Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Jimmie Johnson & the No. 48 Team
Harlem Shake

Too fun not to share!




Daytona 500 Champion Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team do the Harlem Shake after their win at Daytona International Speedway.


THE SETUP: With the Harley J. Earl trophy sitting on the infield grass, rear tire changer Chad Teague gets the ball rolling with some darn respectable dance moves in front of the Lowe's hauler.

THE SHAKE: When everyone joins in, Johnson is the one dancing with the trophy. Baseball players Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche are supposedly in the video, too -- though they're tough to spot among all the madness. Johnson then finishes by putting the trophy down and flashing his Daytona 500 champion's ring.

DID YOU SEE THAT?: Uptight crew chief Chad Knaus lets his hair down by flashing by on a dirt bike at the beginning of the Shake portion. 

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Fans Injured at the Finish
Of the Nationwide Drive 4 COPD 300



Watching the last lap of the Nationwide Drive 4 COPD 300, my heart was pumping. It had been a perfect race for NASCAR fans; lots of drafting and passing. That exhilaration dissolved immediately, as from the television screen, this fan witnessed the #32 car of rookie Kyle Larson spin and fly much like a white plastic grocery bag caught in a stubborn wind.

The huge wreck, which involved 12 cars, happened after driver Regan Smith, who was leading the race, tried to block Brad Keselowski. "I threw a block there," Smith said. "I knew Brad was going to try to make a move on me. ... If I'm in the same situation tomorrow, I'll do the same thing again."

Not being a huge Larson fan, my relief was still giddy as the youngster dropped the window net and bolted out of the mangled cube of metal that had been was his racecar just ninety feet prior.

Respite quickly morph into terror however, when the realization of fan injuries crept into reality. Large chunks of debris, including a tire, had landed in the stands. At least thirty spectators, including a child, were negatively impacted by the flying shrapnel of the airborne racecar.

However, today as the wait for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Daytona 500 is less than two hours long, the official word that all of the injured fans appear to be improving lifts a heavy burden.

Joie Chitwood III, president of Daytona International Speedway, said his team met with NASCAR officials at 8 a.m. EST today to review the repairs, hours before 147,000 fans will fill the grandstand seats to watch the Daytona 500 race.

Young fan enjoys spending time with K&N Pro Series West Driver Moses Smith

In light of the news that one of the injured is a child, many people have criticized parents who bring their children to these racing events. However, this author cannot imagine a better family activity. NASCAR labors tirelessly to insure the safety of both the drivers and fan of their sport.

However, you can never keep your children a hundred percent safe. If you bring your child to the beach, they can step on glass or get stung by a stingray. If you drive your child to a baseball game, they can get hit by the ball. The examples are endless.

Watching a NASCAR race in your comfortable, air conditioned house is vastly different than watching the race in the grandstands. The look on the face of young NASCAR fans as they meet their favorite driver is priceless. The bond between a father and son at the race track is rare and remarkable.

"We've always known this is a dangerous sport," race winner Tony Stewart said. "But it's hard when the fans get caught up in it."

It is indeed difficult when these misfortunes occur, but we should not allow them to overcast the wonder that is NASCAR!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Any NASCAR fans want to be on TV?



Travel Channel will be filming at this year’s Daytona 500 and is seeking NASCAR superfans for a new series. 

They are looking for: 
  • A NASCAR-obsessed family in need of a tailgate upgrade – Do you love Daytona but wish you had a better tailgate setup?
  • The best food – Do you have the ultimate signature dish, award-winning food creations, or one-of-a-kind recipes?
  • The most unbelievable tailgate setup – Do you have a tricked out RV, unique tailgating inventions, or the perfect tailgating spot?
  • The best Daytona 500 events – Do you host the best Infield parties, potlucks, contests, or games?
  • The most unique Daytona 500 fan traditions – Do you have any peculiar or outrageous customs or superstitions? 

