NASCAR Drive For Diversity Combine

Day 2 October 22 NASCAR Drive For Diversity Combine

Coach Phil Horton addresses the drivers before their fitness assessment tests
Monday at Hampton University. (Jason Christley/NASCAR)

Langley Speedway’s repaving last winter provided an added challenge for the 20 drivers participating in the 2013 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine. Not only did the already tough .4-mile oval get faster, it meant even the drivers who had previously competed in the Combine there faced new conditions.

Driver on iRacing Simulators
(Getty Images for NASCAR)

The drivers passed that test Tuesday with flying colors.

After spending Monday at Hampton University with the fitness and iRacing evaluations, the drivers were eager to climb into one of three Late Models outfitted for the day-long practice session Tuesday. Each of the 20 drivers went out for individual sessions in the morning, and then returned to the car for longer single-car runs in the afternoon.

"It is a very demanding track," said Rev Racing CEO and owner Max Siegel. "We chose it initially so we can get a feel for the skills of the drivers. Our evaluation has expanded. We're giving them more seat time out there on the track. And just working here with the management at Langley Speedway and the NASCAR officials has been a great step for the program."

For many, like Paige Decker of Eagle River, Wis., it wasn’t just a new track, but a different car.

"I'm comfortable on this track, so it was really just learning how to ease into the gas," said Decker. "I'm used to driving a Super Late Model, so I'm trying to tone down my driving a lot for this kind of car."

Decker participated in the Combine last year. This year, her younger sister Claire and cousin Natalie also earned the opportunity to try out for the 2014 Rev Racing team.

Day 1 October 21 NASCAR
Drive For Diversity Combine

Driver on iRacing Simulators
(Getty Images for NASCAR)

Twenty drivers arrived in Hampton, Va., eager to show off their driving skills at the 2013 Drive For Diversity Combine. First, though, they were put through the paces Monday with the equally important off-track assessments at Hampton University.

This is the third year the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program – created in 2004 and now executed by Rev Racing – has partnered with Hampton. The NASCAR D4D program is designed to identify and train young female and diverse drivers at the grass roots level who demonstrate necessary talent to climb the ranks within the motorsport industries.

The drivers, who represent 12 U.S. states and Mexico and come from a wide array of racing experience, took part in physical training assessment as well as driver evaluation on Rev Racing’s iRacing simulators Monday.

“All of the drivers in this combine are going to come away from this experience better prepared as drivers,” said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president of public affairs and multicultural development. “In addition to gaining valuable seat time and direction from some of the leading officials in the sport, they’re also going to better understand the physical training that’s required to be successful in the sport.

“There really are no losers. One group – the group that’s selected – will obviously have an opportunity to race with Rev Racing. Those who aren’t selected will come away from this experience as better drivers.”

Langley Speedway hosted the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine
for the third straight year. (Getty Images for NASCAR)

The 2013 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine participants include:

1. Devon Amos, 22 Rio Rancho, N.M.
2. Annabeth Barnes, 18 Mooresville, N.C.
3. George Beasley, 21 Las Vegas, Nev.
4. Nicole Behar, 15 Otis Orchards, Wash.
5. Ryan Bernal, 19 Hollister, Calif.
6. Collin Cabre, 19 Thonotosassa, Fla.
7. Meagan Creech, 20 Ashland, Va.
8. Claire Decker, 18 Eagle River, Wis.
9. Paige Decker, 20 Eagle River, Wis.
10. Natalie Decker, 16 Eagle River, Wis.
11. Ruben Garcia, Jr., 17 Mexico City, Mexico
12. Blake Kisner, 18 Chanute, Kan.
13. Katlynn Leer, 14 St. Moulton, Iowa
14. Jack Madrid, 18 San Clemente, Calif.
15. Hannah Newhouse, 16 Twin Falls, Idaho
16. Sergio Pena, 20 Catharpin, Va.
17. Dylan Smith, 21 Randolph, Vt.
18. Kenny Stewart II, 16 Carson, Calif.
19. Cody Thompson, 20 Fremont, Calif.
20. Sam Wright, 18 Vancouver, Wash. 

