Tell Us The Best NASCAR Race of 2010

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Twenty years ago, when I started covering NASCAR stock car racing, the sanctioning body's public relations staff consisted almost exclusively of one man who ran 'his' media centers in the same dictatorial manner that his boss, the late Bill France Jr., ran NASCAR.

That PR guy is now doing hard time in prison, but that's another story. Today, the many-tentacled NASCAR public relations operation is a media bureaucracy -- an endlessly churning mill of facts, figures, videos, press conferences, photos and other information and content.

In their efficiency and zeal, bless their hearts, the PR folks at NASCAR have informed us exactly which five of the season's 36 Sprint Cup races were the best of the year. Although I don't agree with all the choices -- I think the race in Texas last month was one of the best races I've seen in years -- NASCAR says these five were selected "from discussions with the national series director, competition department and NASCAR PR managers."

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/tell-us-the-best-nascar-race-of-2010/

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History About The Start Of Nascar

What started off as a way of racing stock motorcars on dirt tracks has now become as America's biggest and most-watched sporting event. It has rapidly matched and in many places taken over even the NFL as the most-watched sport. Nascar is huge today. For those of you wondering, Nascar stands for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. There are many popular races that are put on by Nascar. There are more than 1500 races that are sanctioned by Nascar with the Nextel cup, Busch series, and the Craftsman series being the most common ones.

The History
It all began in the early days of the 19th century, when Daytona Beach became the setting for speed and racing cars. It had quickly become the place where speed records were being passed each and every day. In fact, more than 15 records were set here in a span of a few years. Drivers then begun to modify their cars in order to escape the fierceness of the police force. It was here that modified cars began participating in the racing circuit.

William France, Sr.
It was William France, Sr. who can be named the founding father of Nascar or the man who laid the groundwork for it. William France, Sr. had traveled to Daytona Beach from Washington, D.C. to escape from the Great Depression. He then entered in the racing event at Daytona Beach and finished fifth. He saw that very often the drivers were left lurking in the dark after sponsors made off with their money. They were left unpaid most of the times after doing all the hard work.

This led him to the conclusion that a set of regulations, a governing body, and an organized championship were necessary for the improvement of the race and the drivers. This gave way to negotiations with several racing enthusiasts, and Nascar was formed on the 21st of February, 1948.

The First Races And Rules
Can you believe that the first set of Nascar rules and the points system were written on a saloon napkin? The first racing event sponsored by the facultative body was held at Daytona Beach. But the first ever stock car race was held on June 19th, 1949, at the Charlotte speedway. Alterations on the car commenced after about six years after Nascar was formed. Soon, custom-made vehicles began appearing on the circuit.

The Racing Circuits
Some of the tracks expended in the initiatory racing circuits are still utilized today. Martinsville Speedway is one of them. Darlington Raceway, which opened in 1950, is another. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is a popular track on the Nextel Cup circuit, dates back to 1909!

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Article Source: History About The Start Of Nascar

Source: http://www.articlespan.com/article/111202/history-about-the-start-of-nascar

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Your questions answered - Brazilian Grand Prix

Do I think Red Bull should have allowed Mark Webber to win in Brazil instead of Sebastian Vettel? Do I think Mercedes and Renault will benefit from such a tight battle this season? Do I agree with Bernie Ecclestone's comment that Lotus are the only new team to have contributed this season? Do I think heads should roll at McLaren? Who do I think has been the best driver in the bottom five teams? And the big question - who is going to win the title?

Watch my answers below.

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/murraywalker/2010/11/your_questions_answered_-_braz.html

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Opens Up About Team Shake-Up and His Popularity

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LAS VEGAS -- The only suspense in Thursday's announcement of NASCAR's 2010 Most Popular Driver Award rested with the winner. For the eighth consecutive year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. claimed the honor -- tops among the 1.5 million fan votes -- once again proving his popularity is soaring even if his on-track efforts have fallen flat.

"Oh yeah, I was surprised,'' Earnhardt claimed moments after accepting the award during NASCAR Champion's Week. "You just never know. There's the performance factor we've suffered from on the race track, there's the new guys coming into the sport all the time. You never take it for granted.''

The same could be said for winning.

Earnhardt hasn't won a race in nearly three seasons and hasn't even been consistently competitive in the No. 88 National Guard-Amp Energy Chevrolet, while his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson will be crowned champion for the fifth consecutive year in Friday night's lavish NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet at the Wynn Las Vegas.

The juxtaposition isn't lost on the third-generation driver, son of the late seven-time champion, Dale Earnhardt. The 2004 Daytona 500 champ and 18-race winner is hoping a three-way crew chief swap at Hendrick will infuse new life into his career. And it can't happen soon enough.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/02/dale-earnhardt-jr-opens-up-about-team-shake-up-and-his-populari/

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Sam Hornish Jr. May Return to Indy 500

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LAS VEGAS -- Three-time IndyCar champ and 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr.'s NASCAR future remains in limbo, but his team owner, Roger Penske, said Thursday that he will likely field Hornish in the Daytona 500 and possibly in the Indianapolis 500, too.

