2015 iwanna nascar preview

2015 SEASON PREVIEWRACE SCHEDULES PREDICTIONS DRIVER STANDINGS TOP PERFORMANCES

COPYRIGHT IWANNA, USA LLC. FEBRUARY 2015 FREEPOSTERINSIDE

ELLIOT CRAFTONTAKE LEAD

KEVINHARVICK

DENNY HAMLINFLIES UNDERTHE RADAR

STAND OUTROOKIETREVOR BAYNE

FIRST CHAMPION UNDER NEW CHASE FORMAT

JEFF GORDONTO RUN FINAL

FULL-TIME SEASON

CHANGES AHEADDRIVERS +

CREW CHIEFS ON THE MOVE

NASCAR 2015 SEASON PREVIEW iwanna.com2 IWANNA FEBRUARY 17, 2015

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[ courtesy of NASCAR Media ]

CHICAGOLANDNo. 1 seed BRAD KESELOWSKI torpedoed between KEVIN HARVICK and KYLE LARSON with 15 laps remaining to take the Chase opener in the Windy City.

NEW HAMPSHIREStatement made: JOEY LOGANO continued his strong year with his fourth win of the season. The 24 year old rode the momentum all the way to the Championship Round race.

DOVERAlive in the drive for five: The No. 24 visited Victory Lane at Dover to advance to the Contender Round in his quest for a fifth series title. JEFF GORDONS teammate, KASEY KAHNE, rallied from four laps down to also move on.

KANSASDALE EARNHARDT JR. hit the wall while leading the Contender Round opener and fell out of the Chase after he was unable to rebound in the following two races.

CHARLOTTEKEVIN HARVICK led a race-high 162 laps at Charlotte to capture his first Chase victory, but his performance was overshadowed by post-race fisticuffs between MATT KENSETH and BRAD KESELOWSKI.

TALLADEGABRAD KESELOWSKI clutch: The No. 2 Ford driver kept focus after controversy in Charlotte to avoid The Big One and claim a must-win victory at Talladega.

MARTINSVILLESpoiler alert! Fresh off his elimination from the Chase, DALE EAR-HARDT JR. colledted an emotional first victory at Martinsville to take away an automatic Championship Round-qualifying berth from a Chase driver.

TEXASBRAD KESELOWSKI cut JEFF GORDONS tire trying to shoot between him and JIMMIE JOHNSON for the victory, resulting in a post-race melee.

PHOENIXKEVIN HARVICK claimed a must-win victory and RYAN NEWMANS late-race move on KYLE LARSON catapulted them into the Champion-ship Round, along with DENNY HAMLIN and JOEY LOGANO.

HOMESTEAD-MIAMIThe No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief Rodney Childers had KEV-IN HARVICK pit for four fresh tires late in the race, a call that helped Harvick hold off Championship 4 contenders RYAN NEWMAN and DENNY HAMLIN on the final two restarts to capture his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in his 14th premier series season. The Championship 4 drivers highlighted the action running up front for most of the Ford EcoBoost 400 until JOEY LOGANOS No. 22 Ford fell off the jack on a crucial pit stop, dropping him far behind the rest of The Championship 4. The late-race drama put an exclamation point on arguably the most exciting Chase finale in NASCAR postseason history.

DEFINING MOMENTS[2014]

on the cover:Designed by Adalee Elkins

4 | KEVIN HARVICK36 | CHASE ELLIOT60 | MATT CRAFTON22 | DENNY HAMLIN43 | TREVOR BAYNE26 | JEFF GORDON57 | DRIVERS AND CREW CHIEFS ON THE MOVE

NASCAR 2015 SEASON PREVIEWiwanna.com IWANNA FEBRUARY 17, 2015 3

THE ULTIMATE DAYTONA 500 MOMENT CHALLENGE ENCOURAGES FANS TO VOTE ON THE MOMENTS THAT HAVE MADE THE DAYTONA 500 THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE

'The Ultimate' DAYTONA 500 Moment?NASCAR Lets Fans Decide In New Digital And Social Campaign

ee Petty in a photo finish for the ages. Fist fights on the backstretch. The Intimidators 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 con sider t he moment t hat 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 Chal lenge to heighten anticipation for the 2015 season, said Steve Phelps, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at NASCAR. Th i s ye a r, we r e l e t t i n g NASCARs passionate fans set the tone for the season by voting on the moments they believe shaped the most iconic race on NASCARs schedule.

NASCAR is encourag i ng sp or t s e nt hu s ia s t s to u s e #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 t he campaig n,

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 Speedways archives will also be revealed on NASCARs social platforms to showcase the rich history of NASCARs season-opening, crown jewel race.

The opening round of the U lt i m at e DAY TONA 5 0 0 Moment Challenge will be introduced tonight, Feb. 2 on NASCAR Race Hub at 6 p.m. ET on FOX Spor ts 1, wit h 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.

NASCAR MEDIA


THE FASTEST DRIVER doesnt a lways w i n a rac e or a championshipbut on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kevin Harvick did both.

Driving a No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet that has been the class of the field for most of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Harvick won Sundays Ford EcoBoost 400 at the 1.5-mile intermediate track and claimed his first premier series championship after a three-lap drag race against underdog title contender Ryan Newman.

Harvick was so wrapped up in the championship battle that the victory in the race didnt register right away.

I forgot we won the racehow about that? Harvick chuckled. I think this Chase is about the best thing that has happened to this sport over the last decade. This is probably going to shorten the drivers careers, because its been so stressful, but I want to thank every single fan for sticking with this sport, and to the industry for working to get it right.

After the 13th caution slowed the field on Lap 263, the result of debris dripping from the No. 32 Ford of Blake Koch, Harvick led the field to green on Lap 265 of 267 with Newman beside him.

Newman stayed to the inside of Harvicks car through the first corner, but Harvick, on four fresh tires to Newmans two, cleared the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and pulled away to a half-second victory.

Un d e r NA S C A Rs n e w elimination format for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the driver who won five times, including Sunday, and led 2,137 laps throughout the season beat the

driver who was winless with 41 laps led by a single point.

In his first season with SHR, Harvick won for the first time at Homestead and for the 28th time in his career. With the highest finisher among the Championship 4 contenders assured of the title, Denny Hamlin came home seventh, and Joey Logano ran 16th after a disastrous late-race pit stop.

Harvicks crew chief, Rodney Childers, made a critical call to bring Harvick to pit road for four tires under caution on Lap 249. With three cars staying on the track and eight others taking right-side tires only, Harvick restarted 12th, but two quick cautions fell his way.

H a r v i c k m a d e u p s i x positions almost immediately and restarted sixth after the 12th caution for an accident involving Koch and J.J. Yeley on Lap 254.

I knew I needed to get a bunch of (positions), Harvick said. I was fortunate to start on the outside. The seas kind of parted there as I came off of Turn 2 and was about to get four or five of them; I dont really know, but it was time to go for broke at that particular point.

When the next caution came out, we were fortunate enough again to line up on the outside (for the restart on Lap 259). That was pretty much what we neededto get the run on the outside down the backstretch.