An additional eight young drivers will join these 20 drivers on Oct. 23 and compete for the opportunity to drive for Rev Racing during the 2014 Summer Shootout Series in INEX Legends and Bandoleros.

1. Jairo Avila, 17 Alhambra, Calif.
2. Austin Geer, 11 Johns Creek, Ga.
3. Kylin Hammer, 11 Meadowview, Va.
4. Ryleigh Lemonds, 10 Yorktown, Va.
5. Enrique Limon, 15 Mexico City, Mexico
6. Jaiden Reyna, 7 Newport News, Va.
7. Ashley Rogero, 15 Naples, Fla.
8. Walter Thomas, 15 Indianapolis, Ind.

Dylan Kwasniewski Claims The 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Championship

Dylan Kwasniewski en route to his Road Atlanta 115 victory.
(Getty Images for NASCAR)

 Dylan Kwasniewski continued to make history with a dominating effort Friday in winning the Road Atlanta 115 and claiming the 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship.

“The car was just awesome today,” said Kwasniewski. “The Turner Scott Motorsports team has given me great cars all season and I can’t thank all the people that make this possible enough.”

Kwasniewski, who became the youngest champion in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West last year, became the first driver to win both titles in both series.

“I wanted to go out with a bang with a win in the race and the championship. That’s what we did,” said the driver of the No. 98 Royal Purple Synthetic Oil/Rockstar Energy Drink Chevrolet. “To get two back-to-back especially on the East Coast and the West Coast; I’m just trying to prove to everybody out there that I can get it done not only (in) the west but on the east side, too.”

The 18-year-old out of Las Vegas shook off a pair of hard luck finishes that had narrowed his lead to just five points over Brett Moffitt entering the final race of the season. He started from the pole position and dominated the series’ inaugural visit to the 2.54-mile road course by leading wire-to-wire for his sixth win of the season.

Kwasniewski’s season win total tied Brad Leighton’s six wins in 1999 for the second-most in series history. Ricky Craven won a record 10 races in 1991.

While Kwasniewski was out front, the championship suspense quickly ended as Moffitt had transmission problems that knocked him out of second-place on Lap 6 and eventually out of the race. Moffitt finished 24th, giving Kwasniewski the title by 33 points.

A pair of Rev Racing drivers – Daniel Suárez and Bryan Ortiz – finished second and third. Rev Racing is a byproduct of NASCAR’s Drive For Diversity effort.

The runner-up finish for Suárez closes out a breakout season for the member of the NASCAR Next program. He scored top-five finishes in four of his last five starts of the season.

“In the first half of the race the car was good and just as fast as Dylan’s, but it just got tighter and tighter,” said driver out of Monterrey, Mexico. “I don’t know exactly what happened. It just never came back to neutral.”

Kwasniewski, a member of the NASCAR Next program, also became the first driver since Mike Stefanik to notch championships in two different series in consecutive years. Stefanik won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and K&N Pro Series East titles in both 1997 and 1998. Lee Petty and Bobby Allison are also members of this exclusive group.

At 18 years, 4 months and 3 days, Kwasniewski is the third-youngest champion in K&N Pro Series East history behind Joey Logano and Ryan Truex, who both won titles before turning 18 years of age.

The championship was the first at the K&N Pro Series level for Turner Scott Motorsports that fielded three fulltime teams in 2013.

“We started out in January with an empty race shop and here we sit at the press conference after taking the championship,” said Harry Scott, Turner Scott Motorsports co-owner. “We’ve really come a long way.”

Kwasniewski will be honored for his championship season along with NASCAR's other touring series champions on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the NASCAR Touring Series Awards in the Grand Ballroom of the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame. 

