'Fabulous' News

Country music stars, The Band Perry visited one of the most...

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:21:53 -0700

Country music stars, The Band Perry visited one of the most nostalgic venues in motorsports – Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) – on Saturday to make a special announcement about this summer’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Brickyard sponsored by Crown Royal. Crown Royal will name the race, to be held at IMS on July 29^th, after an everyday American hero through a program called “Your Hero’s Name Here.”

The five finalists who were announced by The Band Perry and could have the famous race named after them, are: Dale Beatty, veteran and cofounder of the nonprofit organization Purple Heart Homes from Statesville, N.C.; Lindsey Marquez, ICU nurse from Sun Prairie, Wis.; Curtiss Shaver, Fire Lieutenant and EMT from Troy, Ala.; John Thomas, Deputy Sheriff from Sarasota, Fla.; and Brandon Veatch, veteran and Purple Heart recipient from Bloomfield, Ind. In addition to having their name on all race signage, TV broadcasts and apparel, the winner will experience a true VIP experience – from waving the green flag to start the race to delivering the trophy in Victory Lane.

Beginning today, adult consumers can log on to the Crown Royal Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CrownRoyal) and click the “Crown Your Hero” tab to vote for the hero they think is most deserving of naming rights to the race. Voting runs through June 28^th and the grand prize winner will be announced in early July.

PRN Expands Broadcast Team with New Role for Wendy Venturini at Charlotte

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:17:54 -0700

Venturini to Be First Female to Call a NASCAR Race from the Radio Broadcast Booth

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 25, 2012) – The Performance Racing Network, long known for its engaging, fan-friendly broadcasts, is making history this weekend – rightfully at the History 300. It will make Wendy Venturini the first-ever female announcer to lead the NASCAR radio broadcast from the booth.

PRN is expanding the role for pit reporter Venturini at Charlotte to pair her with PRN president Doug Rice in the booth to announce Saturday’s History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is the first time in history a female has anchored a NASCAR radio broadcast. Venturini joins the broadcast team of turn announcers Rob Albright and Brad Gillie, pit reporters Steve Richards, Brett McMillan, Jim Noble and Pat Patterson, director Alicia Lingerfeldt and technical director Harrill Hamrick.

“We’re thrilled to have Wendy join us in the booth at Charlotte and expand our reporting bench strength,” said Rice. “Her knowledge of and passion for the sport are incredible, and we think she will bring a new level of excitement and entertainment to our broadcast.”

Venturini spends most weekends as a reporter for SPEED’s pre-race show, NASCAR RaceDay, and other SPEED programming, in addition to working as a pit reporter for selected races for PRN. Previously, she was a pit reporter in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Venturini is a 2000 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2007, Venturini was one of the commentators for DIRECTV NASCAR HotPass, making her the first female play-by-play television announcer in auto racing history.

“I’ve been blessed to enjoy the best of both worlds between my TV role with SPEED and occasional opportunities I’ve had to fill in on pit road for PRN,” Venturini said. “This chance to step into the booth on Saturday came as a surprise to me, but I’m flattered to be considered and ready for the challenge they’ve given me. Women like my mother, who served on my father’s ARCA championship-winning pit crew, made moments like this possible for me and other women in the industry.”

The PRN broadcast of the History 300 airs on local affiliates and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 26. The broadcast also will be available online at www.GoPRN.com.

On Sunday, May 27, host Mark Garrow will return to the booth with Doug Rice for the broadcast of the 53rd running of the Coca-Cola 600, beginning at 5 p.m. For additional broadcast details and station listings, visit www.GoPRN.com.

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About the Performance Racing Network
The Performance Racing Network (PRN) is one of two NASCAR licensed multi-broadcast radio networks which markets, produces and distributes motorsports programming 365 days a year. PRN broadcasts 13 NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series races, twelve NASCAR Nationwide Series events and produces “Fast Talk”, “The Pit Reporters”, “Garage Pass” and “zMAX Racing Country.” Performance Racing Network is a subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE:TRK), a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. Its programming airs on more than 725 radio stations.

Country music superstar Brad Paisley (pictured left) joins...

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:26:03 -0700

Country music superstar Brad Paisley (pictured left) joins driver Jeff Gordon (right) on stage during Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th-win celebration on May 22 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, N.C. (Courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports)

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Diet Mountain...

