Wednesday, July 31, 2013

K&N Pro Series Directors Named

Kip Childress will transition to become the
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Director. (Getty Image)

Wright, Childress Named K&N Directors
Glover Joins NASCAR As Touring Series Technical Director

NASCAR announced today several moves NASCAR and NBC last week. NASCAR announced today several moves aimed at continuing to strengthen its touring & weekly series and broaden the level of experience within the competition department.

Former crew chief Chris Wright has been named the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Director, while Kip Childress transitions to become the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Director. In addition, veteran team manager and Daytona 500 winning crew chief Tony Glover has been appointed as the NASCAR Touring Series Technical Director.

Les Westerfield, who has served as the interim NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Director during the first half of the season, will resume his role as NASCAR Touring Series Technical Coordinator and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Race Director.

“NASCAR is committed to enhancing the competition and organization throughout all of our series,” said Brad Moran, NASCAR Touring Series director. “Kip Childress has provided tremendous leadership and guidance in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East over the last several years. Chris Wright brings a wealth of experience in the garage, and provides us with an opportunity to have a seamless transition.

“Having Tony Glover in the NASCAR Research & Development Center is invaluable,” continued Moran. “Tony will work closely with all of the touring series directors as NASCAR continues to provide a leading role in the advancement of short-track racing. Tony has many years of technological expertise and leadership that he brings to our series.”

As a crew chief, Glover has 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins, including Daytona 500 victories working with Sterling Marlin (twice) and Ernie Irvan. He also accumulated 45 Coors Light Pole Awards with 11 different drivers and guided two drivers to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie of the year honors.

Childress has been the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Director since 2008. His tenure has been highlighted by strong competition, ersity and growth in the series. Previously, he served as an official in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and is a third-generation NASCAR official with more than 20 years of experience in the sport.

Wright has been a crew chief, shop foreman and consultant for teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, as well as Late Model teams. The University of South Carolina graduate spent more than five years apiece with Robert Yates Racing and Team Rensi Motorsports.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series will be at Iowa Speedway on Friday, Aug. 2 for the second of two combination races between the East and West. The race will air on Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. ET on FOXSports1 – the first NASCAR touring series race to air on the network, which will carry the touring series through next year. Beginning in 2015, NBC Sports has exclusive rights to broadcast races from the NASCAR touring series, including the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, as part of the landmark agreement reached by NASCAR and NBC last week.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Thorn Dominates In Colorado Win

Thorn and Team celebrating their win.
(https://www.facebook.com/derekthorn)
Not even the rain could cool off Derek Thorn as he held off all challengers en route to winning the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Colorado National Speedway on Saturday night.

After rain delayed the start of the race by nearly two hours, Thorn wasted no time in asserting himself on the track. He dominated the action in the No. 6 Sunrise Ford/Lucas Oil/Eibach Ford, leading 148 of 150 laps en route to his second consecutive victory, third win of the season and fifth career series win. 

K&N Pro Series West cars thrill the CNS crowd in the their annual appearance (Starr photo)
“It’s hard when you’re up against guys like Hayley, Pursley and Krzysik,” Thorn said. “You just don’t know how much they’re saving. You don’t know what the track’s going to do to change. My tires were worn out and I started seeing rain drops on the windshield. I’m thankful it all worked out.”

The Lakeport, Calif., native – who had finished second last year in his only previous series race at the .375-mile Colorado track – won by a margin of .403 seconds.

Series rookie Jamie Krzysik, who is running a schedule of select events this year, made a late charge to the front for a career-best runner-up finish.

“We knew it was a long race and we knew that the right rear was going to be crucial to keep on it and make sure we didn’t burn the car up in the first 100 laps or before the end,” said Krzysik of Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. “We were just running, logging laps and picking them off where we could. When it came down to the last 30 or so laps we just started coming to the front. A couple more laps I think we would have had something for the 6 car up there, but just ran out of time.”

Fellow Canadian Cameron Hayley slipped to third at the finish after challenging Thorn throughout the event. The Calgary, Alberta native had managed to wrestle the top spot away on two occasions – but could only hold the lead for a lap each time.

“We had a good car,” the 17-year-old said. “It just went away at the end. There was a lot of bumping and banging. Who knows if we have a cut tire or what. But overall it was a very good run for our Cabinets by Hayley Toyota.”

Fifteen-year-old series rookie Giles Thornton had a career-best fourth-place finish, followed by Greg Pursley in fifth.

Michael Self came into the evening three points behind Thorn in the championship standings, and looked poised to challenge him early. A late spin-out knocked him out of the top three spots and he would eventually finish sixth, followed by Taylor Cuzick, Eric Holmes, Brett Thompson and Dylan Lupton to complete the top 10.

The race featured four lead changes between Thorn and Hayley. The pace was slowed by just two cautions for 11 laps.

With the win, Thorn increased his lead in the championship standings to 13 points over Self – 306 to 293. Hayley is third with 289, followed by Pursley with 264 and Lupton with 252. Carl Harr at 225, Cuzick at 222, Thompson at 217, Daryl Harr at 210 and Dylan Hutchison at 209 complete the top 10.

In the chase for this year’s Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, Lupton leads with 59 points. Thornton trails with 47 points, followed by Krzysik with 44.

The Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 will air on SPEED on Aug. 1 at 3 p.m. ET.



The next event on the series schedule is the Pork Be Inspired 150 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa on Friday, Aug. 2.

Monday, July 29, 2013

'Capture The Crown' at the Samuel Deeds 400 (Day 3)

Today is travel day, so my time is limited. However, I could not resist posting just a few of my favorite shots from the “Crown Royal presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at the Brickyard powered by BigMachineRecords.com” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Race Mom with Samuel Deeds
Justin Moore concert before the race.
Yup, that’s me next to the bricks at start/finish line.
Race winner, Ryan Newman enjoying his burnout.
Ryan Newman and his winning team doing the “hat dance.”
NASCAR Race Mom will post more details of this fantastic NASCAR Sprint Cup Series adventure when she returns to home base! #CrownHeroes

Sunday, July 28, 2013

'Capture The Crown' at the Samuel Deeds 400 (Day 2)


Early morning run to get credentials


Breakfast at the Crown Royal Motor Coach


Met up with old friend Blake Koch


Samuel Deed’s wife April were all smiles after her Pace Car experience


Our driver, Stefan Wilson, a Firestone Indy Lights driver and Justin Wilson’s
younger brother hit speeds of 120 mph on our pace car ride.


Time for lunch at our home base


Kyle Busch’s burnout after winning the Nationwide race


Samuel and April Deed spending time with Justin  Moore
(an American country music star and songwriter signed to Big Machine Records)


Fellow ‘Capture the Crown’ participants preparing for Moore's concert.


Justin Moore takes the stage.


NASCAR Driver Kurt Busch lifts $10,000 check,
money raise by free downloads of Moore’s “Heroes” song


Justin Moore keep the keeping the crowd on their feet, dancing, and loud


#‎CrownHeroes‬