RESULTS | LAP-BY-LAP RECAP | AUDIO: POST-RACE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH CHAMPION TEAM OWNER HARRY SCOTT, CHAMPION DRIVER DYLAN KWASNIEWSKI AND CHAMPION CREW CHIEF MARDY LINDLEY | AUDIO: POST-RACE WITH RUNNER-UP DANIEL SUAREZ | AUDIO: POST-RACE WITH THIRD-PLACE BRYAN ORTIZ

Lowe’s Build & Grow

FREE NASCAR Kids Clinic (Register Now!)

#48 Jimmie Johnson is in the hunt for another championship! Come join the excitement at Lowe's and your child can build this awesome #48 car with a pull back motor! 

For a limited time, hurry and register your kids for a FREE NASCAR Kids Clinic to enjoy a free hands-on workshop on Saturday 11/09/2013 at your local Lowe’s. 

 

Click to Register for FREE NASCAR Kids Clinic

All kids get to build a wooden project and possibly get a free stuff! These spots fill up fast, so hurry!

If you have a Home Depot near by, you can check out their free Kids Workshops (click the right tab) too!

Remember to follow Team Lowe's Racing on Facebook


The Official Team Lowe's Racing Facebook Page is a place for fans to come together and cheer for Team Lowe's Racing, get the latest news about the Team, and chat about NASCAR.

Hayley Charges To Victory At All American

Hayley Earns First Career NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Win

Cameron Hayley captured his first K&N Pro Series West checkered flag Saturday
 in Roseville. (Victor Decolongon/Getty Images for NASCAR)

ROSEVILLE, Calif. (Oct. 12, 2013) – Cameron Hayley out-dueled polesitter and race leader Derek Thorn following the ninth and final restart of the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 Saturday night at All American Speedway to earn his first career NASCAR K&N Pro Series West victory.

Hayley, a 17-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, battled Thorn for five laps following the last restart and made the decisive move on Lap 146 to pull ahead of Thorn and pull out his first win in a points race.

After five runner-up finishes, the breakthrough victory came in Hayley’s 32nd career start.

Thorn, who earned his fourth career Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the evening, held on for second while Eric Holmes crossed the line third. Michael Self and Greg Pursley brought home the top five.

Patrick Staropoli, Dylan Hutchins, Shane Golobic, Daryl Harr and Luis Tyrell completed the top 10 finishers. Hayley, a member of the NASCAR Next driver group, first visited Victory Lane in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series car in the inaugural non-points UNOH Battle At The Beach on the short track at Daytona International Speedway this past February.

The Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 will air on FS1 on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 12 p.m. ET.

The next event on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West schedule will be the NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, Calif., on Oct. 26.

NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES WEST RECAP

Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150

Unofficial Results

Saturday At All American Speedway Roseville, CA

Lap length: 0.333 miles

(Start position in parentheses)

1. (2) Cameron Hayley, Calgary, Ford, 150 laps, 53.534 mph.
2. (1) Derek Thorn, Lakeport, CA, Ford, 150.
3. (3) Eric Holmes, Escalon, CA, Toyota, 150.
4. (11) Michael Self, Park City, UT, Chevrolet, 150.
5. (5) Greg Pursley, Newhall, CA, Ford, 150.
6. (10) Patrick Staropoli, Plantation, Fla., Toyota, 150.
7. (8) Dylan Hutchison, Fair Oaks, CA, Chevrolet, 150.
8. (14) Shane Golobic, Fremont, Calif., Toyota, 150.
9. (12) Daryl Harr, Edmonton, Alberta, Chevrolet, 150.
10. (17) Luis Tyrrell, Brisbane, Calif., Chevrolet, 150.
11. (16) Jay Beasley, Las Vegas, Nev., Toyota, 150.
12. (20) Carlos Vieira, Atwater, Calif., Toyota, 150.
13. (13) Giles Thornton, Whitefish, Mont., Toyota, 150.
14. (15) Thomas Martin, Auburn, Calif., Chevrolet, 150.
15. (6) Dylan Lupton, Wilton, Calif., Ford, 150.
16. (9) Travis Milburn, Eagle, Idaho, Toyota, 150.
17. (19) Jim Weiler, Sonoma, Calif., Ford, 150.
18. (21) Carl Harr, Edmonton, Alberta, Chevrolet, 148.
19. (23) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, CA, Chevrolet, 141.
20. (7) Michael Waltrip, Owensboro, Ky., Toyota, 78, transmission.
21. (22) John Wood, Eagle, ID, Toyota, 73, electrical.
22. (18) Taylor Cuzick, Tolleson, Ariz., Chevrolet, 53, accident.
23. (24) Andrew Tuttle, Eagle, Idaho, Ford, 37, suspension
24. (4) Jason Romero, Cameron Park, Calif., Toyota, 30, suspension.