On the final restart against Harvick, Newman said he contemplated the sort of all-or-nothing move he had used a week earlier against Kyle Larson to edge Jeff Gordon by one point for the final position in the Championship Round.

But Newman quickly thought better of the idea.

In the end, I just got down underneath him and he was close enough to me, took some of the air away from me, Newman said. I could have kept it wide open and washed up into him, and it wasnt the right move. It wasnt what I would have wanted him to do to me.

If we were close enough on the last lap, it might have been

Harvick wins at HomesteadTO SECURE FIRST NASCAR SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

Hamlin said. I mean, we brought a car that was capable of winning. I just dont know how to express it enough. Sometimes breaks go your way; sometimes they dont. They just didnt go our way.

Theres not much else we could have done with the strategy that we played with the cautions that came out. I wouldnt do a thing different. I think we overachieved greatly by being here, and we havent had the speed to compete for race wins all year, and we did today, on the race that really mattered. Just came up short.

Loganos first flirtation with a title came to an inglorious end when the No. 22 Team Penske Ford fell off the jack as the crew was changing left-side tires under caution on Lap 249. Last out of the pits, Logano restarted 29th on Lap 253 and could recover only to 16th by the checkered flag.

Its hard to be proud right now after coming home wherever

by REID SPENC ER , NASCA R W IRE SERVICE

[2014 CHAMPIONS]

DRIVER OF THE NO. 4 BUDWEISER CHEVROLET

we finished in this race, said Logano, who gets credit for fourth in the championship standings despite winning five races. I dont even know what that is. I dont even care.

You dont get shots at championships often. Hopefully we get another next year. This car had a lot of wins and a lot of top fives, and it doesnt mean a thing.

Gordon, the Coors Light Polesitter, led 161 laps, but came to pit road for tires on Lap 256 and wasnt a factor the rest of the way, finishing 10th.

WINS

5TOP FIVES

14POLES

8TOP TENS

20

KEVIN HARVICK with son Keelan after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship following the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 16, 2014. NASCAR via Getty Images

a different game, but I wasnt. I slipped off of Turn 4 coming to the white, and at that point it was pretty much over. I really was hoping he would slip a tire, blow a motor, something like that. That was our only hope. All those things go through your mind, but I had a pretty good run and cut down to the bottom and just ran out of racetrack, ran out of room, and he had the airhe had the line.

Hamlin, who forewent a pit stop on Lap 249 when most of the other lead-lap cars came to pit road, restarted in the lead on Lap 259, with Newman second and Harvick sixth, but Hamlins No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota quickly fell victim to cars on superior tires.

By the time NASCAR called the 13th caution on Lap 262, Hamlin had dropped to third behind Harvick and Newman, and he fell back to seventh in the final three-lap run.

For me, theres not one thing I would have done different,

First champion under new Chase format

Clinched championship by winning season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway

Led most laps this season in series 2, 137

First K&N Pro Series West champion to win Sprint Cup title

Third driver to win both NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships


BY THE NUMBERScourtesy of NASCAR MEDI A[2014 RECAPS]

80 cases of beer consumed post-championship

11 Lowest points finish in Jimmie Johnsons 13 full-time seasons

6.4 Joey Loganos average finish in Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup races - best among all drivers.11 Combined wins for Team Penske; the most in the teams history.

18 years

11 months

18 days

age of the youngest NASCAR national series champion,

Chase Elliot

5WINS

1 Sprint Cup Championship2 must-win victories; Phoenix/ Homestead

4 fresh tires on last pit stop to finish the race at Homestead

12 positions

advanced in final 15 laps at Homestead

2,137 LAPS LED

21.3percent of completed

laps led this season

3the famed No. 3 returned in style; Austin Dillon won the Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole Award

6Victories for season-wins leader Brad Keselowski, who ended the year fifth in the final standings

43 Aric Almirola visited Victory Lane 30 years to the day team owner Richard Petty won his series-record 200th race

2Ryan Newmans career-best finish

200,000 number of Twitter followers Dale Earnhardt Jr. gained in the 24 hours following his first tweet, typed after winning the Daytona 500

Dale Earnhardt Jr. @DaleJrTonight seemed like as good a night as any to join Twitter. How is everyone doin? #2XDaytona500Champ

23 Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlins #1 fan, showed up for the championship showdown NASCAR @NASCAR

The number 1 @dennyhamlin fan at @HomesteadMiami right now. #NASCAR Jordan

8top-five finishes by Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Kyle Larson

2 back-to-back championships by Matt Crafton, the first driver to accomplish this in the 20-year history of the NCWTS212

AJ Allmendinger won at Watkins Glen, his 212th NSCS start, to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup

3 competed in the Championship 4 Round


courtesy of NASCAR MEDI A

[2014 RECAPS]

How Did They Get There?KEY ADVANCING MOMENTS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP 4

DENNY HAMLIN No one has weathered the ebb and flow of the Chase quite like Denny Hamlin. Neither he nor his crew ever gave up, though. Time and time again he gained back spots on pit road that he lost on the track. In Phoenix the

story didnt change, with Hamlin receiving a clutch

service on his final stop of the race to bolster his

spot into the Championship Round. After struggling

to advance to the Eliminator Round, he led the

points chart as the penultimate race finished.

RYAN NEWMAN Mr. Consistency was a black sheep amongst the rest of the Chase drivers heading into Phoenix. Without a win to bolster his points, he had to continue to

live up to his newfound nickname. When a late caution turned his race upside down, Newman was forced to make a bold move to secure his chances of championship contention.

JOEY LOGANO Joey Logano never had a singular moment to define his move into The Championship 4 - his season simply never faultered. He was a force to be reckoned with

during the Eliminator Round, staying out of trouble at Martinsville, avoiding conflict in Texas and remaining true to form in Phoenix.

KEVIN HARVICK The Closer showed strength throughout the regular seas

on

and was a constant threat throughout the

Chase, but didnt quite have the wins to back up

his performance. By trouncing the entire field at his favorite track, Harvick punched his ticket to The Championship 4 and made a statement to his peers.

8,622 Laps Led 6,467 Laps Led 4,796 Laps Led

Poles: 34 Poles: 27 Poles: 24

Wins: 37 Wins: 30 Wins: 24

FAST FACTS NASCAR OFFICIAL OEM PARTNERSKey Notes From the 2014 Season


YOUNG FORD SUPERSTAR Joey Logano looks to build off of his top-five Cup season in 2014, and consensus status as the best NASCAR driver younger than 25.

Wide-grinning Logano mar-ried childhood sweetheart Brit-tany Baca, on Dec. 13. He turns 25 on May 24. The Middletown, Conn. native is lanky, at six-foot-one and a mere 140 pounds.

He blends driving skill with charm, and exuberance for his sport. Logano has been the top Ford driver for two consecutive seasons, emerging as an elite title contender. He finished eighth in Cup series points in 2013, his Penske Racing debut after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing.

He was fourth overall last year, when he won five times in the flaming yellow-red 22 Shell/Pennzoil Fusion. That was one less than the series-best six of fellow Penske star Brad Keslowski, who won it all in 2012, and equalled the five of Sprint Cup Chase champ Kevin Harvick.