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:23:10 -0700

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet, during Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th-win celebration on May 22 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, N.C. (Courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports)

"Drive for the Cover" Campaign Lets Fans Vote For Cover Driver of NASCAR® The Game™: Inside Line

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:17:05 -0700

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 24, 2012) – NASCAR fans will determine which NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver will grace the cover of the upcoming NASCAR The Game™: Inside Line video game in the “Drive for the Cover” campaign that launches today. This campaign lets NASCAR fans vote in a bracketed tournament that will be hosted entirely on NASCAR The Game’s Facebook page, and can be easily accessed at NASCARTheGame.com/Vote.

Voting opens today as the virtual race for the cover begins on Facebook. Fans will vote for their favorite drivers up to one time per day on Facebook in the “Drive for the Cover” campaign. The campaign will be like no other, as the voting will be featured on each driver’s Facebook page as well as their teams’ and participating sponsors’ Facebook pages. The four-round, seven-week tournament, will target NASCAR fans and avid gamers to have a voice in the selection of a cover driver for the latest NASCAR video game title. Drivers who advance to the next round will be announced the Monday after voting closes:

MAY 24 – Voting Opens (32 drivers)

JUNE 10 – First Round Closes (16 drivers)

JUNE 17 – Second Round Closes (8 drivers)

JUNE 24 – Third Round Closes (4 drivers)

JUNE 30 – Fourth Round Closes (2 drivers)

JULY 15 – Final Round Closes (Champion)

“I think the fans will really enjoy all of the new features and the opportunity to determine the cover driver for NASCAR The Game: Inside Line,” said Blake Davidson, NASCAR vice president of licensing & consumer products and board member of NASCAR Team Properties. “The way Eutechnyx and Activision have integrated themselves into the sport has been amazing. From the fans to the teams, to NASCAR itself and now with our broadcast partners, they have been channeling that into something that evolves our NASCAR games into revolutionary interactive entertainment.”

Activision Publishing, Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) and leading independent game developer Eutechnyx announced last week that NASCAR® The Game™: Inside Line will be released this fall. Bringing the true NASCAR experience to consoles, the game will allow players to race with the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers, teams and cars, as well as feature all 23 officially licensed NSCS racetracks. NASCAR The Game: Inside Line is planned to launch Fall 2012 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Wii™ system from Nintendo.

“We set out to reinvent NASCAR gaming last year with NASCAR® The Game™ 2011 – and we’re very proud of it. With our continued enhancements to that game, and our very passionate fans helping guide us, we have an amazing platform to go to the next level with NASCAR The Game: Inside Line,” said Dave Thompson, executive producer at Eutechnyx. “We’ve added a new in-depth career mode and robust online features that include realistic race weekends, and now aspiring drivers can rise up through the ranks, attract sponsors, and upgrade their car’s components in the quest to be the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.”

“The collaboration between Activision and Eutechnyx produced last year’s hugely successful NASCAR game experience,” said David Oxford, executive vice president, Activision Publishing. “NASCAR The Game: Inside Line builds on that platform and adds a number of innovative, cutting edge features that will give fans and gamers alike the chance to participate in the sport like never before.”

Visit www.nascarthegame.com/vote to vote in the “Drive for the Cover” campaign.
NASCAR The Game: Inside Line video trailer is available at NASCARTheGame.com/DriveFTC.

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 races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most brand-loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 100 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 eight cities across North America. The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, will air May 27 on FOX at 6p.m. ET. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com. Follow NASCAR on www.facebook.com/NASCAR or on Twitter: @NASCAR.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

About Eutechnyx
Eutechnyx is the world’s leading independent racing game developer. With a history spanning over 24 years, the studio has won numerous awards for its million-plus selling titles and garnered exceptional acclaim in the business sector. As well as its headquarters in the Gateshead (UK), the company has studios in Hong Kong, Chengdu (China), Charlotte (USA) and a publishing office in London (UK). For more information, please visit press.eutechnyx.com.

Vodafone Ireland Brings Jenson Button to Dublin on June 3rd

Thu, 17 May 2012 20:34:02 -0700

This June 3^rd, Vodafone Ireland bring racing legend Jenson Button and his state-of-the-art McLaren Mercedes F1 car to Dublin for a once-off street race that’s sure to be the highlight of the summer.

In the lead up to the event, Vodafone Ireland has released a series of four viral videos depicting the Formula 1 champion’s arrival in Ireland. Set in a series of familiar Dublin locations, the videos build toward the reveal of Jenson Button himself.