Race Statistics

Time of Race: 55 minutes 59 seconds

Margin of Victory: .414 seconds

Fastest Qualifier: D.Thorn (87.664 mph, 13.675 seconds)

Caution Flags: 9 for 51 laps.

Lead Changes: 9 among 3 drivers.

Lap Leaders: D. Thorn 1-64; E. Holmes 65; D. Thorn 66-79; E. Holmes 80; D. Thorn 81-104; E. Holmes 105-108; D. Thorn 109-130; E. Holmes 131; D. Thorn 132-145; C. Hayley 146-150.

Standings: 1. D. Thorn, 554; 2. C. Hayley, 536; 3. G. Pursley, 529; 4. M. Self, 521; 5. D. Lupton, 469; 6. C. Harr, 420; 7. T. Cuzick, 420; 8. D. Harr, 410; 9. G. Thornton, 394; 10. J. Wood, 381.

Welcome to the NASCAR Family - Ava Maria Speed

Ava Maria Speed

Congratulations to Amanda and Scott Speed on the newest addition to their family. Ava Marie arrived weighing a healthy 8 pounds 15 ounces.

Big sister, Juliet and Dad, Scott Speed tend to Newborn Ava Maria.

Tweet from NASCAR Driver Scott Speed ‏ (@scottspeed) an hour ago

Ava Marie arrived at 7pm... It went perfect... Doc let me deliver her ;) was epic!! 8lb 15oz everyone doing great! pic.twitter.com/fhr2LXt0qO

One of sprint car racing’s newest champions is also one of the sport’s youngest drivers.

Kofoid-Cycleland-Speedway-Chico-CA

Eleven-year-old Michael “Buddy” Kofoid Jr. wrapped up the King of the West Lites title during a doubleheader weekend at Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway.

Kofoid racked up four victories and eighth podium finishes driving the No. 3 sprint car for track promoter Dan Simpson, who saw promise in the youngster and gave him the opportunity to compete in the division.

Kofoid, of Penngrove, California, began racing go-karts when he was five years old and this was his first season driving sprint cars.

While it is fantastic and exciting that an 11-year-old can demonstrate the driving talent and determination to win his first Championship, NASCAR Race Mom cannot help but ponder the negative aspect of someone this young in such a high-powered racecar.

“Buddy” is well aware of racing’s pit-falls. Earlier this year, a teenage race car driver from Petaluma careened off the track and into pit row Saturday night killing two, including his 14-year-old cousin, Marcus. The deadly crash happened at Marysville Raceway Park, which is north of Sacramento.

Young Kofoid was friends with the individual involved in the racing tragedy.

“He was probably the best person to be around, most of the time," Michael Jr. said at the time. "He's just always nice and nice to talk to."

The 11-year-old says he's sad at Marcus' passing, but he will continue to race.

As the mother of a race car driver, I believe I can relate to Michael’s mother’s predicament. You experience extreme pride in your child’s triumphs while conquering any negative feelings of misfortune.

Congratulations to Michael and his family for accomplishing the family teamwork this championship represents.

You can follow Eleven-year-old Race Car Driver Michael “Buddy” Kofoid Jr. on Facebook. and twitter via @MichaelKofoid11

Sam Hornish Jr’s Daughers

Sam Hornish Jr. and family
(Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Samuel Jon Hornish, Jr. (born July 2, 1979) is currently second in the NASCAR Nationwide point stands; just eight points behind points leader, Austin Dillon. Hornish drives the No. 12 Ford Mustang for Penske Racing.