Logano would have been se-ries champion ahead of Harvick (by seven points) and Kesel-owski, in that order, under the prior Chase rules. Jeff Gordon,

JOEY LOGANO with Brittany Baca at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards in Las Vegas (NASCAR via Getty Images)

WERE LOOKING AT LITTLE THINGS

IN EVERY AREA, TO IMPROVE.

OUR TEAM IS IN GREAT SHAPE

RIGHT NOW. I CANT WAIT TO GET TO

DAYTONA.

by PET E ZAMPLASRISING SUPERSTAR + NEWLYWED JOEY LOGANO HAS PLENTY TO SMILE ABOUT

Logano, Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. all would have ended 2014 ahead of Harvick if using the new driver point system but not the Chase playoff Harvick benefited from elimina-tion rounds and emphasis on Chase wins, to automatically advance. He leapfrogged Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Keselowski from eighth place into the top four by winning the second to last race, at Phoenix.

That set up winner take all among the final four, amidst a full field in the finale. Harvick won that Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami amidst, and with it the Chase crown.

Logano had a great shot. But he was done in by a jack mis-hap on pit road late in the race, and finished fourth in the final standings. Throughout the Chase I thought we did great, Logano said. We got all the way there (to the final four), did a perfect job until Homestead. And I think as a driver, I learned the way I needed to handle the pressure a little bit better ... How I can relieve the stress and the tension and nerves ... to understand what I need to do to lead my team, and get

them to calm down a little bit and do smoother pit stops. This offseason has extra practice in pit stops.

The other Chase finalists, Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin, did better that day. Keselowski in the no. 2 Miller Lite Ford was the best of the non-finalists in final points, in fifth place in final standings. Behind him, in order, were Gordon, Kenseth, Earnhardt, Edwards, Kyle Busch, Jimmy Johnson, Kurt Busch, A.J. Allmendinger, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne and Aric Almirola.

Logano registered 16 top-five and 22 top-ten finishes in 2014, ending in the top five in nearly half of the 36 races. He won (in order) at Texas, Richmond, Bris-tol, New Hampshire, and lastly at Kansas in the Hollywood Casino 400 to temporarily seize the Chase points lead. He was the first to reach the Eliminator Round. He already has eight career Cup victories. His 9.8 average starting spot was fourth best, in 14. He set qualifying time marks at Martinsville and Phoenix.

Loganos first Cup victory, at Loudon, N.H. in 2009, was a month after his 19th birthday.

He was the series youngest race winner ever, and Sunoco Rookie of the Year in 09. A year earlier, when barely 18, he was the youngest victor in the Na-tionwide (now Xfinity) Series. He won nine of its races in 2012, for JGR. Then in 2013, he helped Penske win the Nationwide owner title.

Logano runs in the lead pack on tracks of various lengths, with a strong Roush-Yates en-gine. But his kryptonite is re-stricter-plate tracks of Talladega and Dayton restraining horse-power; he missed the top ten in their four races. NASCARs new rules restrict horsepower and downforce series-wide, relegat-ing Cup cars to a much looser, less-performing Xfinity level.

Theoretically, Logano and others sharp in the secondary series can better adapt in Cup racing..

Theyre basically going to be Nationwide cars with the less horsepower, Logano said. It will still be more than a Na-tionwide. But we lost quite a bit of downforce. I dont think that

will make a difference. Last year with the high downforce and high horsepower, it worked. Nationwide worked, as well. Well still have to figure it out!

Thus the key is Roush Yates Engines and all of us really work together to understand what RPMs were going to be at, where we need to make our peak power, he said. Its not just put a tapered spacer on, and let er rip. It changes the whole build of that motor. Its a lot to develop. The key is to develop in phases, to stack pennies, and make a dollar. Were looking at little things in every area, to im-prove. Extra preparation bonds the team, to get more in tune.

The consolation of he and his team feeling greater pressure and stress is realization that a trophy is within grasp, Logano said. Everyones like, Oh my god, were on the verge of win-ning the championship. ... Our team is in great shape right now. I cant wait to get to Daytona.


DANICA PATRICK had her highest finish yet in 2014, but many are saying that the 32 year old still needs to become a little more competitive.

Patrick has definitely been showing signs of improvement with three top-10 finishes in 2014 after producing just one as a rookie. She had 14 top-20s compared with nine last year. However, in October crew chief Tony Gibson was transferred to underperforming Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch, and Patrick got Buschs former crew chief Daniel Knost. Busch immediately started performing better under Gibson, but the highest finish Patrick and Knost saw was 18th in the season finale at Homestead.

With former crew chief Gib-son, Patrick had her career-best Cup finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in August, advancing from 27th at starting to finish sixth. The most impressive thing was that run she had at Atlanta, Gibson said. It was a racetrack with no grip, really, really fast speeds, multigroove racetrack. To go there and be

WERE LOOKING AT LITTLE THINGS

IN EVERY AREA, TO IMPROVE.

by CAR RIE H ARDERTIME TO TAKE NEXT STEP FORDANICA PATRICK

successful as we were and be as fast as we were, that was prob-ably the highlight of my deal. It was incredible. To us, it was like winning the race.

Another positive for Patrick this year is that she kept a com-paritively low public profile amidst chaos among her team-mates at Stewart-Haas Racing. Team co-owner Tony Stewart dealt with striking and killing Kevin Ward Jr. in a sprint car race in August, series champion Kevin Harvick was involved in a brawl that broke out between Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselows-ki at Texas Motor Speedway and Busch was accused of domestic abuse by his former girlfriend late in the season.

In her personal life, Patrick continues to date Ricky Sten-house Jr., something that shes written about in her new posi-tion as Senior Editor for Derek Jeters new website, The Players Tribune. If its crazy to want to go to sleep next to the person who ran your car off the road going 200 miles per hour earlier that day, then Im certifiable, she wrote. Patrick goes on to

discuss the couples dog (who has her own Twitter account @DallasStenhouse) and says it has lead her to think about having children in the future. This is stuff that I didnt entertain before I was with him and its a big part of my life now. Its a question that every ambitious, working woman has to grapple

with.On what she needs to move

forward, Gibson says, The biggest thing that holds her back is her restarts. Shes got to really figure out a way to race better and be more aggressive on restarts... Its just experience. Hopefully she will give it time enough to learn it, and learn

and get better, but it will take a while.

Fans and sponsors will be expecting Patrick to be much more consistent in the upcoming season, so hopefully Patrick & Knost can form the rapport Stewart-Haas Racing wants for them, and the two can take those next steps forward together.

DANICA PATRICK (NASCAR via Getty Images)


print announced on Tuesday that it will not extend its sponsorship of the NASCAR Sprint

Cup Series beyond 2016. The significant changes within Sprint and the highly competit ive business environment it is in led to a decision not to extend its Cup Series entitlement position following the 2016 season.

We a r e p r o u d o f o u r association with NASCARs top series but have made the decision not to extend our sponsorship beyond the next two years, Sprints vice president-Marketing Steve Gaffney said. As we look to the future, Sprint is focused on investing in maintaining a competitive edge and providing consumers with the best value in wireless.

