NASCAR UPDATE FEBRUARY 7 2015

56th Daytona 500

2015 Sprint Unlimited Format Set

Fans To Join Crew Chiefs In Setting Starting Grid

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 5, 2015) – NASCAR announced today that the season-opening 75-lap Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 14, will be split into two segments. A competition caution at lap 25 will separate the segments in the non-points event, scheduled for an 8:15 p.m. ET start (live on FOX, Motor Racing Network Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

New this year, select fans will be paired with each crew chief for a random drawing to determine starting and pit road positions. The drawings will take place on Friday, Feb. 13 at the FDOT Main Stage inside the Sprint FANZONE beginning at 3:30 p.m.

“Anticipation for the start of the NASCAR season is at an all-time high among fans and drivers,” said NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell. “Fans have a unique opportunity to participate in key elements of the event, making this year’s Sprint Unlimited even more exciting.”

The field of 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will include 2014 Coors Light Pole Award winners, former Sprint Unlimited race winners and Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full time in 2014, and all 16 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers from 2014. If an eligible driver does not enter the race, the open position will be filled based on 2014 Championship driver points. The first five provisional drivers, respectively, are Clint Bowyer, Paul Menard, Marcos Ambrose, Casey Mears, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Tickets for the Sprint Unlimited are available online at DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can follow @NASCAR and @MissSprintCup on Twitter to engage in the #SprintUnlimited conversation.

NASCAR, NBCSN Reveal Robust 2015 Regional Touring Series Broadcast Schedule

Unprecedented 39-Race Slate For K&N Pro Series, Whelen Modified Tours;

K&N Pro Series East Richmond race moved to Fall weekend

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 3, 2015) – NASCAR and NBC Sports Group announced today an unprecedented broadcast line-up of NASCAR’s popular regional touring series, with a 39-race telecast schedule for racing’s premiere grassroots series as their landmark partnership begins this season.

NBCSN’s slate features all 25 K&N Pro Series races between the top developmental series, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. The coming season will also see triple the television exposure from previous years for the stars and cars of the exciting Whelen Modified Tours, NASCAR‘s only open-wheeled division, which competes at historic short tracks from New Hampshire to North Carolina. A total of 14 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified

Tour events are included on this season’s schedule.

“This represents a big step forward for all four of our U.S. tours and reinforces NBC Sports Group’s commitment to these important NASCAR developmental series,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president for regional and touring series.

“We’re excited to begin our partnership’s racing coverage with the up and coming stars of NASCAR,” said Mike Perman, Vice President of Programming, NBC Sports Group.

“NASCAR’s Regional Touring Series gives NBCSN a great way to kick off our racing action and compelling stories that will unfold throughout the year.”

NBCSN’s inaugural touring series event is the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season-opener at famed Florida short-track New Smyrna Speedway. The New Smyrna 150 will be contested on Feb. 15 and will air four days later on Feb. 19 on NBCSN.

All 39 races are scheduled to be presented by NBCSN in one-hour shows the week following the event.

NASCAR also announced that the K&N Pro Series East event at Richmond International Raceway, originally scheduled for Apr. 24, has been moved to the fall NASCAR weekend at “America’s Premier Short Track” and will open the weekend racing schedule on Thursday, Sep. 10. The race will air on NBCSN on Sept. 16.

“Working with our partners at the track and competition officials, we determined that moving the K&N Pro Series East event at Richmond to the fall date made sense for everyone involved,” Silbermann said. “This fills what was previously a month-long gap before the series finale, something I know the competitors will appreciate.”

‘The Ultimate’ DAYTONA 500 Moment?

NASCAR Lets Fans Decide In New Digital And Social Campaign

The ‘Ultimate DAYTONA 500 Moment Challenge’ Encourages Fans To Vote On

The Moments That Have Made The DAYTONA 500 ‘The Great American Race’

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 2, 2015) — Lee Petty in a “photo finish” for the ages. Fist fights on the backstretch. “The Intimidator’s” long-awaited trip to victory lane. The DAYTONA 500® has produced some of the most monumental moments in sports history and now fans have the chance to decide which one is the best of the best.

