State’s Largest Sporting Venue Re-Named The Auto Club Speedway of Southern California at Trackside Ceremony

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. – International Speedway Corporation and the Automobile Club of Southern California — the nation’s largest member of the AAA federation — unveiled details of a new partnership.  Speedway President Gillian Zucker and Auto Club CEO Tom McKernan announced the re-naming of the state’s premier motorsports facility as the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California.

Zucker and McKernan cited the long history and proud tradition of motorsports in California, and the role their two organizations have played in making the Speedway the state’s most popular sporting venue, with two NASCAR Sprint Cup races and other events attracting nearly 500,000 fans every year.

“The Automobile Club of Southern California does more than recognize the alignment of its brand with motorsports—Auto Club members are also race fans. So, this relationship was built to not only extend the Auto Club’s brand exposure but also to provide a broad-reaching, positive impact at the track for race fans,” Zucker said.  “The Auto Club’s commitment to its members and fans will be seen over the next ten years in facility improvements, fan promotions and cutting edge guest amenities.  We believe this relationship is the start of a new era for motorsports in Southern California and we look forward to the day when one in every two households in Southern California has not just a member of Auto Club but a member of the Auto Club Speedway fan family.”

The new partnership will place a premium on enhancing the fan experience at the Auto Club Speedway, with special initiatives aimed at Auto Club members, and a series of capital improvements that will make the racetrack more comfortable, accessible and enjoyable.  Detailed plans are still being developed, but as soon as this year, fans can expect to see new escalators, increased shade, new misting zones, and new interactive fan-friendly elements incorporating new technologies. 

“For more than 10 years the Auto Club has showcased its services to thousands of race fans at California Speedway. We now have a unique opportunity to expand that outreach and at the same time offer our members and all fans a world-class entertainment experience,” said McKernan. “Auto racing is a part of the heritage of the Automobile Club of Southern California and we are pleased that we can build on that legacy and take the sport into the future through our relationship with International Speedway Corporation.”

In outlining details of the partnership, McKernan also cited the Auto Club’s commitment to promoting automobile and driver safety, and the high-profile platform auto racing provides to promote the organization’s safe-driving initiatives and insurance offerings. 

“By supporting motorsports we can reinforce the message that the only safe way to drive fast is if you are a professional on a racetrack,” McKernan said.  “This partnership is about more than sports, it also provides us with a unique venue to educate Californians about auto safety.”

The Auto Club and its affiliated insurance company will use the Speedway facilities to expand development of automotive technology and driver safety initiatives.  Activities will include testing at the Speedway to evaluate new automobile equipment and performance characteristics, and the opening of new Auto Club Teen and Mature Driver Schools at the track.  The Auto Club Dragway, located on the north side of the Speedway facility, will continue as a site for the National Hot Rod Association street legal drag racing program, offering Southern Californians a safe alternative to illegal street racing.

The announcement is the culmination of a relationship that has spanned more than a decade. An original California Speedway corporate partner, the Auto Club’s relationship with the Speedway began in 1997 with the Auto Club 200 Inaugural NASCAR Grand National West Series race.  The company moved its sponsorship to the Saturday cup companion race in 1999 with the Auto Club 300 (now the Stater Bros 300), continuing with that event through the 2002 race.  The Auto Club assumed the event title sponsorship of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at California Speedway in 2003.  In addition, the Auto Club became a naming rights partner at the track in 2005 through the naming of the Auto Club Dragway, the Speedway’s quarter-mile dragstrip.

About the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California
To purchase tickets to the Auto Club 500 weekend at the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California, please call 800-944-RACE or log on to www.racetickets.com.  The 2008 Auto Club 500 weekend will mark the highly anticipated Southern California debut of the Car of Tomorrow and feature a special pre-race concert by blues-rock legends ZZ Top.  Fans are encouraged to come early to races and take advantage of all the attractions in the Opportunity, California FanZone including the Miller Lite Rock ‘n Racing Show featuring a performance by George Thorogood and the Destroyers.  Opportunity, California FanZone is a multi-million dollar facility enhancement including delicious food at Apex by Wolfgang Puck, the Speedway’s official retail store called Impulse, amazing sounds of live bands at the entertainment stage, and shade and leisure areas.  For more information visit www.autoclubspeedway.com.

The Auto Club Speedway of Southern California is owned by International Speedway Corporation, a leading promoter of motorsports activities in the United States, currently promoting more than 100 events annually.  For more information, visit the company’s website at www.iscmotorsports.com.

About the Automobile Club of Southern California
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest member of the AAA federation of motor clubs, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club’s six million members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing and buying programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs. For more information visit the Auto Club’s Web site at www.AAA.com.

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Close quarters: It’s all about the competition

The new cars being used the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series continue to boost the competitive environment in a variety of ways. Start with the actual side-by-side racing.

  This past Sunday’s Daytona 500 also was one of the most competitive in the history of the “Great American Race.”

Won by Ryan Newman, who seized the lead on the final lap, it boasted 42 lead changes – the most since 2001 (49) and the fifth time since 1972 that a Daytona 500 had 40 or more lead changes. Also, 16 drivers led at least one lap, the second-highest leader total in Daytona 500 history. Only the 2006 race had more (18) leaders.

Also, check out this competitive balance: Seven different teams were represented in the top 10 finishing order of the 500 – Penske, Gibbs, Ganassi, Gillett Evernham, Robby Gordon, Hendrick and Roush Fenway.

