Checkered Past

News release: Cars to carry Wendell Scott decals

Charlotte, N.C. (March 3, 2011) — In honor of the 50th anniversary of African-American racing pioneer Wendell Scott’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start, all NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup cars competing this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will display a commemorative decal bearing Scott’s image.

Scott made his first start in NASCAR’s premier series 50 years ago – March 4, 1961 – in Spartanburg, S.C. On Dec. 1, 1963 in Jacksonville, Fla., Scott became the first African-American to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup event.

“What an amazing way to honor my father,” said daughter Deborah Scott. “Knowing that every car in both national series will roll onto the track this weekend with a decal honoring our dad makes me smile and makes me proud.”

Drive for Diversity drivers Michael Cherry, who last season became the first African-American to win at Tri-County Speedway, and Ryan Gifford, who in 2010 became the first African-American driver in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history to win a pole, will join Deborah Scott at LVMS to further recognize this special occasion.

Drive for Diversity is a NASCAR-led initiative aimed at developing and introducing minority and female drivers and crew members to competitive opportunities in the sport.

“Drive for Diversity, and the young men and women who are benefitting from it today, owe much to Wendell Scott,” said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR’s managing director of public affairs. “Wendell was a racing trailblazer who opened the door for people like Ryan Gifford and Michael Cherry, and it’s an honor to be able to celebrate this anniversary in such a special way.”

More racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com

News release: Speed airs 'Pinks All Out' finale

SPEED, the motorsports authority, is set to premiere the final episode of its drag racing reality show, PINKS All Out, tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Held at Firebird International Raceway, just outside Phoenix, host Rich Christensen and the on-air team arm drop more than 400 grassroots racers in one of the most competitive races of the season.
 
            Started back in 2006 at the Texas Motorplex on Labor Day weekend, and premiering to a record Thanksgiving night audience later that year, PINKS All Out went on to become one of the network’s most popular original series for four seasons. Produced by Pullin Television out of Los Angeles, that first episode not only saw record ratings, the show’s first victor, Fort Worth resident Chris Cruce, was also the first female racer to take home the $10,000 winning prize.
 
Christensen, who performed more than 30,000 arm drops in that time period, and the on-air technical crew (which included Clay Millican, Kenneth Herring, Willie B, Brian Bossone, Kale Christensen, Nate Pritchett, Adam Pritchett, Gavin Jerome and Charles Hendrickson throughout the years) together hosted more than 10,000 grassroots drag racers from throughout North America, as the show visited 31 different quarter-mile tracks from West Palm Beach, Florida to just outside Seattle, Wash.
 
            “PINKS All Out has definitely left a strong legacy within the sport of drag racing,” said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. “When we produced that first show back in 2006, none of us were sure exactly where this was headed, although, we did know that there was a passionate group of people that really cared about grassroots drag racing, as the original PINKS television show had already demonstrated.
 
“Then 25,000 people joined us while we shot our third episode at Palm Beach International Raceway in early 2007, on one of the coldest days in recent South Florida history,” Nickell continued. “We knew we had something special with this show.’”
 
            One of the show’s high points came two years later at owner Bruton Smith’s newly constructed zMAX Dragway, known as the ‘Bellagio of Drag Racing.’  A sell-out crowd of more than 33,000 people stood in unison as PINKS All Out held the first-ever nationally televised ‘four-wide’ drag racing competition. The evening, which also marked the first drag race to be captured on the ‘Flycam,’ a suspended cable camera system that spanned the full quarter-mile and reached speeds of 107 mph while soaring above the track action, has also become a signature moment for the facility.
 
           “Of the many highlights we experienced over the course of the 43 episodes we produced, the inaugural zMAX event remains the absolute pinnacle,” said Robert Ecker, SPEED VP of Programming & PINKS All Out Executive Producer. “The four-wide competition was absolutely electric; you could literally feel the energy in the air. It’s an experience none of us will ever forget.”
 