By the end of the extension signed in 2011, Spr int and NASCAR will have enjoyed a 13-year mutually beneficial

relationship. The partnership has produced demonstrated results for Sprint and delivered the best racing in the world to millions of passionate fans on a weekly basis.

Sprint has long benefitted from the unprecedented level of brand integration available in NASCAR, and the passionate fan base that is the most loyal i n s p or t s , Ga f f ney s a id . Without question, the NASCAR sponsorship property has been a valuable investment for us and will be for our successor.

Sprints integration into the sport was a prime example of a sponsor val idat ing its technology in NASCAR. As a leading communications services company dedicated to delivering the best value in wireless, it became an innovative leader in the sport as well.

In 2004, Nextel signed a 10-year agreement, the longest series entitlement partnership

in NASCAR history at t he t ime. In 2005, the company introduced a next-generation scanner known as FanView. In 2007, Miss Sprint Cup joined the sport, and the ambassador program now reaches 1.5 million social media followers. While the name changed to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2008, the innovations continued that year with the launch of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile application.

Spr int has been a great p a r t n e r, NA S C A R C h i e f Operating Officer Brent Dewar said. Theyve done a lot to help us grow the sport together at a very important time in our history.

They made it very clear to us

THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP WILL HAVE A NEW NAME BEGINNING IN 2017.

SPRINT will not remain title sponsor of the top NASCAR series past 2016.

that theyre proud to have been a partner with NASCAR, have seen great value in their investment and are very happy to share that with any brand that comes in to replace them.

As a new partner joins the ranks of nearly one-in-four FORTUNE 500 companies already investing in NASCAR, the sports value proposit ion was recognized in 2014 by two national series entitlement sponsors.

Camping World announced their seven-year extension, which will take us through 2022 giving us 14 consecutive years together -- which is an incredible statistic in its own right, Dewar said. Follow it up with Comcasts XFINITY brand, obviously a big

company that saw the value to join us for the next 10 years which matches our longest series entitlement in NASCAR history.

Combined with the new Chase format and the things were doing on the track, weve got a great story to tell for some interested parties that are looking for a way to bring their product and brands and connect them with the loyal fan base we have in NASCAR.

Dewar noted that digital properties and products have extended NASCARs 10-month season to virtually 365 days of the year that goes beyond the more than 5 million viewers to the Sprint Cup Series every single weekend that we race. NASCARs viewership numbers and constant content led FOX and NBC to secure media rights for 10 years at a reported $8.2 bill ion. The new broadcast agreements begin next year and extend through 2024.

To those brands that are looking to partner with us, we bring a great fan base thats highly engaged in the sport, and theyre highly engaged with the sponsors that support the sport, Dewar said.

NASCAR MEDIA

Sprint, NASCAR Partnership to End After 2016 Season

NASCAR 2015 SEASON PREVIEW iwanna.com14 IWANNA FEBRUARY 17, 201516 IWANNA FEBRUARY 17, 2015

RANK +/- DRIVER POINTS BEHIND STARTS WINS TOP 5 TOP 10 POLES EARNINGS1 +3 KEVIN HARVICK 5043 Leader 36 5 14 20 8 $7,078,477

2 +1 RYAN NEWMAN 5042 -1 36 0 5 16 0 $4,503,125

3 2 DENNY HAMLIN 5037 -6 35 1 7 18 3 $5,559,569

4 -2 JOEY LOGANO 5028 -15 36 5 16 22 1 $6,792,885

5 BRAD KESELOWSKI 2361 -2682 36 6 17 20 5 $7,736,072

6 JEFF GORDON 2348 -2695 36 4 14 23 3 $7,224,630

7 MATT KENSETH 2334 -2709 36 0 13 22 2 $6,546,244

8 +2 DALE EARNHARDT JR. 2301 -2742 36 4 12 20 0 $6,069,650

9 CARL EDWARDS 2288 -2755 36 2 7 14 0 $4,970,708

10 -2 KYLE BUSCH 2285 -2758 36 1 9 15 3 $6,279,847

11 +2 JIMMIE JOHNSON 2274 -2769 36 4 11 20 1 $6,982,235

12 +2 KURT BUSCH 2263 -2780 36 1 6 11 0 $4,070,644

13 -2 AJ ALLMENDINGER 2260 -2783 36 1 2 5 0 $4,364,763

14 -2 GREG BIFFLE 2247 -2796 36 0 3 11 0 $5,444,769

15 KASEY KAHNE 2234 -2809 36 1 3 11 0 $4,624,135

RANK +/- DRIVER POINTS BEHIND STARTS WINS TOP 5 TOP 10 POLES EARNINGS1 CHASE ELLIOTT 1213 Leader 33 3 16 26 2 $1,104,575

2 REGAN SMITH 1171 -42 33 1 7 26 0 $1,019,089

3 +1 ELLIOTT SADLER 1154 -59 33 1 7 25 1 $922,195

4 -1 BRIAN SCOTT 1154 -59 33 0 6 23 3 $913,704

5 TY DILLON 1148 -65 33 1 7 24 3 $944,154

6 TREVOR BAYNE 1086 -127 33 0 5 21 1 $953,774

7 CHRIS BUESCHER 1014 -199 32 1 5 14 0 $835,844

8 BRENDAN GAUGHAN 954 -259 33 2 2 7 0 $858,499

9 RYAN REED 889 -324 33 0 1 1 0 $768,599

10 +1 JAMES BUESCHER 868 -345 33 0 0 2 0 $754,684

11 -1 DYLAN KWASNIEWSKI 867 -346 33 0 0 3 1 $770,934

12 LANDON CASSILL 800 -67 33 0 0 3 0 $744,350

RANK +/- DRIVER POINTS BEHIND STARTS WINS TOP 5 TOP 10 POLES EARNINGS1 MATT CRAFTON 833 Leader 22 2 13 17 0 $467,367

2 RYAN BLANEY 812 -21 22 1 12 17 2 $415,632

3 DARRELL WALLACE JR. 799 -34 22 4 9 14 2 $459,746

4 JOHNNY SAUTER 773 -60 22 1 8 16 0 $351,393

5 TIMOTHY PETERS 746 -87 22 1 9 13 0 $404,264

6 +1 GERMAN QUIROGA 683 -150 22 0 3 10 0 $304,591

7 -1 JOEY COULTER 680 -153 22 0 3 10 0 $274,492

8 +1 JEB BURTON 679 -154 22 0 2 7 0 $286,551

9 -1 BEN KENNEDY 679 -154 22 0 1 7 0 $278,097

10 +2 BRYAN SILAS 548 -285 22 0 0 2 0 $237,676

11 -1 MASON MINGUS 545 -288 22 0 0 1 0 $228,306

12 +2 TYLER REDDICK 539 -294 16 0 3 9 2 $226,735

STATISCAL SERVICES courtesy of NASCAR MEDIA

[2014 STANDINGS]

[2014 Sprint Cup Standings]

[2014 Nationwide Standings]

[2014 Camping World Standings]

NASCAR 2015 SEASON PREVIEW16 IWANNA FEBRUARY 17, 2015 IWANNA FEBRUARY 17, 2015 17

THU, FEB 19 FOX Sports1/ 7:00PMBUDWEISER DUELDAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