He’s Back: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Re-Energizes His Fan Base

Fans of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver no longer have to live in the past. Dale Earnhardt Jr. clearly is a contender again. He wasted no time in tasting victory with his new race team – the No. 88 of Hendrick Motorsports. During the recently completed Speedweeks, Earnhardt won the Budweiser Shootout and also won his Gatorade Duel qualifying race. He was the top finisher for Hendrick in the Daytona 500, placing ninth.

He’s Back, Too: Daytona 500 Winner Ends Long Winless Streak

 Early in this decade, former open-wheel standout Ryan Newman was considered by many as an almost-certain future NASCAR champion. After solid success, including a series-high eight wins in 2003, Newman slumped slightly in recent seasons. He came into the Daytona 500 with an 81-race winless streak.

He then went out and captured NASCAR’s biggest race, winning for the first time since Sept. 18, 2005 at New Hampshire.

Image Adjustment: Busch A Team Player

A driver who comes off sometimes as somewhat controversial went a long way toward boosting his image Sunday at the Daytona 500.

It’s been an eventful 2008 for Busch thus far. The former (2004) series champion started the season by relinquishing his team’s 2007 position (seventh) in the top-35 car owner standings to his rookie teammate Sam Hornish Jr., enabling Hornish to be “locked into” a starting position through the first five events of 2008. The top 35 teams in final ‘07 owner standings are guaranteed starting berths for this year’s first five races. After five races, the current point standings determine those automatic spots.

Then came the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona where a practice session altercation with Tony Stewart resulted in Busch and Stewart receiving six-race probations from NASCAR.

Also, in last week’s 150-mile qualifying race for the 500, Busch had to drop out with electrical problems. That forced him to use a “past champion’s” provisional berth for the 43rd and final starting berth in the 500.

He responded with a back-to-front run capped by one of the most sportsmanlike gestures seen in years, in any sport.

Three-Peat Possibility: Kenseth Tries To Win Again At California

The 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth is the two-time defending champion of the Auto Club 500. The fact that he leads several “Loop Data” categories at California illustrates his dominance the last two years there. Kenseth leads in Driver Rating (113.9), Average Running Position (7.242), Fastest in Turn 1 (179.453 mph).

NASCAR Axis Tilts: Hendrick Teams Seek Rebound After Troubles At 500

After relentless media buildup as preseason favorites, Hendrick Motorsports’ Chevrolets now have some catching up to do, after a very disappointing Daytona 500.

Defending and two-time series champion Jimmie Johnson finished 27th after a late on-track spinout. Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon finished 39th with suspension problems. Casey Mears, who was running in the top five with five laps remaining before hitting an outside wall, finished 35th.  Dale Earnhardt Jr., the team’s newest member, finished the highest – ninth – after running short on drafting help from his teammates in the race’s closing laps.

The good news for Hendrick? Seven Chevrolets finished in the top 10 in last season’s Auto Club 500 at California, including Gordon, who finished second, and Johnson, who finished third.

Toyota Time: 2007 Problems Seem Like Distant Memories, After Daytona

In just its second year of competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the Toyota race teams have shown dramatic improvement in their performance on the race track, thus far.  Denny Hamlin won his Gatorade Duel qualifying race, while Tony Stewart raced to Victory Lane in the season opening NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Stewart finished third at the Daytona 500, while Kyle Busch was fourth, after leading a race-high 86 laps. In fact, Toyota drivers paced the field most of the day, leading a race-best 138 of the 200 laps. 

60 Years Of NASCAR, 1948-2008: Plenty of California Tradition

NASCAR’s 60th anniversary season continues this week with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returning to California Speedway for Sunday’s Auto Club 500, renewing a tradition that has long preceded the 2-mile Fontana oval.

NASCAR has a rich, varied history in California that is worth remembering and cherishing. California events in NASCAR’s premier series – a total of 119 heading into Sunday – have played a vital role in building the sport’s popularity. Twenty-three of those 119 events were held in the 1950s.

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are two of seven California natives currently competing in NASCAR Sprint Cup. Kevin Harvick, Casey Mears, Robby Gordon, David Gilliland and AJ Allmendinger are the others
No other state has that many NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers these days.

And that situation surely owes some sort of debt to the “old days” of NASCAR in California that began with NASCAR’s third season of existence, 1951.

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

Big Homecoming:

Bryan Clauson, a native of Carmichael, Calif., returns home after putting together a day to remember at Daytona. Starting his first superspeedway race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates last Saturday, the young driver finished sixth in a lineup that featured 18 double-duty drivers – 10 of those were in the first 11 finishing positions. Clauson seemed to pick up where he left of at NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona last month when he was one of the fastest drivers throughout the test sessions. Carmichael is in northern California near Sacramento.

Leffler Honored In Hometown:

Jason Leffler will be honored in his hometown on Wednesday at Smooth’s Sports Grille in Long Beach. Leffler’s uniform and helmet will be on permanent display at the establishment as a tribute to his hard work and success, and of course, his roots in Long Beach.

“I always look forward to coming home to California but this trip is going to be even more special for me,” he said. “Smooth’s is a staple in Long Beach and has been for the last 26 years. John Morris has made it a point to celebrate and pay tribute to other athletes from this area and I am honored to now be a part of that history.”

Two for One:

The NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series are in for a historic day on Saturday at California. Both series are scheduled to race on the same day for the first time. The trucks lead off the doubleheader followed by the NASCAR Nationwide Series State Bros. 300.