On February 4, 2008, Sam and his wife Crystal welcomed their first child, Addison Faith Hornish, into the world. Sam and Crystal welcomed their second child, Eliza Jo, on December 28, 2010.

2013 D4D Combine Participants Announced

 20 Drivers Slated To Compete For 2014 Seat With Rev Racing

 

The NASCAR Drive For Diversity combine will be held at Langley Speedway
in Hampton, Va., from Oct. 21-23. Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — As the NASCAR Drive for Diversity (#NASCARD4D) program approaches its 10-year anniversary, NASCAR and Rev Racing have selected the participants for the 2013 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine. The drivers will participate in a rigorous on- and off-track evaluation process for the opportunity to join the NASCAR D4D program and compete for Rev Racing during the 2014 season. The combine will be held at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., from Oct. 21-23.

The annual Combine is the first step in identifying and developing the future stars of the sport. Kyle Larson and Darrell Wallace Jr. are among the drivers who have graduated from the NASCAR D4D program after attending the annual combine and driving for Rev Racing. Ryan Gifford, who currently drives for Rev Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut driving for Richard Childress Racing on Aug. 3. 

The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program has contributed to the success of some of the most promising young drivers and crew members in our sport, said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president, public affairs and multicultural development. The drivers announced today will have an opportunity to compete at the 2013 D4D Combine and earn a place on the 2014 NASCAR Drive for Diversity/Rev Racing roster.

NASCAR officials and Rev Racing representatives chose the 20 up-and-coming drivers from 95 applicants representing the United States, Canada and Latin America.

We are excited about this year’s group of Combine participants, said Max Siegel, owner/CEO of Rev Racing. They represent a great cross-section of talent and experience, and any one of them would make a great addition to the 2014 Drive for Diversity team.

The 2013 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine participants include:

Name & Age	City & State
Devon Amos, 22	Rio Rancho, N.M.
Annabeth Barnes, 18	Mooresville, N.C.
George Beasley, 21	Las Vegas, Nev.
Nicole Behar, 15	Otis Orchards, Wash.
Ryan Bernal, 19	Hollister, Calif.
Collin Cabre, 19	Thonotosassa, Fla.
Megan Creech, 20	Ashland, Va.
Claire Decker, 18	Eagle River, Wis.
Paige Decker, 20	Eagle River, Wis.
Natalie Decker, 16	Eagle River, Wis.
Ruben Garcia, Jr., 17	Mexico City, Mexico
Blake Kisner, 18	Chanute, Kan.
Katlynn Leer, 14	St. Moulton, Iowa
Jack Madrid, 18	San Clemente, Calif.
Hannah Newhouse, 16	Twin Falls, Idaho
Sergio Pena, 20	Catharpin, Va.
Dylan Smith, 21	Randolph, Vt.
Kenny Stewart II, 16	Carson, Calif.
Cody Thompson, 20	Fremont, Calif.
Sam Wright, 18	Vancouver, Wash.

An additional eight young drivers will join these 20 drivers on Oct. 23 and compete for the opportunity to drive for Rev Racing during the 2014 Summer Shootout Series in INEX Legends and Bandoleros.  

Name & Age	City & State
Jairo Avila, 17	Alhambra, Calif.
Austin Geer, 11	Johns Creek, Ga.
Kylin Hammer, 11	Meadowview, Va.
Ryleigh Lemonds, 10	Yorktown, Va.
Enrique Limon, 15	Mexico City, Mexico
Jaiden Reyna, 7	Newport News, Va.
Ashley Rogero, 15	Naples, Fla.
Walter Thomas, 15	Indianapolis, Ind.

All of the drivers attending the Combine will be mentored and coached by the Rev Racing staff, along with the team’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East drivers Mackena Bell, Ryan Gifford, Bryan Ortiz and Daniel Suarez.

The Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau and Langley Speedway have partnered with Rev Racing and NASCAR to support the 2013 NASCAR D4D Combine. Langley Speedway will host the Combine for the third consecutive year. The paved 0.395-mile short track is one of the flattest tracks in the region with six-degree banked corners and four degrees of banking on the straightaway. Langley Speedway is an ideal track to test the abilities of NASCAR's up-and-coming talent.

America takes notice of Joey Prusak

Joey Prusak with Queen Latifah

Joey Prusak is only nineteen years old and already an inspiration to the youth of America . . . . well more accurately to Americans of all ages.

Just in case you missed it, Prusak’s name went viral when he displayed good morals and good manners while performing his job.

The Hopkins, Minnesota Dairy Queen employee saw a blind customer drop a $20 bill, which promptly found its way into the purse of another customer -- after she picked it up and slipped it in there. When the woman attempted to order her food, Prusak refused to serve her unless she returned the money. Claiming it belonged to her, Prusak asked the woman to leave.

The 19-year-old then gave the blind customer $20 out of his own pocket, and the world took notice. After another customer witnessed Prusak's kind act and sent an email to Dairy Queen, his story quickly went viral and caught the attention of mainstream media, who hailed the good samaritan.

Queen Latifah, a noted NASCAR fan had Prusak on her show to congratulate him for doing the right thing and to reward him for his courageous actions.

Kevin Harvick, winner of the 2007 Daytona 500, recorded a message for Prusak, played on Latifah's show.

NASCAR is proud of your recent acts of kindness and courage," said Harvick, "On behalf of NASCAR and the Daytona International Speedway, I'd like to personally invite you to attend the Daytona 500. As a past Daytona 500 champion, I look forward to seeing you at the Great American Race.

Many have reached out to Prusak, but perhaps none more high-profile than Warren Buffett, whose company owns Dairy Queen.

I started laughing (when he called). Who knew it was going to be the real Warren Buffet?" Prusak told Latifah that Buffet said to him, "I'm really proud of what you did and I'd like to invite you to our shareholders meeting in May, you can be Dairy Queen's guest.

@joey prusak currently only has 608 Followers
 Let’s get that number higher.

Please Follow @joeyprusak on twitter and ask your friends and family to do the same!  Leave me a comment if you started following this amazing example of American NASCAR Youth!

You can also connect with Joey on his Facebook page.

I will be sure to continue to follow Joey Prusak and hope my grandson will grow up  as ethical as Joey.

(Prusak is also an amateur racer, running some events at Minnesota's premier NASCAR Hometrack venue)

NASCAR AND NHRA STARS TO “PAINT THE TRACK PINK™”

This month, the hottest color in motorsports will be pink when the biggest stars in racing take the track to show their support for those affected by breast cancer.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr “Paint the Track Pink” #17

As part of Lionel Racing’s “Paint the Track Pink” initiative, drivers like Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Courtney Force and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will drive pink race cars as they battle for the win during breast cancer awareness month. “The color pink is now a universally recognized show of support for breast cancer victims and survivors,” said Howard Hitchcock, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Lionel Racing.

With the most popular drivers in both NASCAR and the NHRA driving ‘Paint the Track Pink’ cars, the entire racing community is going to make a strong statement of on-track support that fans can get behind, as well as raise awareness and funds for an important breast cancer charity, Hitchcock continued.

Not only will the pink cars on track serve as a reminder that there is still work to be done in fighting this disease, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each “Paint the Track Pink” die-cast will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), a Texas-based charity that works to increase awareness through education, provide diagnostic breast care services for those in need, and provide support services. 

We are excited to partner with Lionel Racing, the official die-cast of NASCAR,” said NBCF Senior Vice President of Development, Brent Hail. “This promotion not only educates race fans about the importance of early detection, but the funds raised will help provide mammograms and early detection services for women in need.