            As announced last November, the PINKS property has been put on hiatus for 2011 as the network continues to evaluate a new direction for the series.

 

 

More racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com.

New release: Speedway touts hotel deals for May races

CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 25, 2011) - Charlotte Motor Speedway will partner with regional tourism bureaus and area hotel operators to secure lower room rates for fans attending races during the weekends of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600, May 20 - 29.

More than 50 hotels within approximately one hour of the 1.5-mile speedway have agreed to reduce their race week room rates by 15 percent and waive the minimum stay requirements.

A full list of participating hotels is available at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/hotels or fans can call the speedway’s ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) for information. In order to obtain the discounted rate, those interested must call the hotels directly and request
the Speedway Special when making reservations.

“We strive to make the fan experience at Charlotte Motor Speedway second to none,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We understand that lodging can be a significant expense and we are very thankful to these area hotels who have taken the initiative to help fans alleviate some of those costs.”

More racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com.

News release: NHRA legends at Concord strip April 17

CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2011) - Die-hard drag racing fans’ dreams will come true when they have the opportunity to walk alongside drag racing legends Kenny Bernstein, Don Garlits, Connie Kalitta and Shirley Muldowney on the world’s only four-lane concrete drag strip, Sunday, April 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. prior to eliminations at the second annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

The track walk, honoring the 60th anniversary of the NHRA, will be hosted by NHRA announcer and journalist Bob Frey. Fans that purchase a $45 or $55 Sunday grandstand ticket can share a walk down the Bellagio of drag strips with some of the biggest names in drag racing history.

“The NHRA is the leader in accessibility to the stars of their sport both past and present,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “This just takes it to another level. Being able to walk with four of the biggest legends in NHRA history down the track where just hours later the current stars of the sport will be writing the next chapter at 300 miles per hour, that’s the ultimate fan experience.”  

Garlits, known far and wide as “Big Daddy,” was named the number one, all-time greatest drag racer by the NHRA in 2001. His career achievements include three NHRA Top Fuel championships between 1975 and 1986.

Former Top Fuel and Funny Car legend Bernstein won multiple championships in each division. He is still involved in the sport as the owner of his son Brandon’s Top Fuel dragster. Bernstein is also known as the “Bud King.”

The queen of drag racing, Top Fuel legend Muldowney retired with three championships in the NHRA’s elite series. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Muldowney becoming the first female to win in the Top Fuel division.

Known as the “Bounty Hunter,” Kalitta was the first Top Fuel drag racer to hit 200 mph on the NHRA circuit. Kalitta is the current owner of Kalitta Motorsports, one of the more competitive and tradition-rich teams in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

All four NHRA legends will be on hand throughout the weekend for meet-and-greets and autograph sessions as part of the NHRA’s 60th anniversary celebration, which will also include a car corral fill with nostalgia dragsters and a parade of historical drag racing machines.

Tickets for the second annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, April 14-17, are on sale now at www.zmaxdragway.com or by phone at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

More racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com.

News release: Sponsorship announced for 4-wide NHRA event

CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2011) - Standing in front of a 40-ton sand sculpture of an NHRA Top Fuel dragster, zMAX Dragway officials announced VisitMyrtleBeach.com as the new title sponsor of the second annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, April 14-17 at zMAX Dragway.

Myrtle Beach, S.C., popularly known as The Grand Strand, has been one of the South’s most popular tourism destinations for years and www.VisitMyrtleBeach.com/NHRA will now attach its name to the most unique event in drag racing at the sport’s premier facility. The Four-Wide Nationals is the only event on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series calendar where competitors break from the traditional form of two-wide drag racing to race four wide with a 32,000 horsepower assault on the Bellagio of drag strips.

“The Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is excited to kick off its 2011 marketing partnership with the Charlotte Motor Speedway at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, which is hands down the greatest spectacle in drag racing,” said Scott Schult, executive vice president of marketing for the MBACVB. “It’s a great fit because both our organizations are about delivering family friendly experiences.  We look forward to growing the Myrtle Beach fan base through this multi-channel marketing partnership.”

