DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The Daytona 500 will take place one week later in 2012, on the final Sunday in February, NASCAR has announced.
The race weekend is being pushed one week back from the traditional President's Day weekend to the final weekend in February. The date for the Daytona 500 is Feb. 26, 2012. To maintain the end of season schedule, the off Sprint Cup weekend typically scheduled in March will now be eliminated.
"When we look at the schedule in general, we've historically had an off week in that fourth week, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that hurts our momentum throughout the season. By being able to move the date back a week, we close up that off week, [and] NASCAR's able to keep the momentum throughout the season, which is great," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations.
The decision to kick off the NASCAR racing season one week later was made in close partnership with the sanctioning body, its broadcast partners including Fox, community partners and others within the industry. The rationale is three-pronged: 1. It shortens the racing season by one week; 2. It maintains momentum in the early part of racing season (TV viewership, media coverage, fan interest, etc.); 3. It's a better opportunity for fans as it moves the race further away from the "Daytona 500" of football held in early February.
O'Donnell added the move was made partly in advance of a potentially expanded NFL schedule.
"We're not going to deny the fact that part of this also is in dealing with the NFL. Who knows where they'll go with an 18-game schedule, but we want to get ahead of that. Either way, we think it's the right thing to do for our season," O'Donnell said. The Super Bowl is certainly a big event, but so is the Daytona 500, and to give fans an opportunity to go to both of those is certainly the right move."
Since fans like to plan their Daytona 500 trip well in advance, NASCAR is announcing the 2012 date much earlier in the season to minimize any inconveniences in planning their visit. Other schedule announcements for Daytona International Speedway and other race facilities will be determined and announced at a later date.
Copied from NASCAR.com's official release on the story.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Waltrip Wins Daytona Truck Race, But With Controversy
As SBNation.com editor Jeff Gluck stated, a common theme for Michael Waltrip when winning races is that something derails the victory.
Ten years ago, February 18th, 2001, Michael Waltrip won the biggest race in NASCAR, the Daytona 500, breaking an enormous winless streak driving for his friend, Dale Earnhardt. In just a matter of minutes, it went from being the best day of his life, to the worst. The world had lost Dale Earnhardt.
Ten years later, to the exact day, Michael Waltrip got behind the wheel of a Camping World Truck Series vehicle, driving the number 15, the same number that Michael Waltrip won in on NASCAR's darkest day. He then took a similar approach to the race in 2001, where he would slowly increase his position throughout the event, until the final few laps, where he would take the win in a last lap pass. He would even have his brother, Darrell Waltrip in the booth calling the race, and cheering him to victory just like he had that day ten years ago. It all seemed well for Waltrip.
Just like Daytona in 2001, something would take that away from him. A spoiler.
After Waltrip crossed the finish line to take the win, the SPEED Channel commentators noticed that the spoiler on the number 15 truck had come down. The exact time the spoiler came down has not been officially determined. While only half of it had come down, it is still to be considered to have given Michael Waltrip an advantage in the final lap.
NASCAR made the right call with allowing Michael Waltrip the win. Yes, the spoiler obviously wouldn't pass post race inspection, but it had to have had to pass pre race inspection. It isn't like there was a button that dropped the spoiler at the end of the race. Michael Waltrip's wins was ruined when Dale Eanrhardt died, he deserves to win on the ten year anniversary of his boss' death.
I believe there will be a penalty, which is deserved, but the win needs to stand.
It's just too good of a story to ruin.
Ten years ago, February 18th, 2001, Michael Waltrip won the biggest race in NASCAR, the Daytona 500, breaking an enormous winless streak driving for his friend, Dale Earnhardt. In just a matter of minutes, it went from being the best day of his life, to the worst. The world had lost Dale Earnhardt.
Ten years later, to the exact day, Michael Waltrip got behind the wheel of a Camping World Truck Series vehicle, driving the number 15, the same number that Michael Waltrip won in on NASCAR's darkest day. He then took a similar approach to the race in 2001, where he would slowly increase his position throughout the event, until the final few laps, where he would take the win in a last lap pass. He would even have his brother, Darrell Waltrip in the booth calling the race, and cheering him to victory just like he had that day ten years ago. It all seemed well for Waltrip.