From Feb. 2 – Feb. 19, NASCAR® is inviting sports fans to visit DaytonaMoments.NASCAR.com to vote for the event they consider the moment that defined the DAYTONA 500.

The “Ultimate DAYTONA 500 Moment Challenge” will pit 16 distinct moments in “The Great American Race®” history against one another in a four-round, elimination-style set-up, similar to the new Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ format that debuted in 2014.

“Coming off one of the most exhilarating season finales the sport has ever seen, NASCAR created the ‘Ultimate DAYTONA 500 Moment Challenge’ to heighten anticipation for the 2015 season,” said Steve Phelps, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at NASCAR. “This year, we’re letting NASCAR’s passionate fans set the tone for the season by voting on the moments they believe shaped the most iconic race on NASCAR’s schedule.”

NASCAR is encouraging sports enthusiasts to use #DAYTONA500moments on their social media channels to share, champion and discuss the events they believe have made “The Great American Race®” one of the most highly anticipated events in all of sports. Throughout the campaign, NASCAR will showcase archival photos and video content related to the DAYTONA 500 across its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels. Rare mementos, such as tickets and race programs from Daytona International Speedway’s archives will also be revealed on NASCAR’s social platforms to showcase the rich history of NASCAR’s season-opening, crown jewel race.

The opening round of the “Ultimate DAYTONA 500 Moment Challenge” will be introduced tonight, Feb. 2 on NASCAR Race Hub at 6 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, with regular updates and exclusive announcements on the Hub when voting blocks end and round winners advance. The “ultimate moment” of the DAYTONA 500 will be revealed Thursday, Feb. 19 on NASCAR RaceDay on FOX Sports 1. Fans who vote in each round will be entered for the chance to win a trip for two to the 2016 DAYTONA 500, including access to the three NASCAR national series race events.

Voting Schedule

· Round 1 Vote (16 moments) Monday, Feb. 2 – Monday, Feb. 9

· Round 2 Vote (12 moments) Tuesday, Feb. 10 – Thursday, Feb. 12

· Round 3 Vote (8 moments) Friday, Feb. 13 – Monday, Feb. 16

· Final Round Vote: (4 moments) Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Thursday, Feb. 19

The 16 DAYTONA 500 “Ultimate Moments”
· 1959 – In a true “photo finish,” Lee Petty was crowned the first DAYTONA 500 champion three days after the race.

· 1960 – Junior Johnson discovers the art of drafting en route to his only DAYTONA 500 win.

· 1964 – Richard Petty, a second-generation driver, wins his first of a record seven DAYTONA 500s.

· 1967 – Mario Andretti wins his only NASCAR race.

· 1972 – AJ Foyt calls his shot, joining Andretti as DAYTONA 500 and Indy 500 winners.

· 1976 – David Pearson limps across the finish line after wrecking with rival Richard Petty coming out of Turn 4 on the last lap of the race.

· 1979 – “There’s a fight between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison! The tempers overflowing, they’re angry, they know they have lost.”

· 1981 – Seven-time premier series champion Richard Petty extends his record with a seventh DAYTONA 500 title

· 1988 – Bobby Allison holds off son Davey Allison for the first father-son, one-two finish in the history of the DAYTONA 500.

· 1989 – Darrell Waltrip wins in his 17th attempt, in the No. 17 car, while his team celebrated in pit box…17.

· 1993 – Dale Jarrett holds off Dale Earnhardt with his father Ned Jarrett narrating the “Dale and Dale show” for CBS.

· 1998 – At long last, Dale Earnhardt wins “The Great American Race” and is greeted by an endless line of congratulations by opposing crew members.

· 2004 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the race that eluded his father for so long.

· 2007 – Kevin Harvick beats Mark Martin to the finish line by inches in the closest finish in DAYTONA 500 history.

· 2011 – Youngster Trevor Bayne pulls the upset giving the legendary Wood Brothers their fifth DAYTONA 500 win.

· 2013 – Danica Patrick becomes the first woman to win the Coors Light Pole for the DAYTONA 500, as well as the first to lead a lap.