The race, part of Bavaria City Racing on June 3^rd, will be a historic first for the city streets, as Button pushes his high-performance car to the limit past iconic Dublin locations from CHQ to O’Connell bridge and Trinity College.

The event has been supported by a huge above the line and digital campaign driving users to the Vodafone Playground Facebook page, where an app allows them to race a virtual car around an accurate satellite map of the Dublin course.

Gamers gain chance to win grandstand tickets and even a drive around Dublin with Jenson Button himself at the wheel as they complete the circuit.

With this event Vodafone Ireland is hoping to create the urban highlight of the summer.

Meanwhile, the Vodafone Fanzone, located on the water at Dublin’s CHQ building, will let racing fans get close to a real F1 car and give them a place chill out on race day.

Vodafone Ireland is going to bring the streets of Dublin alive with the sights and sounds of McLaren Mercedes F1, and you’re invited to come along. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!

Vodafone Ireland’s Jenson Button viral videos:

http://youtu.be/DXA8XVVHSP4

http://youtu.be/fVM49DCLdH0

http://youtu.be/b8_grLqnc58

http://youtu.be/YAXwgZmeSNU

For updates see the Vodafone Playground Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/vodafoneplayground

OFFICE DEPOT OFFERS EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR FANS THROUGH ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES!

Thu, 17 May 2012 20:33:59 -0700

Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota for Joe Gibbs...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:54:31 -0700

Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, works with a Bojangles’ employee to make biscuits, which the restaurant chain is noted for. (Credit: Jason Smith, Harrelson Photography)

Jeff Burton (L) talks with Denny Hamlin (R) before practice for...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:49:37 -0700

Jeff Burton (L) talks with Denny Hamlin (R) before practice for the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo By Geoff Burke / Harrelson Photography)

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to the crowd during a visit...

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:43:04 -0700

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to the crowd during a visit by the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers to the White House on April 17, 2012 in Washington, DC. President Obama hosted the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart to honor his championship season. (Photo by Ned Dishman/Getty Images for NASCAR)

U.S. President Barack Obama, stands with NASCAR Champion Tony...

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:40:38 -0700

U.S. President Barack Obama, stands with NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart during an event on the South Lawn, April 17, 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. President Obama hosted the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart to honor his championship season. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Monster Energy-sponsored NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Kurt...

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:43:32 -0700

Monster Energy-sponsored NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch of KBM on location during a video shoot for the Monster Energy Ultimate Intern Search. www.facebook.com/monsterenergy (Photo: Business Wire)

Richard Childress Racing Announces Dates for First Pit Crew Training Combine

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:12:39 -0700

WELCOME, N.C. (April 4, 2012) - Richard Childress Racing announced today it will hold the first Pit Crew Training Combine in its 43-year history on Tuesday, April 10 and Wednesday, April 11 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the organization’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series facility located in Welcome, N.C..

The one-of-a-kind event, open to experienced pit crew members as well as athletes with a serious passion for developing into full-time pit crew team member, gives participants the opportunity to showcase their athletic talents and learn the necessary skills to help them develop into a well-rounded teammate. Activities will consist of a variety of rigorous agility workouts and physically demanding tests which include mock training programs and real-time simulated pits stops in high-pressure scenarios normally experienced on a weekly basis both on and off the track throughout the course of a full season. Entrants will have the ability to learn from some of the most experienced and respected leaders in the industry on what it takes to prepare your body and develop the necessary mindset for the highest level of motorsports competition.

“This event is an exciting opportunity for anyone with a passion to become a full-time pit crew member with an elite racing organization,” said Eric Wilson, Director of Human Performance at RCR. “With the right attitude and preparation, this combine could be a vital step towards an athlete’s goal of taking that next step in their career.”

The session on Tuesday, April 10 is scheduled for the positions of jackman and gasman, while the session on Wednesday, April 11 is scheduled for tire carriers and tire changers.

Qualified competitors who are interested should arrive at the RCR campus dressed and ready to work out, and check in at the front desk for instruction. There are no fees associated with the event and it is open to the public.

For additional information on all that’s happening at RCR, please visit http://www.rcrracing.com.