In addition to sponsoring the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Visit Myrtle Beach will become the official vacation destination of Charlotte Motor Speedway and zMAX Dragway and partner on a number of cross promotions throughout 2011, including May Fest, Myrtle Beach’s month-long celebration in May that will include themed weekends and activities at key locations along The Grand Strand.

“This is a great partnership for a number of reasons,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “At the core of it is the fact that our fans love racing and they love Myrtle Beach.  We both offer excellent family friendly entertainment on a year-round basis, to the same demographic and in similar geographic areas. To have Visit Myrtle Beach come on board with the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals is a testament not only to NHRA drag racing but to this event, which we believe can become one of the greatest in the sport.”

“We are pleased to welcome Visit Myrtle Beach into the NHRA family of sponsors,” said Tony Driscoll, vice president of sales and business development, NHRA. “Their involvement with the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will elevate awareness about the Myrtle Beach experience around the region as well as nationally through exposure on ESPN2. We look forward to a great partnership.”

As a part of the new sponsorship, fans can now purchase tickets to the second annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, April 14-17, by going to www.VisitMyrtleBeach.com/NHRA. To purchase tickets by phone, call the zMAX Dragway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

More racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com.

News release: Evernham named AutoFair ambassador

CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 11, 2011) - Three-time championship-winning
NASCAR crew chief, former NASCAR team owner and car enthusiast Ray Evernham
has been named the Official Ambassador for the April 7-10 Food Lion AutoFair
at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

        Evernham, CEO of Ray Evernham Enterprises, will participate in an
autograph session during the weekend and will serve as emcee for the Best in
Show Car Club Awards on Sunday afternoon. Ray Evernham Enterprises will also
have booth space in the Manufacturers Midway, located in the NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series garage and Evernham will display several of his classic cars in
the Showcase Garage, located in the NASCAR Nationwide Series garage.

        “I have always been a car guy, from building them and racing them to
being a crew chief and team owner in NASCAR to restoring old cars today,”
said Evernham.  “I’ve always loved going to the Food Lion AutoFair at
Charlotte Motor Speedway, so being named the Official Ambassador for the
Food Lion AutoFair is a real honor.
        “Most of the cars I’m collecting and restoring are American
classics, like my ‘55 Bel Air and the Plymouth Superbird I just bought,”
said Evernham, who recently returned from the Barrett-Jackson collector car
auction in Scottsdale, Ariz.    “It’s always exciting to add a new car to my
collection and bring it back to life or add my own custom touches to it.”

        Evernham’s Food Lion AutoFair display will feature his 1938
Chevrolet pickup, a 1955 Chevy Bel Air resto-mod and a 1933 Ford
three-window Bonneville Salt Flats-type coupe.

        This year’s spring Food Lion AutoFair at Charlotte Motor Speedway
will feature Showcase Garage attractions including the world’s largest
street-legal Radio Flyer wagon, complete with handle; an assortment of
”Beauties and Beasts” from American automakers; high-riding “skyscraper”
sedans that roll on 30-inch custom wheels; a Legends of Drag Racing display
and a collection of electric and hybrid cars. As always, the World’s Largest
Automotive Extravaganza will host more than 50 car clubs, 10,000 vendor
displays, a collector car auction, a gigantic car corral, a kids zone, fun
fair foods and much more.

        “One of the greatest things about the AutoFair is the people you
meet and the stories you hear,” added Evernham.  “Car guys and girls are
incredibly passionate about their cars and creative in how they restore and
customize them. It’s inspiring to see their cars and what they’ve done.”

        Hours for the April 7-10 Food Lion AutoFair are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Thursday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. Ticket prices are
$10 per day for adults or $25 for a four-day pass; children under 12 are
admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking for the event is $5.

        Fans can also purchase the Car Show Season Pass in advance for just
$89, a savings of $45 per person, for 11 days of access to Charlotte Motor
Speedway’s three car shows: the spring and fall Food Lion AutoFairs on April
7-10 and Aug. 25-28 and the Goodguys Southeastern Nationals on Oct. 28-30.