Drivers participating in the “Paint the Track Pink” program include:

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. - National Guard Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville.
• Greg Biffle - 3M Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville.
• Brittany Force - Castrol Edge Pink at the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove.
• Courtney Force - Traxxas Pink at the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove.
• Danica Patrick - GoDaddy Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning at Kansas.
• Regan Smith - Fire Alarm Services Pink in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Driven Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Martinsville.
• Brad Sweet - Great Clips Pink in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas.

“Paint the Track Pink” die-cast cars are now available for pre-order through LionelRacing.com, the NASCAR.com Superstore, and authorized die-cast dealers. 

NASCAR AND NHRA STARS TO “PAINT THE TRACK PINK™” FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Four Finalists - Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award

The NASCAR Foundation announced today the four finalists for the 2013 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. 

Finalists Duncan Dobie, Lisa Hall, Don Post and Richard Johnson each will receive a minimum $25,000 donation for the charity of their choice from The NASCAR Foundation, with the national winner being awarded $100,000. 

Each finalist will also receive one VIP at-track NASCAR experience during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at either Kansas Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway.

The award honors the unwavering commitment that The NASCAR Foundation Chairwoman Betty Jane France has demonstrated with her philanthropic and community efforts. The award is given annually to one dedicated NASCAR fan who has made a profound impact on children in his or her local community.

These finalists truly demonstrate the generosity, compassion and commitment that embody the spirit of the award,” said France. “All four finalists have a remarkable story regarding their own philanthropic efforts in their respective communities, and share the extraordinary traits that are so prevalent throughout NASCAR’s fan base.

NASCAR fans, friends and families are encouraged to vote for one of the four finalists by logging on to www.NASCAR.com/award between now and midnight ET on Dec. 5. Fans are also encouraged to join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #BJFHAward. The finalist with the most votes will be announced as the national winner live on stage during the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas on Dec. 6. The winner also will receive a 2014 Chevrolet SS from Chevrolet. Chevrolet is the official car sponsor of this year’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.

The four finalists:

Duncan Dobie (Marietta, Ga.) has assisted more than 12,000 children with cancer over the past 30 years as a teacher, mentor and motivational figure at Camp Sunshine. After his daughter was diagnosed with leukemia at a young age, Dobie set out on a path to share his gifts of love, patience, acceptance and hope with other children battling cancer. He has served Camp Sunshine in many capacities, including counselor, photographer, swimming instructor, lifeguard and supervisor on fishing, rafting and snow-skiing trips.

Lisa Hall (Bedford, N.H.) has served over the past 10 years as a court appointed special advocate (CASA). CASA volunteers support children who are in the court system and often times removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. As a CASA volunteer, Hall advocates for a child’s best interest in court and the community, and participates in continuing education courses related to courtroom procedures, social service, the juvenile justice system and the special needs of abused and neglected children. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives. Volunteers like Hall typically spend an average of 1.5 years working with and serving their children until they are in a safe and permanent home.

Don Post (Kansas City, Mo.) was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease", in 1980 and was told he only had three to five years to live. He retired from his professional job and embarked on a 33-year mission of donating his time and talent to charities in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Post has been a volunteer for the March of Dimes "Bikers for Babies" motorcycle ride for 18 years and committee chairman since 2010. His leadership has been instrumental in making this event the #1 charity ride in the nation, helping to raise $6.8 million for March of Dimes. His humility is matched by his wisdom, sense of humor, and desire to help the tiniest and most helpless of all. Post has received a number of volunteer service awards from multiple non-profit organizations in recognition of his dedication and loyalty. He spends most of his days organizing volunteers for the annual "March for Babies" and "Bikers for Babies" events.

Richard Johnson (St. Johns, Fla.) has more than five years of experience working with charities to organize events and fundraise for children with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. A tireless advocate in raising awareness and funds to get desperately needed help for children with Alpha-1, Johnson has organized and hosted an annual “Friends for a Cure Golf Tournament” in which the proceeds benefited Alpha-1 Foundation research programs. To set an example for others and reinforce the importance of family testing, Richard helped launch the Alpha-1 Foundation’s “It’s All in The Family” campaign by creating a video testimonial with his two children, who were diagnosed with the genetic condition in 2008. He has also been active in the Alpha-1 Kids program by developing educational materials and supporting parents with children who have recently been diagnosed.