Two drivers are entered in both races – Kyle Busch and Mike Bliss. Busch will be even busier as he’ll also participate in NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice in between both events.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

Homegrown Heroes: California Natives Competing In Trucks

Four California natives will compete at California Speedway: Mike Skinner (Susanville but born a few miles from the track in Ontario); Ron Hornaday Jr. (Palmdale); Matt Crafton (Tulare) and Justin Marks (Rocklin).

Kevin Harvick, co-owner of Chevrolets driven by Hornaday and Jack Sprague, is from Bakersfield.

With a win in 2007, Skinner is the track’s only California native winner for the series.

New Blood: Rookies On Roll, Coming Out Of Daytona

Raybestos Rookie of the Year contenders came out of the gate strong in the season opener Chevy Silverado 250 at Daytona International Speedway.  Justin Marks led the charge, qualifying and finishing eighth. Brian Scott finished ninth. Five of six freshman drivers competing in the race posted top-15 finishes.

Kurt Busch is California Speedway’s only Raybestos Rookie winner in 2000. Only three rookies have finished among the top five at the track: Busch, Kenny Irwin (1997) and Andy Houston (1998). The most recent top-10 finish by a Raybestos candidate is sixth by David Reutimann in 2004.

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New Car Ready For West Coast Debut
Kenseth Eyes Third Consecutive California Victory
Hendrick Motorsports Seeks California Rebound

New Year Plus New Car Equals Close Competition

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2008) — If last week’s season-opening Daytona 500 is any barometer, expect more “raciness” in this Sunday’s Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.

NASCAR’s new car, beginning its first full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, promises a ramped-up competitive environment along with significant safety boosts and cost-containment measures.

Certainly last week’s Daytona 500 was one of the most competitive in the race’s 50-year history — winner Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel-SAMSUNG HDTV Dodge) took the lead on the last lap.

The event’s 42 lead changes were the most since 2001 (49) and the fifth time since 1972 that a Daytona 500 produced 40 or more lead changes.

Also consider that 16 drivers led at least one lap, the second-highest total in Daytona 500 history. Only the 2006 race had more leaders (18).

And the new car begins 2008 by racing at four consecutive tracks for the first time, including California, where series teams tested on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

“I’m looking forward to these cars because everyone is so close,” said Carl Edwards (No. 99 DISH Network Ford) during the test, which was preceded by a two-day test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “I believe that opens the opportunity for the drivers to be able to make a little bit bigger difference. I think that’s going to be a pretty good thing.”

“I think you’re going to see a lot of people moving around,” said Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) at the preseason test, of Sunday’s Auto Club 500. “I think this car, even at Las Vegas, you could move around and make time. You’re just going to see a lot of different grooves develop as the race goes on.”

Three-Peat: Kenseth Looks For Third Consecutive California Win

It shouldn’t surprise if Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Carhartt Ford) makes a winning move in the final laps of Sunday’s Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.

The 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion is pursuing his third consecutive victory in the track’s February event.

NASCAR Loop Data statistics illustrate his excellence there. Kenseth leads several key pre-race categories for California, including Driver Rating (113.9), Average Running Position (7.242) and Fastest in Turn 1 (179.453 mph).

And although he didn’t get the finish he wanted in last week’s Daytona 500 — Kenseth finished 36th after damaging contact with Roush Fenway Racing teammate David Ragan (No. 6 Southern California Insurance Ford) — he ran up front for much of the race and led one lap.

Kenseth also was second-fastest during the Thursday night, Jan. 31 session of last month’s California test, while teammate Carl Edwards led two of the five sessions.

“It’s one we certainly look forward to,” Kenseth said. “You look forward to trying to get some momentum back after our disappointing Daytona 500. So hopefully it will be all right.”
 
Hendrick Motorsports Looking To Erase Daytona 500 Disappointment

After a disappointing Daytona 500 performance, Hendrick Motorsports looks to rebound in Sunday’s Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.

Just as they did last year.

The dominant NASCAR Sprint Cup organization in 2007, Hendrick opened 2008 with similar expectations, plus a media consensus as preseason favorites.

Reigning and two-time series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) won the Daytona 500 pole while newest teammate and fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet) won the non-points Budweiser Shootout the week prior to the Daytona 500.

Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Cromax Pro Chevrolet), last year’s series runner-up, sought his fourth Daytona 500 victory. Casey Mears (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet), poised for  a breakout year with new crew chief Alan Gustafson, played the dark-horse role.

But only Earnhardt finished inside the top 10 at Daytona — ninth. Suspension problems relegated Gordon to 39th. A late-race spinout put Johnson in 27th. Mears, running in the top five with five laps remaining, finished 36th after hitting an outside wall.

Fast-forward to California, where Hendrick teams hope to duplicate last season’s West Coast panacea — a rebound that followed similarly frustrating results in the 2007 Daytona 500.

Gordon was Hendrick’s highest finisher in last year’s “Great American Race” — 10th. Mears finished 20th. Then-teammate Kyle Busch (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota) finished 24th while Johnson finished 39th following an accident.

Here’s the precedent: Seven Chevrolets finished in the top 10 of last year’s Auto Club 500 at California, including three HMS drivers.

Gordon finished second behind winner Matt Kenseth. Johnson finished third and Busch finished ninth. Mears finished 31st.

The Penske Racing Way: Daytona 500 Winner Ryan Newman’s Back …

Ryan Newman’s last-lap victory last Sunday represents more than a one-race triumph in the 50th Daytona 500 — significant though it is.

It also may function as his re-introduction to contender status, a label many media and fans affixed to Newman from the start.

The 2002 NASCAR Sprint Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year, Newman began his series career the same season as reigning and two-time champion Jimmie Johnson.