Just like Daytona in 2001, something would take that away from him. A spoiler.
After Waltrip crossed the finish line to take the win, the SPEED Channel commentators noticed that the spoiler on the number 15 truck had come down. The exact time the spoiler came down has not been officially determined. While only half of it had come down, it is still to be considered to have given Michael Waltrip an advantage in the final lap.
NASCAR made the right call with allowing Michael Waltrip the win. Yes, the spoiler obviously wouldn't pass post race inspection, but it had to have had to pass pre race inspection. It isn't like there was a button that dropped the spoiler at the end of the race. Michael Waltrip's wins was ruined when Dale Eanrhardt died, he deserves to win on the ten year anniversary of his boss' death.
I believe there will be a penalty, which is deserved, but the win needs to stand.
It's just too good of a story to ruin.
Morgan Shepherd Runs Special Salvation Army Paint Scheme At Daytona
With the Daytona Nationwide Series race taking place on February 19, sixty-nine-year-old NASCAR veteran Morgan Shepherd will be driving the first-ever Salvation Army car in the race. Shepherd has partnered with The Salvation Army and donated the hood of his number 89 Nationwide Series race car to assist the organization on a national level during difficult economic times.
Thanks to:
Robert BradyAssociate
Xenophon Strategies, Inc.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
NASCAR Slows Down Nationwide Cars
After speeds that were very similar to the Sprint Cup Series in the Nationwide Series practice session at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR has decided to decrease the size of the tapered spacers on the cars.
NASCAR will decrease the spacer size to 15/16ths of an inch. On the new generation engines the spacers will change to 59/64ths. The horsepower will decrease by about 30hoursepower.
NASCAR will decrease the spacer size to 15/16ths of an inch. On the new generation engines the spacers will change to 59/64ths. The horsepower will decrease by about 30hoursepower.
“We didn’t have a test like the Cup teams had so we’re allowing the teams to make changes during today’s practices,” said Nationwide Series director Joe Balash. "(The 200.303 mph) was not really the number we’re looking for.”
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Speedweeks 2011: Day Three
Day three of Speedweeks 2011 was a calm one, with just qualifying taking place for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Only the top two qualifiers along with the three top go or go homers are lcoked into the Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the pole, while his teammate Jeff Gordon took the outside front row. Bill Elliott, Travis Kvapil, and Joe Nemechek were the 3 go or go homers that locked themsleves into the race. All other teams must race through the Gaterade Duels to find out their starting position for the Great American race.
Also, in an effort to minimize the two car drafting, NASCAR sent out a bulletin to the teams for what needs to be changed by the next practice session Wednsesday. Here is part of the release that ESPN.com had on their website.
NASCAR officials announced two technical changes Sunday evening aimed at preventing the sustained two-car drafts that dominated Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona. Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, said the body issued a bulletin to race teams with the following specifications:
" The maximum size for the air inlet for the cooling system will be 2½ inches tall by 20 inches wide.
" The pressure release valve on the water system will be set at 33 pounds per square inch.
The intent is to set up the cars so they can't push each other in two-car tandems for extended runs without overheating. Teams try to line up drafting partners at Daytona and Talladega so they can overcome the limitations of the restrictor plates used to keep speeds down at those two tracks. "That will bring down the temperatures so the teams can't run at 290 or 300 degrees [without overheating] on the extended push of 30 or 40 laps," Pemberton said. "This will put [the water temperature in the engines] back in the 250-degree range." Several drivers, crew chiefs and team executives expected NASCAR to control the pressure relief valve. Jamie McMurray, who finished second to Kurt Busch in the Shootout, said many cars had valves that allowed the temperature up to 300 degrees before boiling over. That allowed the second car in the two-car draft to push longer without overheating -- some for more than a dozen laps -- under Saturday's cooler outdoor temperatures. The weather is expected to be warmer for Thursday's qualifying races and the Daytona 500.
Other than those two headlines, there was not many major headlines throughout the day.