The Car Show Season Pass also includes a personalized hard card and lanyard,
VIP parking at each event and 10 percent off all merchandise purchased in
the Charlotte Motor Speedway gift shop.

        For more information, contact the speedway events department at (704) 455-3205 or visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

More racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com.

News release: NASCAR names Brett Jewkes

DAYTONA BEACH, FL. (Feb. 11, 2011) – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today that Brett Jewkes has been selected to lead the sanctioning body’s new Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) department as Vice President and Chief Communications Officer. Jewkes will assume his new role on April 13, 2011 and will be based in NASCAR’s Charlotte, N.C., office.

Jewkes will join NASCAR after 13 years at Taylor, a marketing communications firm, where he has served as a managing partner since 2004. While at Taylor, Jewkes opened and led the company’s regional offices in Charlotte, N.C., and Chicago, Ill., built and oversaw the firm’s motorsports practice and has provided ongoing strategic counsel and project management services to a number of leading organizations and brands, including NASCAR.

In 2010, Taylor was recognized as Consumer Agency of the Decade by The Holmes Report, and the firm’s transformation from sports-oriented public relations agency to brand counselor and marketing communications partner to leading brands was presented as a Harvard University Case Study.    

“We are extremely pleased to have a professional the caliber of Brett Jewkes join our executive management team and lead this critical function for our company, and the industry, in the years to come,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and chief executive officer. “Brett’s marketing communications expertise and broad experience working with top brands at a premier agency, coupled with his very unique understanding of NASCAR and our industry, will be tremendous assets to our company.”

Jewkes will assume responsibility for all communications functions at NASCAR, including the development of communications strategy and management of each operational area of the IMC department, including: competition, sport services, stakeholder communications, brand and consumer marketing, digital and social media strategy, business communications, NASCAR Media Group/entertainment and crisis communications. He will also contribute to the development of corporate strategy and provide ongoing counsel to the executive team.

“We conducted a comprehensive search, vetting over 50 candidates and interviewing nearly 20 over the last several months, and I can’t overstate how pleased we were with the quality of candidates that pursued this opportunity,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “In the end, Brett’s industry knowledge, vision for IMC at NASCAR and his proven ability to build strong, productive relationships were the primary factors in selecting him for this important role. We are thrilled he will be joining NASCAR.”

During his tenure at Taylor, Jewkes and the agency’s Brand Counsel Group spearheaded assignments with NASCAR, including a comprehensive strategic review of NASCAR and industry communications practices in early 2010. Additionally, he has led NASCAR-related marketing communications campaigns for Allstate Insurance Company, Alltel, Ask.com, Gillette, Diageo, Levi Strauss Signature, ISC and several others. Under his leadership, Taylor’s Safe Search Schools campaign in support of Ask.com’s NASCAR sponsorship was awarded a Silver Anvil, the Public Relations Society of America’s highest honor, in the category of Reputation/Brand Management.

Beyond NASCAR, Jewkes has led marketing communications campaigns to support various client partner sponsorships of the NFL, MLB, NBA, U.S. Olympic Committee, PGA TOUR and a number of collegiate sports properties. In addition, Jewkes has played a lead strategic role in a number of campaigns for brands such as Kimberly-Clark, Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), Nestle Purina, Spalding and Merck.

Prior to joining Taylor in 1998, Jewkes worked at New York-based public relations agency Coltrin & Associates, and before that served four years in the athletics media relations department at Southern Utah University. He is a native of North Logan, Utah, and a graduate of Brigham Young University.

“I love the sport and have always felt blessed to work with the great people at NASCAR and in such a dynamic industry,” said Jewkes. “This represents a new and exciting professional challenge for me in an arena I’m very passionate about. I am forever grateful to Taylor for preparing me over the past 13 years to assume this responsibility and look forward to working closely with them in my new role.”