Both young drivers excelled immediately — Johnson, in his and Newman’s seventh season, has yet to finish outside the top five — but Newman has endured a rockier path, of late.

After consecutive top-10 finishes from 2002-2005, Newman dipped to 18th in ‘06 and 13th in ‘07, noticeable because of his early exploits.

Nicknamed “Rocketman,” Newman set the rookie record for poles in a season (six) in ’02. He also led the series with 11 poles in ’03, nine poles in ’04 and eight  poles in ’05.

He also had a series-high eight wins in ’03.

Recent struggles, coupled with major Penske Racing changes — the departure of crew chief Matt Borland in late 2006 and the arrival of teammate Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) to begin the ‘06 season — also impacted Newman’s team.

However, a good relationship with Busch and the 2008 addition of new crew chief Roy McCauley have proven positive factors. Busch, who finished as Daytona 500 runner-up, powered Newman across the finish line, helping the South Bend, Ind., native to grab his 13th career victory and break an 81-race winless streak.

“It’s a life-changing experience,” Newman said. “I’m trying to do my best to represent NASCAR and all the people that have made the difference in my life to get to this point.”

… Thanks To An Image-Changing Boost From Teammate Kurt Busch

“Redemption” may prove to be the longest-lasting effect of Penske Racing’s 1-2 finish in last Sunday’s 50th Daytona 500.

Not only did winner Ryan Newman crack a career-long winless streak, teammate Kurt Busch’s unselfish nudge-to-victory may have spiffed up the latter’s image.

Busch, the sometimes-controversial 2004 series champion, jumped behind Newman during last Sunday’s last-lap scramble at Daytona International Speedway.

Rather than make it a three-wide dash for the win, he chose to help Newman and finish second, ensuring team owner Roger Penske’s first Daytona 500 victory.

“I think Kurt said it best, he was happy to see me in Victory Lane,” Newman said. “It was as if he won, even though he didn’t. If the roles were reversed, I would feel the same way.”

“Kurt gave me a great push, was the perfect teammate, the perfect time. Sometimes it takes that. “

The finish was especially gratifying for Busch, who raced from a 43rd-place start to finish second. He also battled distraction; specifically, an alternation with another former champion, Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet), during a Budweiser Shootout practice session the previous week, that earned both drivers a six-race probation from NASCAR.

In The Loop: Former Champions Johnson And Kenseth Seek California Rebound

Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth can chalk up their poor finishes in the Daytona 500 to first race jitters. But only if they continue their dominance at California Speedway.

The two suffered uncharacteristic poor finishes last Sunday, but past California performances suggest a strong rebound this weekend.

Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Johnson finished a disappointing 27th, but has been dominant at the 2-mile track.

He won his second California race last September, and since 2005, has a Driver Rating of 111.3 (second-best), an Average Running Position of 7.7 (second-best), 99 Fastest Laps Run (fourth), the fastest Average Green Flag Speed at 172.261 mph and a series-high 1,381 Laps in the Top 15 (91.8%).

Kenseth fared even worse at Daytona, finishing 36th. But if his past California success continues, the ship should be righted quickly.

Since 2005 – a span that includes two wins and five top 10s – Kenseth has a series-best Driver Rating of 113.9, a series-best Average Running Position of 7.2, 89 Fastest Laps Run (sixth), an Average Green Flag Speed of 172.195 mph (second) and 1,332 Laps in the Top 15 (88.5%).

Also look for a strong performance out of Kyle Busch, who had an incredible weekend at Daytona, but nothing to show for it. Busch finished in the top five in all three of NASCAR’s national series races last weekend, but never entered Victory Lane. The trip to California might cure some of that frustration.

Busch’s first career win took place at California – the victory earned him the record for youngest driver ever to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, an accolade he still holds – and he has scored five consecutive top-five finishes at California.

Since 2005, Busch has an average Driver Rating of 109.3 (third), an Average Running Position of 9.5 (fourth), 102 Fastest Laps Run (third) and a third-best 1,259 Laps in the Top 15 (83.7%).

Happy For “The Captain”: NASCAR’s Richard Buck Pays Tribute To Former Boss

Team owner Roger Penske’s first Daytona 500 victory — courtesy of driver Ryan Newman — has resonated through the motorsports world.

Particularly accomplished in open-wheel competition, Penske had won many NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races as a stock-car team owner. But he’d never won the race — the Daytona 500 — until last Sunday.

A 13-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Penske is beginning his 25th season in NASCAR. And many former, as well as current, employees are happy for him, including Richard Buck, NASCAR’s Director of Touring Series.

“I hear that Ryan had to buy a new suit,” said Buck, who worked for Penske’s open-wheel teams from 1985 through 1996. He served as the crew chief on five of Penske’s Indianapolis 500-winning teams, working with drivers such as Rick Mears, Al Unser Sr., Al Unser Jr., Paul Tracy, Danny Sullivan and Emerson Fittipaldi.

“That was one of those small things. You always had to get that suit out, dust it off.”

He cites teamwork as Penske’s key.

“He’s a fierce competitor,” says Buck, now in his third season with NASCAR, of Penske, “but genuine, caring — wrapped up in one great guy.”

History On The Move: NASCAR’S 60th Anniversary, California-Style

Although California Speedway marks its 11th birthday this season, NASCAR’s competitive presence in the Golden State extends back to 1951 — NASCAR’s fourth year of existence.

As the sanctioning body celebrates its 60th season in 2008, consider that 15 California tracks have hosted events throughout the years.