The 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season will kick off with the 57th running of the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. ET from Daytona International Speedway®.

“The Great American Race” will be broadcast live on FOX, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com. Purchase tickets for the 2015 DAYTONA 500 via 1-800-PITSHOP or www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com

NASCAR Makes Two Key Competition Personnel Announcements

Little Named to Inspection/Officiating Post; Sawyer to Lead Truck Series

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 2, 2015) – NASCAR today announced two leadership changes in its Competition department, including the selection of Chad Little to the new role of Managing Director, Technical Inspection/Officiating and Elton Sawyer to Managing Director, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Both assume their new responsibilities immediately.

“NASCAR recently has made significant investments in both the technical inspection and officiating areas of our sport,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “Those areas have become flagship examples of innovation, keeping NASCAR as a premier sport. Chad is an ideal candidate to provide oversight and lead us to further evolve in those critical areas.

“Similarly, we’re fortunate to have a professional in Elton, who has substantial experience across the racing industry, to direct the popular NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.”

In the new role, Little will provide high-level oversight in all areas of technical inspection and officiating for the Competition department, bringing to bear NASCAR’s Research & Development. The updated officiating model includes the introduction of NASCAR’s new Pit Road Technology, which debuts during Speedweeks in Daytona later this month.

Little, who has spent more than 10 years at NASCAR, most recently served as Series Director in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the Weekly/Touring Series. A former driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Little brings a strong background in key areas of competition to this new role.

Sawyer joins NASCAR after serving as Director of Team Operations for Action Express Racing in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship governed by IMSA. Prior to that role, he held competition roles at Red Bull Racing and Evernham Motorsports. Sawyer also spent part of his career driving in NASCAR’s national series.

“We’re pleased with the development of our competition team,” O’Donnell said. “Chad and Elton will join the collaborative model already in place at the R&D Center.

They will work very closely with Gene Stefanyshyn and Robin Pemberton and the rest of our series directors to help NASCAR capitalize upon its strong momentum heading into the 2015 season.”

NASCAR Announces Chad Seigler as Vice President, Business Development Industry Veteran to Provide Senior Leadership of Key Department

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 2, 2015) – NASCAR today announced the appointment of Chad Seigler as Vice President, Business Development reporting to NASCAR Senior Vice President & Chief Sales Officer Jim O’Connell. The appointment of Seigler follows his promotion to Vice President, Team Marketing Services in 2014 and the recent departure of Sean Downes, NASCAR’s Managing Director, Business Development.

Seigler will officially transition to his new role on Feb. 9. He will oversee revenue generation and lead a sales force comprised of representatives in New York, Charlotte, Daytona and Los Angeles. In addition to setting the business strategy, Seigler will play a critical role in securing the new NASCAR Sprint Cup entitlement sponsor, as well as other Official and Entitlement Partnerships. Seigler will continue to be based in the Charlotte office.

“Throughout his tenure with NASCAR, Chad has used his unique skill set to develop relationships and help teams and tracks attract and retain sponsors,” O’Connell said.

“His experience working with the industry and with sponsors across all three national series – combined with the years he spent working in-house at our premier series entitlement partner – makes him the perfect choice for this critical role.”

In his current role, Seigler is a resource to some of NASCAR’s biggest decision makers, overseeing a team of professionals that prospects, presents and solidifies team, track and driver sponsorship programs.

Prior to joining NASCAR in 2007, Seigler was Manager of Industry Relations at Sprint NEXTEL, where he served as the day-to-day liaison to all NEXTEL Cup track venues and managed the series sponsor relationships with NASCAR drivers, teams and owners. He also spent five seasons with the Carolina Panthers as a Sports Marketing Executive, where he established and managed marketing partnerships with 15 regional and national brands for the NFL franchise.

Seigler was named to Charlotte Business Journal’s (CBJ) annual Forty Under 40 class for 2014. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Seigler earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. He serves on The National Sports Forum Steering Committee and is currently a board member for the North Carolina Motorsports Association.

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series.html

Graphics & Photos Courtesy of NASCAR

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