SUN, FEB 22 FOX/ 1:00 PM DAYTONA 500 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

SUN, MAR 1 FOX/ 1:00 PM QUICKTRIP 500ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SUN, MAR 8 FOX/ 3:30 PMKOBALT 400LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SUN, MAR 15 FOX/ 3:30 PMCAMPINGWORLD.COM 500PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

SUN, MAR 22 FOX/ 3:30 PMAUTO CLUB 400AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY

SUN, MAR 29 FOX/ 1:00 PMSTP 500MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY

SAT, APR 11 FOX/ 7:30 PMDUCK COMMANDER 500TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SUN, APR 19 FOX/ 1:00 PMFOOD CITY 500BRISTOL MOTORSPEEDWAY

SAT, APR 25 FOX SPORTS1/ 7:00 PMTOYOTA OWNERS 400RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

SUN, MAY 3 FOX/ 1:00 PMTALLADEGA 500TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY

SAT, MAY 9 FOX SPORTS1/ 7:30 PM MAY KANSAS SERIESKANSAS SPEEDWAY

FRI, MAY 15 FOX SPORTS1/ 7:00 PM SPRINT SHOWDOWNCHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SAT, MAY 16 FOX SPORTS1/ 7:00 PMSPRINT ALL-STAR RACECHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SUN, MAY 24 FOX/ 6:00 PMCOCA-COLA 600CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SUN, MAY 31 FOX SPORTS1/ 1:00 PMMAY DOVER RACEDOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

SUN, JUN 7 FOX SPORTS1/ 1:00PMAXALTA 400POCONO RACEWAY

SUN, JUN 14 FOX SPORTS1/ 1:00 PMQUICKEN LOANS 400MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

SUN, JUN 28 FOX SPORTS1/ 3:00 PM TOYOTA/SAVEMART 350SONOMA RACEWAY

SUN, JUL 5 NBC/ 7:45 PM COKE ZERO 400DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

2015 SCHEDULE

SAT, FEB 21 ALERT TODAY FLORIDA 300 Daytona International Speedway FOX SPORTS 1/ 3:30PMSAT, FEB 28 HISENSE 250 Atlanta Motor Speedway FOX SPORTS 1/ 2:00 PMSAT, MAR 7 BOYD GAMING 300 Las Vegas Motor Speedway FOX SPORTS 1/ 4:00 PMSAT, MAR 14 MARCH RACE AT PHOENIX Phoenix International Raceway FOX/ 4:00 PMSAT, MAR 21 MARCH RACE AT AUTO CLUB Auto Club Speedway FOX SPORTS 1/ 4:00 PMFRI, APR 10 OREILLY AUTO PARTS 300 Texas Motor Speedway FOX SPORTS 1/ 8:30 PMSAT, APR 18 APRIL RACE AT BRISTOL Bristol Motor Speedway FOX SPORTS 1/ 1:30 PMFRI, APR 24 TOYOTACARE 250 Richmond International Raceway FOX SPORTS 1/ 7:30 PMSAT, MAY 2 WINN-DIXIE 300 Talladega Superspeedway FOX/ 3:00 PMSUN, MAY 17 MAY RACE AT IOWA Iowa Speedway FOX SPORTS 1/ 2:00 PMSAT, MAY 23 MAY RACE AT CHARLOTTE Charlotte Motor Speedway FOX/ 2:30 PM SAT, MAY 30 BUCKLE UP 200 Dover International Speedway FOX/ 2:30 PM SAT, JUN 13 JUNE RACE AT MICHIGAN Michigan International Speedway FOX SPORTS 1/ 1:30 PM SAT, JUN 20 JUNE RACE AT CHICAGOLAND Chicagoland Speedway FOX SPORTS 1/ 9:30 PM SAT, JUL 4 SUBWAY FIRECRACKER 250 Daytona International Speedway NBCSN/ 7:30 PM

2015 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SCHEDULE

FRI, FEB 20 NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES 250 Daytona International Speedway FOX Sports 1 / 7:30 PMSAT, FEB 28 FEBRUARY ATLANTA RACE Atlanta Motor Speedway FOX Sports 1 / 5:30 PMSAT, MAR 28 KROGER 250 Martinsville Speedway FOX Sports 1 / 2:30 PMFRI, MAY 8 MAY RACE AT KANSAS Kansas Speedway FOX Sports 1 / 8:30 PMFRI, MAY 15 NC EDUCATION LOTTERY 200 Charlotte Motor Speedway FOX Sports 1 / 8:30 PMFRI, MAY 29 LUCAS OIL 200 Dover International Speedway FOX Sports 1 / 5:30 PMFRI, JUNE 5 WINSTAR WORLD CASINO 400 Texas Motor Speedway FOX Sports 1 / 9:00 PMSAT, JUNE 13 AMEREN DRIVIN FOR LINEMEN 200 Gateway Motorsports Park FOX Sports 1 / 8:30 PMFRI, JUNE 19 AMERICAN ETHANOL 200 Iowa Speedway FOX Sports 1 / 8:30 PMTHU, JULY 9 UNOH 225 Kentucky Speedway FOX Sports 1 / 8:30 PMWED, JULY 22 1-800-CARCASH MUD SUMMER CLASSIC Eldora Speedway FOX Sports 1 / 12:30 PMSAT, AUG 1 POCONO MOUNTAINS 150 Pocono Raceway FOX Sports 1 / 12:00 PMSAT, AUG 15 CAREERS FOR VETERANS 200 Michigan International Raceway FOX Sports 1 / 1:00 PM

2014 CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

NASCAR 2015 SEASON PREVIEW18 IWANNA FEBRUARY 17, 2015 IWANNA FEBRUARY 17, 2015 15

2015 MID-SEASON UPDATE

CONTACT YOUR SALES REP FOR MORE INFORMATION

Western North Carolina828-274-8888

Upstate South Carolina 864-370-2340

NASCAR 2015 SEASON PREVIEWiwanna.com IWANNA FEBRUARY 17, 2015 19 IWANNA FEBRUARY 17, 2015 15



Western North Carolina828-274-8888

Upstate South Carolina 864-370-2340


courtesy of NASCAR MEDI A

[2014 RECAPS]The Top Start Your Engines

Commands of 2014

The Great GonzoMarch 23

AUTO CLUB 400AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY

Kermit who? Gonzo stole the spotlight from his green friend with his

exuberant command at Auto Club.

Nationwide Childrens Hospital Patient Champions August 16

NATIONWIDE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL 200

AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAYThe most heart-warming Start your engines

call of the 2014 season.

Channing Tatum and Jonah HillJune 8

POCONO 400POCONO RACEWAY

Hollywood hit the pavement as our favorite big screen undercover cops forwent passing

out tickets to encourage high speeds.

Michael Carter-WilliamsSeptember 27

DOVER 200DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and former Syracuse star - definetly the tallest grand marshal

- should look into a day job as a hype man.

Jonathan Goldsmith The Most Interesting Man in the World March 9

KOBALT 400LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

He doesnt always attend sporting events, but when he does, he prefers

going to NASCAR races.