And that Sunday’s Auto Club 500 will be the 120th NASCAR event in the state of California.

In April 1951, Marshal Teague won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event in California, at Gardena’s Carrell Speedway, a dirt track.

In the 1960s, California native Dan Gurney, an open-wheel and sports-car star, won five times at Riverside International Raceway, driving for two historic NASCAR organizations — Holman-Moody and the Wood Brothers.

In the 1970s, the legendary A.J. Foyt won the first Ontario Motor Speedway events, in 1971-72.

In the 1980s, Tim Richmond won four times at Riverside (twice in 1982, then in 1986-87).

In the 1990s, another California native — Jeff Gordon — rose to prominence, winning two of the first three races at California Speedway (1997 and 1999).

This decade, another California native — Jimmie Johnson, also Gordon’s teammate — has two California Speedway wins.

In fact, no other state boasts as many current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers.

Including Johnson and Gordon, seven California natives will compete this weekend at California — Kevin Harvick, Casey Mears, Robby Gordon (No. 7 Jim Beam Dodge), David Gilliland (No. 38 Freecreditreport.com Ford) and AJ Allmendinger (No. 84 Team Red Bull Toyota). 

Jeff Gordon hails from Mission Viejo, Johnson from El Cajon, Harvick and Mears from Bakersfield, Robby Gordon from Orange, Gilliland from Riverside and Allmendinger from Los Gatos.

Other California natives attempting to qualify for Sunday’s Auto Club 500 include Burney Lamar (No. 08 Rhino’s Energy Drink Dodge) and Mike Skinner (No. 27 Bill Davis Racing Toyota).

Off The Track: Special Events, Entertainment For Auto Club 500

Celebrities are no stranger to California Speedway, located only 50 miles from the world’s entertainment capital, Los Angeles.

Perhaps the newest is California native Kina Grannis, who will sing the National Anthem prior to Sunday’s Auto Club 500.

Grannis, who hails from Mission Viejo,  won the recent Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” music challenge. She’s also a University of Southern California graduate.

Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian Brad Garrett, of FOX’s “Til Death” comedy, will serve as Sunday’s Grand Marshal. Garrett also played Robert on “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

The legendary blues-rock band ZZ Top, still comprised of original members Billy F. Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, will be featured at a pre-race concert on Sunday.

On Saturday, George Thorogood and the Destroyers will perform at the Miller Lite Rock ‘n Racing Show following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series doubleheader.

That concert will take place in the Opportunity, California FanZone.

On Wednesday, Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman will appear at California Speedway Day in L.A. at Hollywood & Highland Center. He’ll be welcomed by City of Los Angeles officials, who will proclaim Wednesday, Feb. 20 as California Speedway Day in L.A.

NSCS, Etc.

Back On Track … Although he’s completed only one of 36 events in 2008, it’s clear Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be a threat with his new team, Hendrick Motorsports.

Aside from winning the season’s non-points precursor, he also finished ninth in last Sunday’s Daytona 500 — the highest Hendrick finisher.

Back On Track, Part II … Six Dodge teams finished in the top 10 of the Daytona 500, including winner Ryan Newman and runner-up Kurt Busch.

That’s happened only two other times — most recently in 1969 and before that, in 1967.

Back On Track, Part III … Despite a difficult first season in 2007, Toyota teams look ready to flex their competitive muscle in 2008.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) won his Gatorade Duel qualifying race for the Daytona 500 while teammate Tony Stewart won the season-opening NASCAR Nationwide event.

Stewart was Toyota’s highest Daytona 500 finisher — third. Teammate Kyle Busch was fourth, and led a race-high 86 laps.

Triple-Duty Man … Busch will be busy this week at California Speedway, competing in Saturday’s scheduled NASCAR Craftsman Truck and NASCAR Nationwide Series doubleheader along with Sunday’s Auto Club 500.

Milestone … Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s Mark Martin (No. 8 Principal Financial Group Chevrolet) is scheduled to make his 700th career start this Sunday

Top 12 Driver Press Conferences … Each event weekend, the top 12 drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings are available to the media at designated times. This week’s schedule for the top 12 drivers in the series standings is available at NASCAR’s media-only web site — www.nascarmedia.com.

Up Next: The UAW-Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Following Sunday’s event at California Speedway, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams head five hours northeast, across the Nevada state line and the Mojave Desert,  to the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

That’s where Jimmie Johnson is the logical favorite for the UAW-Dodge 400 on Sunday, March 2. He’s won the last three consecutive races at Las Vegas, and seeks his fourth victory.

Kasey Kahne is the event’s defending pole winner.

The Race: Auto Club 500
The Place: California Speedway
The Date: Sunday, Feb. 24
The Time: 4 p.m. (ET)
The Track: 2-mile oval
The Distance: 500 miles/250 laps
TV: FOX, 3:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, SIRIUS Satellite Radio
2007 Winner: Matt Kenseth
2007 Polesitter: Jeff Gordon
2008 Points
 1 Newman           190
 2 Kurt Busch       175
 3 Stewart            170
 4 Kyle Busch      170
 5 Sorenson         160
 6 Kahne              151
 7 Sadler              150
 8 Earnhardt Jr.     143
 9 Robby Gordon   142
10 Biffle                139
11 Labonte           130
12 Burton             129
Pre-Race Schedule: Friday—Practice, 12-1:30 p.m.; Qualifying, 3:40 p.m. Saturday—Practice, 2-3:55 p.m. (All times local — PT)

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Young NoCal Native Clauson Returns After Strong Daytona Showing
Seeing Double: NASCAR Nationwide Series Shares Race Day With Trucks
In The Loop: Burton Boasts 123.1 Driver Rating At California

Hall Pass To The Fast Lane: Clauson Brings Big Finish To California

While in one of his high school classes in late 2006, Bryan Clauson (No. 41 Energizer Dodge) approached a teacher for a hall pass.