If you or your family fit any of the above descriptions and will be at this year’s Daytona 500, then Travel Channel wants to hear from you! Contact them by emailing U​ltimateNas​carFanCast​ing@gmail.​ with subject line “Daytona 500,” and include photos of you and your family showing off your NASCAR/Daytona 500 pride. 

By Jim Utter — jutter@charlotteobserver.com

(Wish NASCAR Race Mom were going!)

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

2013 NASCAR Day Pin

2013 NASCAR Day Pin Unveiled during the NASCAR Preview
at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on February 9, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This weekend's NASCAR Preview brought great excitement as Foundation Board Member and NASCAR Hall of Fame Member Rusty Wallace, official NASCAR artist Sam Bass and NASCAR Truck Series driver Dakoda Armstrong helped unveil the 2013 NASCAR Day Pin!

To help celebrate the 10th year of NASCAR Day, Sam Bass designed a custom art piece to showcase your NASCAR Day pin collection. The piece contains a special place for each years' pins and will be available in a set with the 2013 pin for a $25 donation. Missing any of the pin years? Don't worry! We will also have old pins available in case you missed one. Pins will be available on NASCAR.COM this week and collector pieces will be available after the Daytona 500 race weekend! 

Email nascarday@nascarfoundation.com if you have any questions.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Moses Smith - 24 Hours of Daytona

Moses climbs into the #87 Dodge Viper
(Photos From Buddy Hendricks’ FB Page)

"Unfortunately the Viper has retired from the 24. My stint was cut short due to the hardline to the power steering failing. Special thanks to the whole 87 team...you guys worked way to hard... What an experience for me...cant wait to come back and do it again!!!"  Moses Smith explained.

Many fans were also inquisitive about the brightly colored hearts that decorated the #87 Racers Edge Motorsports Dodge Viper.


"The hearts were a tribute to the different armed forces. All the hearts were available to be signed by fans during the fan walk to show their thanks and support for our troops..." Moses informed.





Flanders Returns To Irwindale

Bruce Flanders, Legendary Motorsports Announcer Returns To Irwindale Speedway For 2013 Season.


Irwindale, Calif. Feb 2, 2013 - - Bruce Flanders will return as the announcing voice of Irwindale Speedway on Saturday night, April 6, 2013.

That's really enough, but here are a couple more details: After a few years away (and the Speedway at Irwindale Event Center being dark for the 2012 season) the mellifluous voice and wry style of the iconic mikeman Bruce Flanders will once again inform and entertain fans at the San Gabriel Valley speedway.

"We couldn't be more pleased that Bruce is back for our re-opening season," said GM/COO Bob Klein. "Bruce is simply the best there is in this business. He was our voice when we opened in 1999 and it's just great to be able to say that he'll be back with us in April at Irwindale, where he has so many friends and fans."

Pasadena-born, Flanders' announcing credits run from the classic Hangtown motorcycle races to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and from Mickey Thompson's stadium off-road races, to being "type cast" in a number of blockbuster movies as, of all things, a racing announcer.

Irwindale Opening Night March 27, 1999 Photo by Long Photography

"There's just something about Bruce's innate sense of the show that just makes it more fun to be a part of a live, on-the-spot audience," said Klein. "He really loves and understands racing; that's evident with everything that he says to the fans. He respects their intelligence, and he's able to make it personal, even when he's talking to 5,000 fans over a racetrack PA system.

Flanders will be aided and abetted at Irwindale by his daughter Megan, who will be up in the booth with him acting as his engineer, key grip, and accomplice in the marvelous magic act that he does in turning stock racing action almost into poetry.

Not much more needed ... Tickets for the track's April 6 opening night and all of the other 2013 NASCAR races at Irwindale Speedway will go on sale on March 1. And, just as he was on opening night in 1999, Bruce Flanders will be there "upstairs" entertaining the fans for each of them ... Right where he belongs.