctors and researchers stay focused on what matters most – saving children’s lives regardless of their financial situation.

Michael was a welcome fixture on the racetracks and often described as energetic and hilarious. Many drivers visited him during his treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. When his AML relapsed after his bone marrow transplant in 2011, his parents turned to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for treatment but his cancer proved too aggressive for a second transplant.

"Like every race car driver out there, Michael wanted a true shot at winning his race...against cancer," said Michael's mother. "St. Jude put Michael back into the driver’s seat to finish his race with a lot of love, laughter, video games, wrestling moves and one-liners. Michael took the checkered flag knowing that his many friends at St. Jude will use his leukemia samples to help other children win their races against cancer."

The event will be attended by Chip Ganassi, CGRT drivers Scott Dixon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, along with a number of others from the racing community. There will also be both LIVE and Silent auctions to benefit St. Jude as well as a special presentation from CGRT.

Participating Restaurants

Late Harvest Kitchen Eddie Merlot’s Chef Ryan Nelson Chef Raymond Dial Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stjudeindiana.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Since opening more than 50 years ago, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

About Chip Ganassi Racing Teams

Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 25 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include three cars in the IZOD IndyCar Series, two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and one Daytona Prototype in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Overall his teams have 15 championships and over 150 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and five Rolex 24 At Daytonas. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Brownsburg, Ind. and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Penn. For more information log onto www.chipganassiracing.com.

Happy Birthday Adam

Happy Birthday Adam
You are missed & You are remembered 

When Victory Junction opened in Randleman, N.C., in 2004 in honor of their son, Adam, Kyle and Pattie Petty envisioned a place of happiness, joy and life-changing camping experiences that would be free of charge to children and families. From this vision, Victory Junction was formed.

Victory Junction is a year-round camping facility that serves children, ages 6 to 16, with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. During the summer, Victory Junction offers disease-specific sessions with up to 128 children per session. During the fall, winter and spring, family weekends are offered to up to 32 families per weekend.

Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Network founded by Paul Newman and is accredited by the rigorous guidelines of the American Camping Association. 

Click here to check out Victory Junction.

Win Dale Jr.’s Ride

NASCAR Race Mom probably should not be spreading the word, because I would really love to be that lucky fan who wins Dale Jr.’s ride! However, more importantly than my own selfish desires is the great work “The Dale Jr Foundation” does. Check out the video below.

The Dale Jr. Foundation is a charity dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals with a focus on youth, the resources to improve their confidence and education, and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals.

If you can, please join me and buy a $25 raffle ticket to support this worthy undertaking. After all, would it not be wonderful if you or I could win Dale Jr.’s Ride while help other achieve their goals. Only 8,888 tickets will be sold and there are three awesome prizes up for grabs!

MORE ABOUT THE RIDE

• 2013 Corvette Grand Sport 
• Convertible hardtop • Black Exterior 
• Titanium Grey Interior 
• QZW wheels, grand sport black aluminum 
• 6.2L 430H Engine 
• 6 speed paddle shift automatic transmission 
• Heated front seats 
• Navigation system 
• 6 months of OnStar Directions and Connections 
• Bose premium audio 9 speakers 
• Bluetooth 
• Universal home remote 
• Keyless Access with Push Button Start 
• Power Heated Outside Mirrors • Total Value: $63,000

Grand Prize

Come over to JR Motorsports and pick up your 2013 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible presented to you by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. We’ll cover the federal taxes on the vehicle! Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of JR Motorsport’s race shop before taking off in your new ride.

Second Prize 

Opportunity for winner and a guest to attend the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series race of your choice as an Honorary Pit Crew Member on a JR Motorsports car. Includes race credentials, tour of the JRM race haulers, time spent on the JRM pit stall, roundtrip airfare for two*, as well as a VIP gift bag.

Third Prize 

Roundtrip airfare and Pit and Garage Access for two to the May 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series Event in Charlotte, NC. While you’re in town, enjoy a $200 shopping spree at the JR Nation store in Mooresville, NC.

More information 

Raffle Dates: April 1 – October 1, 2013

Cost: Purchase one raffle ticket for $25.

Odds: Only 8,888 tickets will be sold.

Click Here To Purchase A Raffle Ticket

Source: 

 

The Greats Didn't Make It On Talent Alone

The new NASCAR Home Tracks spot aired yesterday during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race from Daytona, live on TNT. “Do Your Part,” pays homage to our local and regional series. It encourages fans to see and feel what NASCAR is all about in their hometowns. I also encourage you to experience NASCAR in person at your local track.

Attending a NASCAR race is a full senses experience. The bright colors; the roars of the engines and the screaming fans; the smell of brake dust and rubber; the taste of a cold beverage on a smoking hot day spent in the sun with your friends and feeling the rumble in your seat as the cars charge past. There is nothing in the world like attending a NASCAR Sprint Cup race in person. You'll be hooked.

Charlie Dean Leffler Online Auction

Leffler, 37, died on June 12 in a crash at Bridgeport Speedway,
a five-eighths mile high-banked dirt track in Swedesboro, N.J.

In memory of Jason Leffler, who tragically lost his life on June 12, The NASCAR Foundation is hosting an online auction to benefit Leffler’s five-year-old son, Charlie Dean, through The Charlie Dean Leffler Discretionary Trust. 

Items for the auction currently include an autographed Dale Jr. Firesuit, Ride in the Goodyear Blimp and NASCAR Hall of Fame package. All proceeds will benefit the trust. A native of Long Beach, Calif., Leffler, a two-time winner on the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been a fixture at NASCAR’s national level since 1999. 

Click to Place Your Bids Now! 

Jason Leffler with son, Charlie Dean

 

Kid Genius Builds Go-kart Out of a Washing Machine

Kid genius builds go-kart out of a washing machine, grows up to be NASCAR Hall of Famer!


Mechanic and crew chief for the #21 Ford. Engineered the modern pit stop. Leonard Wood, known by his family as "Lee," was always building, tinkering or adventuring. A natural born mechanic, his understanding of cars was unparalleled.