Usually not a strange request by a student but on this day, it was indeed different.

Clauson asked to be excused in order to meet a potential sponsor for a NASCAR Nationwide Series ride.

Two months later, the young Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates development driver was locked in with sponsorship for his ride.

Now two years later, Clauson is the talk of the series following a sixth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway last Saturday to open the 2008 season.

Although he now calls Noblesville, Ind., home, Clauson was born in the northern California town of Carmichael and lived there until age 10.

His interest in racing was cultivated by the career of his father, Tim, a successful West Coast sprint car driver. Tim Clauson also worked with another California driver during his formative years — Jeff Gordon.

Bryan Clauson’s career climb began at the go-kart level then graduated to sprint cars and midgets before moving to ARCA where he registered a victory last summer at Gateway International Raceway.

In a bit of superspeedway foreshadowing, he won the ARCA pole at Talladega last fall before landing consistent top-10 times in his first visit to Daytona during NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing last month.

Saturday’s race at California Speedway marks his first series event on a 2-mile track.

Seeing Double: Two Series Share California Spotlight Saturday

A two-for-one scheduling first will greet the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at California Speedway on Saturday.

The San Bernardino County 200 is up first for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starting at 3 p.m. ET while the Stater Bros. 300 follows at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Although the two series have raced on the same day in previous years due to weather postponements, Saturday marks the first scheduled doubleheader.

The final practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is sandwiched in between both races which will make for a hectic but exciting day for Kyle Busch (No. 32 Beringer Vineyards Toyota).

The 2005 NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year is entered in both of Saturday’s races, in addition to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ Auto Club 500 on Sunday.

NASCAR Nationwide Series regular Mike Bliss (No. 22 Supercuts Dodge) is also entered in both races on Saturday.

First Win For A Home-Stater?

Not only does Bryan Clauson lead a group of California natives into the Stater Bros. 300 this weekend, but two of his fellow Golden State stars are threats to win the event.

And a victory by a home-state driver would be a first in this race.

Two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and team owner Kevin Harvick (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet—Bakersfield) has finished out of the top 10 only once in 10 career races at the track. Two of those results were runner-up finishes.

Jason Leffler’s (No. 38 Great Clips Toyota — Long Beach) results have been the opposite of Harvick. Although he captured a pole at California in 2004, he’s only been able to register two top-10 finishes in eight races.

Long Beach Honors Leffler

A win for Jason Leffler at California would be a perfect ending to a trip that includes being honored in his hometown.

Wednesday night at Smooth’s Sports Grille in Long Beach, Leffler’s uniform and helmet will be set for permanent display at the establishment making Leffler a “Legend of Long Beach” as a tribute to career and, of course, his roots in the city.

“I always look forward to coming home to California but this trip is going to be even more special for me,” he said. “(Owner) John Morris has made it a point to celebrate and pay tribute to other athletes from this area and I am honored to now be a part of that history.”

Leffler’s tribute begins at 6 p.m. local time at Smooth’s (www.smoothssportsgrille.com).

West Series Represents

Two former NASCAR Camping World Series champions are entered in the Stater Bros. 300 at California Speedway.

Kevin Harvick won the championship in 1998, which started a climb up the NASCAR ladder that took him to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and into his current status as a star in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Eric Norris (No. 14 Music City Illinois Ford) won the 2002 West championship. He’s the son of actor and martial arts legend Chuck Norris.

A Redondo Beach native, Norris also coordinates stunts and directs action scenes for TV shows and feature films. He has two NASCAR Nationwide Series career starts, one at California in 2005.

In The Loop: Virginia Native Burton More Than Comfortable At California

Jeff Burton (No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet) steps back into the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend, and if the stats are any indication, he won’t miss a beat.

Burton is outstanding at California. He won the last time the series went to the 2-mile track and hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in any of his last three races there.

Since 2005, he has a Driver Rating of 123.1, an Average Running Position of 5.1, a series-high 119 Fastest Laps Run, an average Green Flag Speed of 173.061 mph and has run 93.5% of the laps in the top 15. Burton did not run at Daytona.

This weekend could also be a great opportunity for Carl Edwards (No. 60 Scotts Ford) . The reigning series champion sits 11th in the points standings, but will race at one of his favorite venues Saturday. He won there in 2005, racking up a race-high Driver Rating of 141.8.

Overall since 2005 – which includes three top-five finishes – Edwards has an average Driver Rating of 107.0, an Average Running Position of 9.4, 80 Fastest Laps Run, a series-high 290 Green Flag Passes and a series-high 736 Laps in the Top 15 (81.8%).

What also may prove interesting this weekend is the impressive runs by Kyle Busch. He placed in the top 10 in all three of NASCAR’s national series at Daytona last week and will try to accomplish the feat again this weekend. He’ll run both legs of the NASCAR Nationwide-NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series double-header, and the stats suggest he’ll have an opportunity to once again run up front.

In the two California races last season, Busch ran third and second, respectively. He has a Driver Rating of 104.6, an Average Running Position of 9.6, 47 Fastest Laps Run and 439 Laps in the Top 15.

ESPN2 NASCAR Nationwide Series Coverage At California

ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series with live, flag-to-flag coverage of Saturday’s Stater Bros. 300 from California Speedway beginning at 7 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown.