New Ford Commercial Featuring Carl Edwards Airs Tonight During NCAA Men's Championship

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:44:06 -0700

New Ford Taurus TV Spots Feature NASCAR’s Carl Edwards, Enthusiastic Ford Engineers on California Racetrack

The 2013 Ford Taurus ad campaign television spots debut this week, aiming to surprise car buyers in the same way participating engineers were surprised
The spots center around Taurus engineers sharing hot laps on a curvy, hilly California racetrack with NASCAR driver Carl Edwards
The series of commercials aims to demonstrate Taurus capability under extreme closed-course conditions, showing how the car has evolved from practical transportation to an authentic, athletic sport sedan

Nine Ford engineers received the surprise of a lifetime when they arrived at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. in January to shoot what they thought was a straightforward television commercialfor the 2013 Ford Taurus. Instead, they got a rare opportunity to experience firsthand how Ford’s flagship sedan performs under very extreme driving conditions with none other than famed NASCAR driver Carl Edwards behind the wheel.

All of the action and excitement was captured on tape and will air in the form of 30-second national television commercials beginning April 2. Longer digital versions of the spots and additionalcontent will be featured at www.ford.com/Taurus.

Edwards was gunning a 2013 Taurus SHO – equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost® engine – to speeds up to 120 mph, smoking thetires around tight curves and tearing up the straightaway. All of the engineers arrived thinking they would be asked to talk about Taurus technologies, but instead took hot lap turns in the passenger’s seat.

For a sneak preview of the new Taurus television spot, please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY0_4Pogd1s.

Brad Keselowski tries to find the right driver to fit his Lego...

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:21:57 -0700

Brad Keselowski tries to find the right driver to fit his Lego racecar at Legoland Discovery Center in Kansas City, Mo., on March 21, 2012. (Credit: Kansas Speedway)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards arrives on the...

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:19:53 -0700

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards arrives on the scene of a domestic disturbance scenario in a hostile environment simulator during a training event with members of the Fort Worth SWAT team on March 21, 2012 at the Fort Worth Police & Fire Training Center in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Kaspersky Lab Starts the New Racing Season with Scuderia Ferrari

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:18:56 -0700

Abingdon, UK, - Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content and threat management solutions, is back at the sharp end of Formula One in partnership with Scuderia Ferrari. The legendary Italian racing team unveiled its new single-seater for the 2012 season on 3 February – and the Kaspersky Lab logos on three sides of the nose cone took their F1 bow in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 18 March.

“We are delighted to continue our presence in the world of Formula One. Our partnership with Scuderia Ferrari has brought new passion to the company and remains outstandingly successful. Kaspersky Lab shares the same core values of Ferrari: we aim high, always move forward and keep on innovating. We are happy to root for Scuderia in the forthcoming season, speeding ahead on the nose cones of the 2012 Scuderia Ferrari single-seater” said Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and co-founder of Kaspersky Lab.

Kaspersky Lab entered the world of motor racing in May 2010, sponsoring the Ferrari GT2 cars of the AF Corse team in the Le Mans Series Championship, and assuming the status of ‘supplier’ to Scuderia Ferrari in Formula One. Half a year later, Kaspersky Lab became a ‘sponsor’ of the team and the Kaspersky Lab logo appeared on Ferrari’s Formula One cars.

The high-profile Kaspersky Lab logo featured on the cars’ nose cones and sides, on the drivers’ overalls and the team uniforms will be on display at all Formula One races in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. This is part of the new expanded sponsorship agreement between Scuderia Ferrari and Kaspersky Lab, which was unveiled at the final Formula One Grand Prix of the 2011 season in São Paulo.

More than 70 cars convened at Infineon Raceway on Tuesday to...

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:34:34 -0700

More than 70 cars convened at Infineon Raceway on Tuesday to break the Guinness World Records® Record for Most Cars Performing Donuts Simultaneously.

Seventy-five cars performed simultaneous donuts for more than 15 seconds, breaking the previous world record of 57 cars, which was set in Queensland, Australia, in 2010. Evidence of the claim was documented and will be sent to Guinness World Records for final verification. (Photo credit: Mike Doran / Infineon Raceway)

NASCAR® Star Tony Stewart to Sign Autographs at Local Office Depot Store in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:50:01 -0700

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman stands with Leslie Hervey (center)...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:14:50 -0700

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman stands with Leslie Hervey (center) executive director of the Martinsville and Henry County SPCA, Courtney Allen, an animal help specialist and Bodhi, a 20-month old Great Dane. (Credit: Martinsville Speedway)