To learn more about the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award and each of the finalists, please visit: www.NASCAR.com/award.

Vote For Your Favorite Here

 

Nationwide Insurance Will SponsorThe Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.

“The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a great proving ground not only for drivers and crew members, but for sponsors too," said Nationwide chief marketing officer, Matt Jauchius."

We're proud of the success Nationwide Insurance has attained through our relationships with NASCAR and the Nationwide Series. It's a natural evolution for Nationwide Insurance to move our marketing investment to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we'll continue to put tremendous effort behind all of our NASCAR marketing platforms in the years to come.

Nationwide Insurance will also sponsor the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.  The NASCAR Foundation presents the award to a NASCAR fan who embodies the ideals of charity and community that Mrs. France has championed throughout her life. Nominees for the award honor the spirit of NASCAR, demonstrating goodwill and generosity in the interest of helping children in need. One winner receives a $100,000 donation to direct to the children's charity of their choice along with a NASCAR experience of a lifetime. The top three remaining finalists receive $25,000 to direct to their children's charity of choice.

We approached NASCAR about sponsoring the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award because it embodies the spirit and culture of giving that Nationwide Insurance values," added Jauchius. "The Nationwide Children's Hospital 200 race is a good example of the collaboration among sponsors, teams and the NASCAR Foundation pulling together to shine the national spotlight on a deserving organization. We look forward to working with Betty Jane and the Foundation to highlight other unique charitable efforts that NASCAR fans support all across the country.

Nationwide Insurance is a long-standing partner to NASCAR, and more importantly a strong advocate for children, and we are excited to welcome them as presenting sponsor of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award," said Betty Jane France, NASCAR Foundation Chairwoman.

At The NASCAR Foundation,  we seek to align ourselves with brands and organizations that share our same mission of enhancing the lives of children in this country. For these reasons, Nationwide Insurance is a perfect fit to help us present this special award.

NASCAR Partnership With Whistle

The focus of the venture will be to produce racing content for kids 

 

Daytona Beach, Fla. (September 30, 2013) — Though you still won’t see or hear many whistles on a NASCAR race track, young sports fans will now be able to see plenty of NASCAR action on The Whistle – the first cross-platform content provider solely focused on developing entertaining, educational and participatory sports programming tailored to the next generation of sports fans.

The Whistle will deliver short form, kid-friendly NASCAR features across all of the sport’s racing series. Produced by Emmy® Award-winning NASCAR Productions, The Whistle will feature NASCAR content across all its digital platforms including website, mobile apps and YouTube.

Additionally, as part of the partnership, NASCAR Digital Media, LLC will be taking a minority equity interest in The Whistle.

Reaching out to the next generation of fans continues to be a major focus for NASCAR, and The Whistle provides an ideal avenue to deliver our content to kids,” said Marc Jenkins, NASCAR vice president, digital media. “The Whistle gives young fans the opportunity to sample NASCAR content in an entertaining and educational environment.

The Whistle aggregates, curates and develops sports content for a young fan's perspective, covering all sports from backyards to schoolyards to pro stadiums and race tracks. The platform’s content includes sports news and highlights, sports science and math, interviews with professional athletes, fitness, nutrition and sports games and contests.

It’s great to have NASCAR join the growing list of top sports entities that share our vision,” said Jeff Urban, co-founder and COO of The Whistle. “With the popularity of NASCAR and its fan-friendly approach, we are truly excited and proud to have NASCAR join our team of major league partners.

According to independent research from Scarborough, two out of five NASCAR fans have children under the age of 18. 

NASCAR joins The Whistle’s list of partners including the NFL, PGA Tour, U.S. Soccer, the Harlem Globetrotters, Major League Lacrosse and the USOC.