Jewkes, his wife, Melissa, and their three children currently reside in Deerfield, Ill. They will relocate to Charlotte this summer.

More racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com.

News release: NASCAR announces fuel injection deals

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2011) – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today a historic technology partnership with Freescale Semiconductor and McLaren Electronic Systems to develop and integrate fuel injection systems into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, targeted for the 2012 season.

Freescale will provide the processors for McLaren’s engine control units (ECUs) that will be used to manage the fuel and ignition systems in the engines for all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars, replacing carburetors which have been used in the series since its inception in 1949. NASCAR and its top series teams will test the technology during the 2011 season with the anticipation of the systems being rolled out for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

The fuel injection system will bring increased technology and efficiency to the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars while at the same time complementing the car’s high performance. This announcement marks the most significant strategic change to NASCAR’s engine platform in decades. As part of this program, Freescale is designated as the “Official Automotive Semiconductor of NASCAR” and McLaren the “Official Engine Control Unit of NASCAR.”

“This move gives us an additional opportunity to incorporate the best technology in our race cars that will enhance the sport in a variety of ways,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “Selecting these two industry leaders reflects our commitment to this new technology which our manufacturers and teams have embraced. This is a positive step that will provide greater fuel efficiency and a greener footprint while maintaining the same great competition we have seen on the race track.”

For decades, most of the parts and equipment on NASCAR race cars have been highly customized for racing but at the same time relevant in standard automobiles. This move to fuel injection brings back an important synergy between these two vehicle types.

ECUs maximize each racing team’s ability to get the most performance and best fuel economy under all race conditions. With this announcement, plans call for every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race team to use a control system with Freescale’s advanced 32-bit Power Architecture^® based engine management processors at its core, beginning in 2012. These same processors power millions of today’s most energy efficient engines.

The ECUs are tamper-proof, ensuring that only approved software may ever be run during a race weekend. Additionally, NASCAR will have special electronic tools at its disposal during every event to ensure the legality of all ECUs.

 “Freescale’s partnership with NASCAR and McLaren goes beyond a simple business relationship,” said Henri Richard, senior vice president and chief sales and marketing officer at Freescale Semiconductor. “It reflects our shared values in the automotive industry and our common dedication to technology improvement, high performance, energy efficiency and leadership in safety. It also continues to demonstrate the success of the Power Architecture as the leading microcontroller architecture in the automotive segment. NASCAR trusts us to provide cutting-edge automotive solutions for the next generation of engine management. Our products and technology will power every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car next year and we are honored to be the sole automotive semiconductor provider for America’s largest motorsport.”

Since 1966, McLaren has a legacy of racing success in the United States, totaling 43 victories during its tenure in the Can-Am Challenge, 10 wins at the U.S. Grand Prix and three wins at the illustrious Indianapolis 500. In addition, McLaren Electronics Systems has been a supplier to NASCAR teams since 2005 and also provides the ECUs that will be available late summer 2011 in the McLaren MP4-12C high-performance sports car. Freescale technology has been at the heart of McLaren’s engine control and data systems racing technology since 2000 and it provides the power behind all of McLaren’s major racing programs. Freescale is the largest U.S. based producer of automotive electronics and its technology enables virtually all automotive innovation in use today, from advanced engine systems to navigation and active safety.

“We are excited to build on our existing relationships with NASCAR and Freescale for this critical technology,” said Peter van Manen, managing director, McLaren Electronic Systems Limited. “McLaren has been providing reliable, high performance electronics to professional motorsports and other high performance automotive applications in North America, Europe and Asia for more than 20 years and we are both proud and delighted to be bringing our ECU technology into NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.”

 

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports. NASCAR is the No. 1 spectator sport– with more of the top 20 highest-attended sporting events in the U.S. than any other sport– and is the No. 2 rated regular-season sport on television. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. NASCAR fans are the most brand loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport.