Harlem GlobetrottersNovember 2

AAA TEXAS 500TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Still undefeated #Enthusiasm

Chris Evans Febrary 23DAYTONA 500

DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Well-done call by our resident super hero. Captian America wears flannels?

Nevada Little League Squad September 27RHINO LININGS 350

LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAYNASCAR and baseball, quite the combination

of American tradition.

Bill Elliott August 30GREAT CLIPS 300

ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAYAwesome Bill from Dawsonville (Ga.)

gave the home crowd a thrill!

Butch Jones and Frank Beamer March 15DRIVE TO STOP DIABETES 300

BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAYGood try. Good effort. They should

probably stick to Xs and Os.


WEVE GOT THE READERSHIP! IWANNA has over 180,000 monthly WNC & Upstate SC readers.

IWANNA READERS ARE NASCAR FANS! Our reader are 101 times more likely to attend a NASCAR race than other residents of WNC.

YOUR AD GETS FEATURED ON THE WEB! This special issue will be promoted on iwanna.com which is visited by over 140,000 visits per month.

Why advertise in the most exciting NASCAR special issue in the Carolinas?

DEADLINES: JUNE 16TH PUBLISHES: JUNE 30TH



Western North Carolina: 828-274-8888 Upstate South Carolina: 864-370-2340

hile the Southeast remains the foundation of the series, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has expanded to major markets throughout the country, particulary since the 1990s, with the sport

adding the Northeast in 1993 and the Midwest in 1994, expanding further in the Southwest and West in 1997 and 1998. Florida - home of the world famous Daytona International Speedway - added

another venue in 1999 near its southern Homestead-Miami. The most recent addition came in 2011 with Kentucky Speedway.

In total - from the weekly and regional levels to the three national series that consist of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - NASCAR sanctions more than 1,500 events in 11 different series at 110 tracks in 37 states, Canada and Mexico.

THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RACES ACROSS AMERICA IN THE 2015 SEASON WITH ITS 36 CHAMPIONSHIP-POINT EVENTS HOSTED AT 23 TRACKS IN 20 STATES.


DENNY HAMLIN finished third in Cup final standings last year, making the first Chase final four, as je still eyes his first championship.Hamlin gets to zoom under the radar, in his quest for his first Cup title. He has stated hes felt overlooked, as a contender. On JGR he was a l ready overshadowed by fiery teammate Kyle Busch, in personality. This season, he gets further stashed from the main stage by new arrival of extroverted Carl Edwards of car-flip fame. Joining Matt Kenseth, too, Edwards gives Gibbs a fourth and extra team, more engineers and others in the mix. This boosts data sharing that Hamlin hopes helps him win it all.

Weve always just been kind of that next-tier team, real ist ica l ly, Hamlin, 30, acknowledged before entering his 10th full-time Cup season. We can compete for race wins, week in and week out ... We got better when it (the Chase) really counted ... But the championships have escaped us through mechanical stuff, which weve worked out. This

I FEEL LIKE IM THE MOST COMPETITIVE

PERSON ALIVE.

past year, our cars werent fast enough to compete. Weve just got to get better in more areas. Going to the fourth team will allow us to do that.

Crew chief shuttles send Dave Rogers, from Busch, to Hamlin in exchange for Darian Grubb and his crew. Grubb cost Hamlin 75 points last year, due to a technical infraction detected right after a race at Indy. Grubb was suspended for six races, and docked $125,000. Rogers and Hamlin clicked in what is now the Xfinity series, for seven wins. Rogers and Busch teamed for 13 Cup wins over five years.

Hamlin hopes for continued pit magic, to get the no. 11 FedEx Toyota back on the track faster than most rivals. His former unit is hailed as among NASCARs very best.

He has 24 Cup wins in nine years, starting in 2006. He and Jimmy Johnson are the lone rookies to ever sweep both races at a track in one season; Hamlin did the feat at Pocono.

Hamlins sole victory last year was at Talladega in spring, for his first points-rewarding restrictor plate win. One win puts a driver into the 16-car

Chase, unless more than 16 drivers win races. Hamlin had seven top-fives and 18 top-tens.

Hamlin reached the first-ever Cup final four for the winner-take-all finale at Homestead. He finished seventh in the race, and third-best among the four. Kevin Harvick won the race and title.

They lashed while racing for the lead, on Bristols short t rack k nown for bumping and grinding last fall. Hamlin led several laps. But Harvick bumped Hamlin, who crashed. Hamlin got out and angrily heaved his HANS safety device at Harvicks car. Harvick later apologized, but via Twitter rather than directly. Hamlin did not readily accept, saying how Harvick races him from now on counts most.

DENNY HAMLIN FLIES UNDER THE RADAR IN QUEST FOR FIRST TITLE by PET E ZAMPLAS

The 2014 season was the third one in which Hamlin came close to finally winning a Cup title, driving the no. 11 Toyota. He has had many bad breaks, to his car and himself. In 2013, he suffered a collapsed vertebra/compression fracture. That was from smashing head-on into an inside retaining wall at Fontana on the final lap after bumping with Joey Logano. He had knee surgery in 2010. Last year, he missed a race. A sinus infection limited him another time.

He has long felt overlooked, and f urt her squelched by ghosts of no. 11 drivers fast including Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough. In 2011, he felt pressured for two more wins so the 11 car became the most winning car number ... I never felt like Darrell gave me very much credit, you know? He noted then he and Kyle Busch were nearly equal in career wins. But hes known as the guy that wins everything. In getting to the Chase, Id rather win the races. I think those crown jewel accomplishments will live on with you forever.

Hamlin, who grew up in Virginia, said hes the most compet it ive dr iver in t he motorhome lot. No matter what it is whether were racing, play i ng a not her spor t or deciding who can run to that sign and back faster I feel like Im the most competitive person alive. It makes me very hard on myself when I dont achieve the goals I want to achieve. But I feel like thats what makes me as good as I am at times. I push myself to be better constantly.

He hits a button from relaxed to intense. I can spend the hour before the race here cracking up with all my friends and joking around, but as soon as I get around that race car, I completely change. The focus changes. The competitive juices get flowing.


oming off an exciting 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale,

NASCAR announced that all 16 Chase drivers will be eligible to compete in the 2015 Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). The 75-lap, non-points race will once again kick off the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing season Saturday, Feb. 14 (FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and will feature an expanded field of drivers based on new eligibility requirements.

A minimum of 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are eligible to participate in the Sprint Unlimited at DIS. In addition to the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup participants, the field also will include 2014 Coors Light Pole Award winners, as well as former Sprint Unlimited race winners and Daytona 500 pole winners who competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time in 2014. Any remaining spots will be filled by drivers highest in 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship points who are not already eligible.

The 2015 Sprint Unlimited has potential to be one of the most competitive ever, said NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve ODonnell. With more drivers eligible, the intensity level increases for our fans and competitors, making for a compelling start to the 2015 season.