Penske confirmed the news during a sponsorship announcement at his Ferrari dealership in the Wynn Las Vegas Thursday, where the team unveiled Kurt Busch's new No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series and a similar design for the iconic No. 3 Penske car that three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves will drive at Indy next May.

For all his success in open-wheel racing, Hornish has never managed to make a big splash in NASCAR's big leagues, with only a pair of top-five finishes and eight top-10 efforts in 108 starts over three full seasons. And with no primary sponsor signed for his No. 77 Dodge, Penske said Hornish still doesn't have a full schedule set for 2011. Penske said both a limited Cup and Nationwide Series slate were possibilities.

"I told him that, at the end of the day, I'd much rather do a program where we can support you 100 percent than have some pick-up program with not enough sponsors,'' Penske said. "We need to have the continuity. We have a number of opportunities, but we just couldn't get them closed at this point.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/03/sam-hornish-jr-may-return-to-indy-500/

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NASCAR Tracks - The Phoenix International Raceway

The Phoenix International Raceway hosts a variety of NASCAR and IRL events throughout the year. The Phoenix International Raceway was opened in 1988, and the Checkers Auto Parts course is 312 miles long - which equals 312 laps - and last year's race had an average speed of 103 MPH. For all sections of this top raceway the tickets are great and your sure to enjoy the Checker Auto Parts 500 that is run there each year.

The Phoenix International Raceway, built in 1964, boasts the world's fastest one-mile oval paved track for auto racing, and the Manzanita Speedway holds Sprint, midget, and stockcar races. The Phoenix International Raceway was opened in 1988, and the Checkers Auto Parts course is 312 miles long - which equals 312 laps - and last year's race had an average speed of 103 MPH.

Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) is a great track to visit if you want to experience NASCAR but on a smaller scale compared to much larger tracks and spectators. It's easier to bring the kids to this track because it is smaller and therefore the crowds are smaller. Phoenix International Raceway is one of the most unique tracks on the NASCAR schedule. Phoenix International Raceway may the same length as those two Nextel Cup Series venues, but thats where the similarity ends.

Carl has three wins in the all-new car series and could have had a fourth. Thats close to domination of the seven races so far but the good result have come on the super speedways, not the two short tracks. Cars get together and hook up in that second groove. But you can pass just about anywhere on this racetrack. Carved from the foothills of Estrella Mountains in 1964 the Phoenix International Raceway was a new star in the world of open-wheeled racing when it was opened. It wasn't until 1988, when NASCAR came to Phoenix that the raceway became truly world-class sporting venue.

PIR provides two great NASCAR weekends, one in the fall, and one in the spring. Fans from all over visit the Valley of the Sun for these two great weekends filled with the best in Sprint, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series racing. PIR is easy to get to from downtown. Take I-10 west to Avondale Blvd (formerly 115th Avenue), and drive south (left) for 6 miles. PIR is now in the outer suburbs of the fast-expanding Arizona city. The track hosted its first USAC Indy car races in 1964 with AJ Foyt winning the 100-mile event and Lloyd Ruby a 200-miler but it remained underdeveloped.

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Article Source: NASCAR Tracks - The Phoenix International Raceway

Source: http://www.articlespan.com/article/189635/nascar-tracks-the-phoenix-international-raceway

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F1: Trulli demands progress from Lotus

Trulli demands progress from Lotus By Jonathan Noble and Michele Lostia Monday, January 10th 2011, 14:29 GMT Jarno Trulli says he will not suffer a repeat of the troubles he had during 2010, as he eyes a decent step forward in performance this season. Related posts:
  1. F1: Trulli: Lotus ready to aim forwards Trulli: Lotus ready to aim forwards By Jonathan Noble Friday,...
  2. F1: Lotus: We must give Trulli a better car Lotus: We must give Trulli a better car By Jonathan...
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Source: http://doxcar.com/f1-trulli-demands-progress-from-lotus/

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Tony Kanaan Signs With DeFerran Dragon Racing for 2011 IndyCar Season

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In the second major IZOD IndyCar Series team announcement in the last week, de Ferran Dragon Racing named 2004 series champ Tony Kanaan to drive its No. 2 car for the 2011 season.

Kanaan, one of the most popular drivers in the series (shown above with his three-year-old son, Leonardo), parted ways with Andretti Autosport at the end of the season when his car's primary sponsor, 7-Eleven, withdrew its funding of the car.

The new job unites Kanaan, 35, with fellow Brazilian and longtime friend, team co-owner Gil de Ferran, a two-time former CART champion and the 2003 Indy 500 winner. Legendary owner Roger Penske's son, Jay Penske, and Steve Luczo are also owners of the three-year-old team, which is still looking for its first IndyCar victory.

"We are still young and developing and Tony is a big addition,'' said de Ferran, who joined Kanaan in their native Brazil for the announcement on Monday. "I have no doubt he will bring speed and determination but he'll also help us shortcut a lot of the development process.

"This news certainly clarifies that we are serious in our intention to become a major force in series.''

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/20/tony-kanaan-signs-with-deferran-dragon-racing-for-2011-indycar-s/

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