 

NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series and one local grassroots series, as well as two international series. Also part of NASCAR is Grand-Am Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in New York; Los Angeles; Charlotte, N.C.; Concord, N.C.; Conover, N.C.; Bentonville, Ark.; Mexico City; and Toronto.

 

About McLaren Electronic Systems

McLaren Electronic Systems develops, manufactures and deploys control and data systems for professional motorsport, automotive, aerospace and high technology industries. It is part of the McLaren Group which includes the Formula One Constructor, McLaren Racing, and the sports car company, McLaren Automotive. The privately held company is based in Woking, England with a U.S. subsidiary in Huntersville, N.C. www.mclarenelectronics.com

 

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations around the world. www.freescale.com.

More racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com.

News release: Roush more confident than ever

CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 11, 2011) – Jack Roush has experienced more than his share of success in his 23 years of racing in NASCAR. Having won championships on every level, while accumulating over 280 wins, it stands to garner plenty of attention when Roush says that he feels better heading into the 2011 season, than he has any other year.
 
“I’ve felt the best about this season than any year that we have been racing in the 23 years preceding it,” said Roush.
 
“I think that we could very easily dethrone Jimmie (Johnson). Certainly we have the cars for it, we have the drivers for it and we have the crew chiefs for it. I don’t anticipate a problem with an engine deficiency this season, and I don’t think I’ve got an aerodynamic deficiency. I think I have great people and I’m sure we have great drivers.”
 
Roush Fenway struggled at times during the 2010 season, but stormed back diligently, winning three of the 10 Chase races, including the last two and placing three teams in the top six of the final standings.
 
“The things that happened to us last season that were good, we understand what those things were and we are prepared to accentuate and perpetuate those things. The things that were bad, we understand and have identified those things and we are not going to do them again.
 
“We’ve built all new cars for all of our Cup programs,” added Roush. “Every Cup program is going to have a new chassis with a new aero look and new suspension or re-thought suspension considerations. We have a stronger-than-ever commitment from Ford and after 110 years Ford is still hanging in there for technology and vehicle support. 
 
“We’ve realigned our engineering staff, separating the simulation engineering from the bread-and-butter mechanical, electrical or aerodynamic system, and look to improve how it works or prove that the validity of the design that you have.
 
“We’ve got that going on in one group and then the simulation going on in another.  Of course, Chip Bolin is the new manager for the simulation coordination, and Tommy Wheeler has taken the conventional engineering things going forward.  I’m real excited about that.  We think that’s a new look that’s going help us.
 
“Robbie Reiser and all the guys at the shop have worked very hard in the off season and we can’t wait to show up at the track and see the fruits of that work. We think we’re in good shape for 2011.”
 
Roush and his team will see its first action of the season this weekend in the all-star event Budweiser Shootout (Feb. 12). Roush will have three cars in the Shootout (No. 16, No. 17 and the No. 99). The regular season kicks off next week with the running of the famed Daytona 500 (Feb. 20).

More racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com .

Transcript: Daytona Q&A with Mark Martin

Transcript of a question-and-answer session at Daytona International Speedway with driver Mark Martin:

GAUGING DANICA PATRICK'S PROGRESS:

You know its not so much of where you can slide these cars because you can slide these cars pretty much at some places and not so much in other places and if you think you are at one of the places where you can, and you do, and it’s not, then it’s not so good today.

So you have to learn these things through driving them and one thing that you need to take notice of is that she has not wadded-up any race cars. How many newcomers come in and don’t? You know? So give her a break. (laughs) You know she is really up against a lot. You know, it’s a lot.

ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE TO COACH HER A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU CAN?

I don’t know. You know I am happy and I like Tony Jr. a lot. And I have a…………..I care a lot about Junior Motorsports and my last Nationwide win came from that group and so we will see in the future.

I have a full time job right now and that is what I have to keep telling people that I have a full time job and I kind of have to keep my focus and priorities there and we will see when we get further down the road what else I can do. I would certainly like to do more things in the future but for 2011 my plate is stacked about right.