Also, in an effort to minimize the two car drafting, NASCAR sent out a bulletin to the teams for what needs to be changed by the next practice session Wednsesday. Here is part of the release that ESPN.com had on their website.
NASCAR officials announced two technical changes Sunday evening aimed at preventing the sustained two-car drafts that dominated Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona. Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, said the body issued a bulletin to race teams with the following specifications:
" The maximum size for the air inlet for the cooling system will be 2½ inches tall by 20 inches wide.
" The pressure release valve on the water system will be set at 33 pounds per square inch.
The intent is to set up the cars so they can't push each other in two-car tandems for extended runs without overheating. Teams try to line up drafting partners at Daytona and Talladega so they can overcome the limitations of the restrictor plates used to keep speeds down at those two tracks. "That will bring down the temperatures so the teams can't run at 290 or 300 degrees [without overheating] on the extended push of 30 or 40 laps," Pemberton said. "This will put [the water temperature in the engines] back in the 250-degree range." Several drivers, crew chiefs and team executives expected NASCAR to control the pressure relief valve. Jamie McMurray, who finished second to Kurt Busch in the Shootout, said many cars had valves that allowed the temperature up to 300 degrees before boiling over. That allowed the second car in the two-car draft to push longer without overheating -- some for more than a dozen laps -- under Saturday's cooler outdoor temperatures. The weather is expected to be warmer for Thursday's qualifying races and the Daytona 500.
Other than those two headlines, there was not many major headlines throughout the day.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Speedweeks 2011: Day 2
Day two of Daytona Speedweeks saw two different races on the new Daytona surface, the ARCA race and the Budweiser Shootout. The ARCA race was won by Bobby Gerhart. This was his 7th win at Daytona.
The Budweiser Shootout was a very different race to say the least. The two car break aways made the race ridiculous(whether for the good or the bad). After a close 3 wide finish, Kurt Busch was deemed the winner of the race after Denny Hamlin was black flagged for passing below the double yellow line. Hamlin said he went below the line so he wouldn't flip Ryan Newman. There were a record number of lead changes in the race.
The two Daytona 500 practice sessions were won by Mark Martin, however speeds were not very high compared to Budweiser Shootout practice. This was a result of just single car runs for qualifying practice.
Other news included an announcement that Jay Guy will be the crew chief for the 71 team and that NASCAR will not make a restrictor plate change as of now, but did make cooling packages for cars different to try and minimize the two car drafting. After the Shootout, it is uncertain what NASCAR will do.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Speedweeks Day 1 News And Notes
February 11th, 2011: The cars hit the track for the first real practice session of 2011 today, showing off new paint schemes and new team combinations. The 1st practice of the Budweiser Shootout belonged to one of those new crew chief and driver combinations - Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The team posted a speed of 199.862 mph. The second practice was led by Joey Logano at a blistering pace, 203.087 mph. No word yet on any restrictor plate size changes, although Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes that if the plates are to be made bigger, then the two car draft would not be as easy to form.
For the Budweiser Shootout selection show, Dale Earnhardt Jr. drew the number 1 spot. Stewart, Edwards, Hamlin, and Kahne round out the top 5.
There were also many news stories that broke out throughout the first day of on track activities. Here is a short run down:
- NASCAR will go to fuel injection at the beginning of the 2012 season, however it will just be in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. NASCAR has partnership with Freescale Semiconductor and McLaren Electronic Systems to develop and integrate the fuel injection systems. NASCAR says that they are currently working on a new engine package for the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.
- Jeff Burton's contract with RCR is up after the season, however Burton made it clear that a deal is almost done that would keep him with the team for 3 more years. Caterpillar is expected to return with Burton.
- NASCAR announced that it has placed Michael Annett, driver of the #62 car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, on probation until Dec. 31, 2011. Annett violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2011 NASCAR Rule Book. The violation occurred Feb. 6. In addition to the steps already underway by Rusty Wallace Racing, Annett will be evaluated by a certified substance abuse professional at NASCAR's discretion and will be subject to random alcohol and drug testing.(NASCAR PR)
Stay tuned each day of the 2011 Speedweeks for more news updates.
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