Allen Bestwick will host Countdown with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, a former winning team owner in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, in the ESPN pit studio.

Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for ESPN2’s coverage, joined in the booth for analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett, one of the founding drivers of the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion crew chief Andy Petree will also assist in the booth coverage.

Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from the pits, while Tim Brewer, a two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief, will offer insight from the ESPN DISH Tech Center.

The Director’s Take: California Speedway

“We’re looking forward to our race at California Speedway, our first with the tapered spacer. It gives us an opportunity to start our engine program that, in the long run, will help contain costs for the series.

“This is the first race that we believe allows the teams to start utilizing their components for more than one race and make their engine budget dollars go farther.

“The tapered spacer – unlike a restrictor plate – funnels the air from the carburetor into the intake manifold, helping the air/fuel mixture circulate better than a restrictor plate would.  “It’s designed to reduce some horsepower and that’s how engine components can be used more than once. That, along with the gear rule that reduces RPM, puts less stress on the engine allowing parts to be used again.

“California is a 2-mile track and puts it in the middle of a superspeedway like Daytona and a 1.5-mile track like we have next week at Las Vegas.

“Teams will try to balance the downforce to help the car turn and still reduce some of the drag on the car to make it go fast.

“It’s also an opportunity for our fans to see two of NASCAR’s top series race on the same day.”

California Speedway

Most Wins: Matt Kenseth (4)

Most Poles: Clint Bowyer (2)

Quick Fact: In 15 previous races, no driver has won from the pole at California.

NNS Etc.

• KHI and one of its sponsors, RoadLoans.com, will partner with the “Million Thanks Foundation” this year. The foundation collects letters of support for U.S. troops, past and present. Prior to Saturday’s race, Kevin Harvick will place the first letter in a drop box to kick off the campaign between the team, sponsor and the foundation. KHI will make drop boxes available at all show car appearances throughout the season.
• A return to California is special for new series sponsor Nationwide Insurance. In addition to serving its customers in their time of need and providing humanitarian relief to the area, the company had a hand in raising funds for the victims of the wild fires that raged through San Diego County and other parts of Southern California last November, a week before the Nationwide Tour Championship. Nationwide partnered with the PGA TOUR to donate $206,000 for the Red Cross Fire Relief Fund.
• Stephen Leicht (No. 21 RCR Chevrolet) gets his first chance to race since finishing seventh in the series standings last year. Leicht, who won his first career race last season at Kentucky, has reason to be considered among the favorites at California. He’ll be driving the No. 21 car has posted a driver championship, two owner titles and 21 wins over the last five seasons.
• Brad Keselowski (No. 88 U.S. NAVY Chevrolet) made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at California Speedway in the fall of 2006. After competing in Saturday’s race, he’ll travel to El Centro, Calif., to fly with the Navy’s Blue Angels on Monday, Feb. 25. In honor of his flight, Keselowski will wear a gold visor this weekend and next at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; the Blue Angels wear gold visors on their helmets. It will be a family affair at California as Brad’s older brother Brian makes his debut in the No. 28 Fanista.com Chevrolet. The brothers’ dad, Bob, will serve as crew chief for Brian’s team.
• Dale Ferguson, the lead engineer for Rusty Wallace Racing, has been named interim crew chief for the No. 64 Atreus Homes & Communities Chevrolet, which is shared by the trio of David Stremme (in the car at California), Chase Austin and Max Papis. Ferguson replaces Steve Darne.

On Deck: Las Vegas

The NASCAR Nationwide Series continues its westward swing with its annual stop at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next Saturday, March 1. EPN2 will carry the Sam’s Town 300 live beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET.

The 1.5-mile track hosted NASCAR Preseason Thunder for the NASCAR Nationwide Series late last month.

Jeff Burton won this race last year and his three victories at LVMS are the most of any series driver. Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin each have won two poles, the most at Las Vegas.

The Race: Stater Bros. 300

The Place:  California  Speedway

The Date: Saturday, Feb. 23

The Time:  4:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN2, 4 p.m. ET

Track Layout: 2-mile oval

2007 Winner: Matt Kenseth

2007 Pole: Dave Blaney

            2008 Standings

1 Stewart         190
2 Ky Busch      180
3 Earnhardt Jr. 165
4 Vickers         165
5 Kenseth        155
6 Clauson        150
7 Hamlin          147
8 Biffle             146
9 Ragan           143
10 Edwards      135

Schedule:
Friday—Practice 9:45-11:50 a.m.; Final Practice 5:45-6:45 p.m. Saturday—Qualifying,  9:35 a.m. (Impound).

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Todd Bodine Finally Conquers Daytona International Speedway
Last Year’s Championship Rivals Take Detour In 2008
Historic NASCAR National Series Doubleheader On Tap Saturday

Daytona Drought Finally Over For Todd Bodine

It required 34 tries – over 17 years as a driver and three as a crew member – for Todd Bodine (No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) to win a race at Daytona International Speedway.

Bodine, the 2006 series champion, has won 13 times since October 2004, the most by any competitor over the five-season span.  The victory was the 13th for crew chief Mike Hillman Jr., whose five-year winning streak matches Danny Gill as second-longest in series history. Only Dennis Connor has a longer streak – six years between 1996 and 2001.

Hornaday, Skinner Start The Season In Deep Hole

Last year’s down-to-the-wire championship battle between Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet) and Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) took a bit of a detour in Daytona.

Hornaday is in familiar territory. Only once has a champion gone to the second race of the season with a greater deficit. That would be Hornaday, 107 back in 1997. He wound up fifth.