MARK YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THE CARS DRIVE BUT HOW HAS THE SKILLSET OF THE DRIVERS CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE A DRIVER MAY HAVE TO DRIVE A CAR THAT IS NOT HANDLING AS WELL THROUGH A LONGER GREEN FLAG CYCLE SINCE THE AMOUNT OF CAUTIONS HAVE GONE DOWN?

That is very observant and I applaud you for being that aware. But you have to do that all through the years and all through your career you have to adapt to…………the duty right now is different than it was a few years ago and it was different then, than a few years ago before that.

And the very best drivers adapt to what the demand is quicker.

AS THE CARS CHANGE YOU HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE. YOUR CREW MAKES ADJUSTMENTS BUT WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO AS A DRIVER?

It's coming back to me. The multiple-caution, short-burst runs were not my strong suit. My strong suit was long runs, green flag runs, managing the tires, and managing the equipment and making the stuff last. Well the equipment got so good that you don’t have to make it last anymore although managing the tires can still be an asset to you if you manage them properly and if you can get everything out of them that you can get out of them or getting too much and making them where they don’t last and also that you don’t underuse them in the beginning.

So that’s a factor but it’s still coming back to my style right now. Green flag racing is still………..that’s racing to me.

ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF DALE EARNHARDT AND HOW DALE JR’S FOCUS WILL BE FOR THIS RACE:

I think he can. I think he can handle it but I think it will be an additional stress and strain on him. But I think he can handle it and shoulder it. You have heard me say it before and I am going to say it again.

This is the strongest set of shoulders in motorsports. And he gracefully carries the incredible weight and under the incredible circumstances he is a strong individual who carries an enormous amount and you know….I wouldn’t want to be him. (laughs). But he does well with it.

INAUDIBLE QUESTION :

“You know, I started racing when I was a kid and I have been making mistakes ever since. And I think you learn from your mistakes and I am not done making them but hopefully I will make a few less than I did early so….

HOW MUCH SAFER DO YOU THINK THIS SPORT IS NOW?

Well the statistics show a lot but I am not convinced that the stats are just not in one of those conincidental phases where it looks really, really good. When you say safety, you think comfort. I don’t think that there is a huge amount more of comfort with what we do but certainly the HANS device is and incredible light years move forward along with all the other little things that go along with that and then maybe the safer barrier being number two to the HANS device.

But we didn’t give safety a second thought when we didn’t have those things to be honest with you and we don’t give them a second thought really today. So it hasn’t changed the driver’s thought process, you know most of the guys out there don’t know any better. And let me put it this way because that is not fair to say.

What is fair to say is that they don’t know any different whereas Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, and even Jeff Gordon; we know, we have been there and we have lived it when there was a tire war, and we didn’t have safer barriers or HANS and that was brutal and as long as I live I will feel the effects (laughs) from those days.

HOW MUCH MORE ATTENTION IS THERE ON SAFETY NOW THAN IN THE OLDER DAYS?

Its amazing and its just something that we didn’t put enough thought into. It didn’t have to be the way it was. The seats that we drove in were ridiculous……ridiculous. “When I first came to NASCAR racing in 1981, the seats that were used in NASCAR racing were…….it was just outrageous.

You know it could have been so much better but when you think back to when they raced without seatbelts…..(laughs) that was ridiculous too, so we were just in the stoneage. “And where we are today, I just don’t see where you can make big leaps and gains like we did with the safer barrier, the HANS device, and the seats and the headrests and head restraints.

NOW THAT YOU ARE A HENDRICK INSIDER, WHAT DID THE CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR BY THE 48 TEAM TEACH YOU ABOUT THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP MENTALITY?

Well that was impressive because they didn’t have the speed that we enjoyed the year prior. But it didn’t teach me anything that I hadn’t already learned in the sport which is you know, magic is sort of intangible. Its not something you can reach out and touch and we had magic going on in 2009 and we had magic going on in 1998 and I am aware of it, and I am working hard to try and create it and maintain it through 2011 with Lance and my team.

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