Kyle Busch (2014 pole winner)Austin Dillon (2014 pole winner)Jeff Gordon (2014 pole winner)

David Gilliland (2014 pole winner)Denny Hamlin (2014 pole winner)Kevin Harvick (2014 pole winner)

Jimmie Johnson (2014 pole winner)Matt Kenseth (2014 pole winner)

Brad Keselowski (2014 pole winner)Kyle Larson (2014 pole winner)Joey Logano (2014 pole winner)

Jamie McMurray (2014 pole winner)Brian Scott (2014 pole winner)

Tony Stewart (2014 pole winner)Brian Vickers* (2014 pole winner)

Kurt Busch (former Unlimited winner)Dale Earnhardt Jr. (former Unlimited winner)

Carl Edwards (former D500 pole winner)Danica Patrick (former D500 pole winner)

Greg Biffle (former D500 pole winner)Martin Truex Jr. (former D500 pole winner)

Ryan Newman (2014 Chase driver)AJ Allmendinger (2014 Chase driver)

Kasey Kahne (2014 Chase driver)Aric Almirola (2014 Chase driver)

*Michael Waltrip Racing announced that Brian Vickers will not be available to race during the early part of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season due to health issues.

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 MEDIA

Expanded Sprint Unlimited Field to Feature Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers

THE 2015 ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE:


Bristol Motor Speedway151 Speedway BlvdBristol, TN 37620bristolmotorspeedway.comTickets & Information: 877-801-3945

Directions to the Track: From the south: Exit I-81 at I-181 to 11E; or at Tennessee exit 69 and take Hwy. 394 to 11E South From the north: Exit I-81 at Virginia exit 3 and take 11E south; or at Virginia exit 17 and take Va. 75 south, Tenn. 44 south, to US 421 north, to Tenn. 394 south. Speedway is located on Hwy. 11#, on south side of Bristol

TRACK LENGTH: .533 Mile concrete oval (500 laps = 266.5 miles) RACE LENGTH: 500 Laps (1), 500 Laps (2) GRANDSTAND SEATING CAPACITY: 160,000 FIRST RACE: July 30, 1961 - Volunteer 500 BANKING: Turns vary from 24 to 28 degrees, frontstretch varies from 5 to 9 degrees, backstretch varies from 4-8 degrees FRONTSTRETCH: 650 feet BACKSTRETCH: 650 feet NATIONWIDE TRACK QUALIFYING RECORD: Greg Biffle, 127.1325 mph, 15.093 sec., 3/26/04 NATIONWIDE RACE RECORD: Brad Keselowski, 93.509 mph (1:25:30), 8/20/03 CAMPING WORLD TRUCK TRACK QUALIFYING RECORD:Ken Schrader, 126.922 mph, 15.118 sec., 8/25/04

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK RACE RECORD: Travis Kvapil, 88.813 mph (1:12:01), 8/20/03 MOST OVERALL BRISTOL WINS (DRIVER): Kyle Busch, 15 (5 NSCS, 6 NNS, 4 NCWTS) MOST BRISTOL CUP WINS (DRIVER):Darrell Waltrip, 12 (7 consecutive) MOST BRISTOL WINS (CAR OWNER):Junior Johnson, 21 (8 consecutive) MOST BRISTOL CUP WINS (MANUFACTURER):Chevrolet, 43 (Ford is second with 33) MOST BRISTOL POLES (DRIVER): (TIE)Cale Yarborough, 9; Mark Martin, 9

?

In August of 2010, Kyle Busch made NASCAR history by sweeping the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series events at BMS. It was the first time a driver had won all three events at the same track in the same week/weekend.

The only father-son combinations to have competed in and won Sprint Cup races at BMS are Ned and Dale Jarrett, Bobby and Davey Allison and Dale and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Rusty Wallace snapped Jeff Gordons four-year Food City 500 winning streak in 1999 and got his 50th win in 2000.Cale Yarborough led all 500 laps of the 1973 Southeastern 500, the only driver to accomplish such a feat in a Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

APRIL 19TH AUGUST 22

2015 EVENTS


WILL REMAIN HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME

eff Gordon, the celebrated stock car champion whose crossover appeal helped take NASCAR into the

mainstream, will compete in his 23rd and final full-time Sprint Cup Series season in 2015. He announced his decision this morning to the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team he has driven for since November 1992.

As a race car driver, much of what Ive done throughout my life has been based on following my instincts and trying to make good decisions, Gordon said. I thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the offseason, and Ive decided 2015 will be the last time I compete for a championship. I wont use the R-word because I plan to stay extremely busy

in the years ahead, and theres always the possibility Ill compete in selected events, although I currently have no plans to do that.

I dont foresee a day when Ill ever step away from racing. Im a fan of all forms of motor sports, but particularly NASCAR. We have a tremendous product, and Im passionate about the business and its future success. As an equity owner in Hendrick Motorsports, Im a partner with Rick (Hendrick) and will remain heavily involved with the company for many years to come. It means so much to have the chance to continue working with the owner who took a chance on me and the incredible team thats stood behind me

every step of the way.Racing has provided

a tremendous amount of opportunity thats been extraordinarily rewarding and fulfilling in my life. The work were doing with the Jeff Gordon Childrens Foundation will continue to be extremely important to me. Outside the race car, my passion is pediatric

Jeff Gordon to Run Final Full-Time Nascar Season in 2015

Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001)

92 career Cup victories; third on the all-time list

77 career Cup pole positions; third on the all-time list

Three-time Daytona 500 winner (1997, 1999, 2005)

Five-time Brickyard 400 winner (1994, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2014)

Three-time champion of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (1995, 1997, 2001)

NASCAR record nine road course victories

NASCAR record 12 restrictor plate victories

1997 Winston Million winner and four-time Winston No Bull 5 winner

Seven-time winner at Darlington Raceway

WINS

92TOP FIVES

320POLES

77TOP TENS

454

cancer research, and my efforts will remain focused there when Im no longer driving.

Ill explore opportunities for the next phase of my career, but my primary focus now and throughout 2015 will be my performance in the No. 24 Chevrolet. Im going to pour everything I have into this season and look forward to the challenge of competing for one last championship.

To everyone at NASCAR, my teammates, sponsors, competitors, friends, family, members of the media and especially our incredible fans, all I can say is thank you.

Gordon, 43, has earned four career Cup championships, 92 points-paying race wins and 77 pole positions, all for longtime car owner Rick Hendrick. He is third in all-time victories behind only NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty

I THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT MY FUTURE THIS PAST YEAR AND

DURING THE OFFSEASON, AND IVE DECIDED 2015 WILL BE THE LAST

TIME I COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP.

(200) and David Pearson (105).One of the most versatile

drivers of his era in any auto racing discipline, Gordons rsum includes three Daytona 500 victories and a record five Brickyard 400 wins. He is the sports winningest road course driver with nine victories, stands alone as the all-time leader with 12 restrictor plate wins and has won at every track on the Sprint Cup circuit with the exception of Kentucky Speedway.

Theres simply no way to quantify Jeffs impact, said Hendrick, who first noticed Gordon during a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March 1992. Hes one of the biggest sports stars of a generation, and his contributions to the success and growth of NASCAR are unsurpassed. Theres been no better ambassador for stock car racing and no greater representation of what a champion should be. I will never be able to properly express the respect and admiration I have for Jeff and how meaningful our relationship is to me. Im so grateful for everything hes done for our company and my family, and I look forward to many more years together as friends and business partners.