Doing The Double ‘Out West’

Kyle Busch and Mike Bliss are slated to compete in both races. Bliss won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ inaugural race at the track in 1997.

Ted Musgrave, ‘The Man’ At California Speedway, Eyes Record-Matching Performance

Nobody’s been any better at California Speedway than Ted Musgrave (No. 59 Team ASE/Harris Trucking Toyota).

“We’re looking for win No. 4 this time,” said Musgrave. “We have a great truck that the guys have been working really hard on to get ready. We want to get out there and have a good performance and be in the position to challenge for the win at the end.”

This Week’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Leaders
(Through one races of the 25-race season)

Toyota Sweeps Daytona

Todd Bodine wasn’t the only Toyota driver celebrating at Daytona. In fact, the 2006-07 manufacturers’ champion put a Tundra truck in the four top finishing positions.

Toyota is the defending winner at California Speedway with two victories in the past four races. Dodge counts four wins and could break a victory drought that extends to the early part of the 2005 season.

2008 Raybestos Rookie Class Off To Fast Start

It’s rare when rookies excel at a track like Daytona International Speedway but this year’s class of Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates were solid performers in last week’s Chevy Silverado 250.

The most recent best finish, sixth, was turned in by David Reutimann in 2004.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
2008 Manufacturers’ Championship Point Standings

Toyota     9
Ford        6
Dodge     4
Chevrolet 3

In The Loop:

There were quite a few first-race jitters for some of the regular NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series front-runners. Reigning champion Ron Hornaday Jr., Mike Skinner and Ted Musgrave all failed to finish in the top 20.

Since 2005, Hornaday has an average Driver Rating of 95.1, an Average Running Position of 13.2 and 203 Laps in the Top 15 (66.3 percent).

300 Just A Number

Roush Fenway Racing made its 300th consecutive start on Feb. 15 at Daytona International Speedway.
The number proved to be just a number – without magic.

It has been six races since the series’ most successful team has scored a top-10 finish.

NCTS: Etc.

• California Dreamin’ … Three California drivers have won a total of seven races at four tracks since the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ inception in 1995. Two are entered in this week’s San Bernardino County 200. Mike Skinner is a three-time winner at California Speedway, the old Mesa Marin Raceway and Infineon Raceway. Ron Hornaday Jr.’s three victories came at Mesa Marin and Infineon.
• California Add … Four of the 1995 schedule’s 20 races were held at facilities in the Golden State. The series no longer competes at Infineon Raceway. Mesa Marin and Saugus Speedway no longer exist.
  Chicken Or Feathers … Last season’s top 10 elite drivers were either at the top or bottom of the finish of the 2008 opener at Daytona. Four finished among the top 10; four finished outside the top 20. Two – Johnny Benson and Rick Crawford – go to the year’s second race occupying the same positions, third and fifth, in which they concluded 2007.
• This Time He’s Old Enough … The last time Kyle Busch showed up for a truck race at California Speedway, in 2001, the then-16-year-old driver was deemed too young to race because of sponsorship restrictions. If he wins, it will mark the second time that siblings have won series races at the same track. Kurt Busch won in 2000. Both Busch brothers have series wins at Dover International Speedway.
• The Daytona-California Two-Step … Since the two tracks went back-to-back on the schedule in 2005, Mark Martin is the only driver to win both races. Martin did it in 2006 and came close to making it three wins in a row a year ago before a late race restart skirmish took the veteran driver out of contention.

Streaking Crew Chiefs

Seven crew chiefs have won races in four or more consecutive seasons.

                          No. of
Crew Chief        Seasons      Years
Dennis Connor          6            1996-2001
Danny Gill                5            2000-2004
Mike Hillman Jr.        5            2004-2008
Barry Dodson            4            1995-1998
Gene Nead               4             2002-2005
Fred Wanke              4            1998-2001
Richie Wauters         4             2004-2007
 
Quotable:

“Fontana will be the first real ‘race’ of the season in a way; it’s the first opportunity we’ll have to see how the trucks perform under the new engine rules.  I believe that we’ll see Daytona-style racing with big packs running together.” – Erik Darnell, No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford, who won the Keystone Light Pole at Daytona.

“Last year several times the trucks made only one pit stop or even no pit stops during the races (and) that really took away the importance of pit road for the drivers, teams and the fans. So, I think by making our fuel cell smaller it will only make our racing even better. Fuel mileage has always been an issue at California because it is a two-mile oval, but throw in the smaller fuel cell and it becomes a larger issue. It should be pretty interesting on Saturday.” - Stacy Compton, No. 4 Carl Burgers Dodge, on the impact of the fuel cell size in 2008.

FAST FACTS

The Race: San Bernardino County 200
The Place: California Speedway
The Date: Feb. 23, 2008
The Time: 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Race Distance: 200 miles/ 100 laps
TV: FOX, 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Track Layout: 2.0-mile banked paved speedway
Race Purse: $675,476
2007 Winner: Mike Skinner
2007Pole:  Carl Edwards

2008 Point Standings

Rank Driver                Points
1       T. Bodine          170
2       Kyle Busch       170
3       Johnny Benson 170
4       David Starr        160
5       R. Crawford       155
6       S. Compton      150
7       C. McCumbee  146
8       J. Marks           142
9       B. Scott           138
10     D. Setzer          134

Schedule:
Thursday – Practice, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.  Final Practice 3:00 p.m.–4 p.m. Friday
Qualifying, 1:40 p.m.

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