Hendrick Motorsports will announce plans for its 2016 team alignment at a later date.

- NASCAR MEDIA

JEFF GORDON with team owner Rick Hendrick during the qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2011 (NASCAR via Getty Images)

JEFF GORDON driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 17, 2014 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (NASCAR via Getty Images)


FRIENDS AND DRIVERS REACT TO GORDONS ANNOUNCEMENT OF RETIREMENT

hen Jeff Gordon announced that 2015 would be his last full-

time season competing for a championship, everyone had something to say, but few were shocked.

Followers know that Gordon has had back problems, and that he also has a young family hed love to spend more time with. Besides that, a 23 year career that currently has him in 3rd place for all time wins, certainly qualifies him for a little rest and relaxtion.

Read on for some of the reactions to Gordons announcement on Twitter.

Jeff Gordon @JeffGordonWeb Jan 22Im proud of the career Ive had & knew this day would come, but Ill be involved with @TeamHendrick for many years to come.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. @DaleJr Jan 22Never will forget the day my dad introduced me 2 @JeffGordonWeb. 1994 at N. Wilkesboro Speedway. Told me This kid is gonna be special. Yep

Tony Stewart @TonyStewart Jan 22Cant imagine being at the track without @JeffGordonWeb. I dont think I would have ever had my opportunity without Jeff paving the way.

Steve Letarte @SteveLetarte Jan 22Racing without @JeffGordonWeb in the field will seem odd for sure. Enjoy the last full time year buddy. You deserve it! Thx u for everything

Regan Smith @ReganSmith Jan 22Very few have done as much for our sport as @JeffGordonWeb. Nothing but respect for one of the greatest thats ever raced.

Bobby Labonte @Bobby_Labonte Jan 22I dont tweet much but, will say I have always been a #Jeff Gordon fan & proud 2 know such a gr8 ambassador to the sport of #NASCAR #Team24

Hendrick Motorsports @TeamHendrick Jan 22Its not the R-word, its the start of a new chapter for @JeffGordonWeb

Brad Paisley @Brad Paisley Jan 22Heres to a great final season pal! RT @JeffGordonWeb: Running final full-time @NASCAR season in 2015

Jeff GordonsLast Season

FROM LEFT Jeff Gordon celebrates with daughter Ella Sophia and son Leo Benjamin on the yard of bricks after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents The John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indi-ana; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camping World RV 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2008 in Kansas City, Kansas; Jeff Gordons rookie year in NASCAR Winston Cup in the No. 24 Chevrolet for Rick Hendrick. The team won one pole at Charlotte in the Mello Yello 500 at 177.684 mph. (NASCAR via Getty Images)

His first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) start was at Altanta Motor Speedway on November 15, 1992 - he finished 21st

Number of seasons Jeff Gordon has competed in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup (2004, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14)

Number of years Gordon has competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (through) 2014

Number of starts before his first NSCS Coors Light Pole Award at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 10, 1993

Number of starts before his first NSCS career win at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 1994

Number of NSCS Coors Light poles - he is third on the all-time list

1

10

23

27

41

77

JEFF GORDON

A CAREER IN NUMBERS2015 WILL BE JEFF GORDONS FINAL

FULL-TIME NASCAR SEASON

- NASCAR MEDIA

Number of wins in the NSCS - he is third on the all-time list

His 100th start in the NSCS was at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 14, 1996

Number of his career NSCS Top-10 finishes

His 500th start in the NSCS was at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 14, 2008

His 750th start in the NSCS was at Alanta Motor Speedway on August 31, 2014

Number of Laps Led in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Number of Laps Competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

92

100

454

500

750

24,664

218,360


CARL EDWARDS Texas NSCS (NASCAR via Getty Images) IM VERY EXCITED

ABOUT WHATS COMING. ITS A NEW

ADVENTURE.

CARL EDWARDS flipped the switch on his career, leaving Roush Fenway Racing and Ford for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota, as Gibbs adds a fourth car and effervescent celebrity driver in the biggest change for the new season.

He joins Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and former Roush team-mate Matt Kenseth who made the same switch two years ear-lier. Hard-wired Kenseth and bombastic Edwards rivaled each other at times, at Roush. Kenseth did better with Gibbs than at Roush recently, particularly in his debut in 2013. Kenseth was series runner-up in 2013, win-ning a series-best seven times in a Toyota Camry.

Edwards, 35, hopes for similar rejuvenation to his outstanding career. He has often knocked on the door of a Cup title. He fin-ished in the top five in points in four of his 11 Cup seasons, and was runner-up twice (08, 11). He led the series in wins with nine, in 2008. In 11, he tied Tony Stewart who had more victories to earn the title. Edwards was third (again losing a tiebreaker) in 2005, and fourth in 10. He was among point leaders early

last season, won two races and reached the Chase semifinal round of eight drivers.

In 11, he re-signed with Roush rather than jump to JGR then. This time, he made the change. He said he was drawn to Gibbs statistical success. He gets from Hamlins garage Dar-ian Grubb and his ace crew.

He now hopes to reach the sports promised land of the final four, and to win the fi-nale and title. There is no other goal, Edwards said. I know that personally, Ive never been a better driver. I feel like the peo-ple I have around me couldnt be better. And I feel like we should go win the championship.

Gibbs has three titles Bobby Labonte in 2000, and Tony Stew-art in 2002 and 05 in Chevrolets and 114 Cup wins. Stewart left after Gibbs switched from domestic G.M. to foreign auto-maker Toyota in 2008. Kenseth won it all in 2003, with Roush. Hamlin was third last season, and he and Busch have often come close.

Joe Gibbs also won three (Su-per Bowl) titles as Washingtons football coach. He now is an elite stock car owner. He joined the

Cup Series in 1992 with Dale Jar-rett. Labonte replaced him in 95. Stewart came on board in 99. After a dozen years, a third team was added in 2004 with Hamlin behind the wheel since 06.

Gibbs said he was careful in adding a fourth team. Mainly, we were able to get Carl and we were able to get ARRIS. That was the perfect fit for us. ... Obviously by adding Carl and the fourth team, it brings more resources to the table. Were competing against other teams out there that have four teams in their alliance, or more.

Roush lost its three career wins leaders this decade. Elder veteran Mark Martin (35 wins) departed first, after NASCARs limit of four teams prompted Roush (the only one with five) to cut one. Then the other two bolted in their prime. Kenseth (24) left after 2012. Edwards de-cision went public last August. He drove the 99 Ford to 23 Sprint Cup races in 360 tries.

He won on Bristols half-mile for the first time in a decade, then won his first Cup road race ever at Sonoma. So-noma was a great win; I was really proud of it, he said. But

Roush no longer dominated intermediate-length tracks. And in the Chase, Edwards best was merely fifth at Kansas. The last few weeks were really tough, to be honest with you, he said. Competitively we didnt have the speed that we needed. So for us to just keep digging down and making something out of those races, that was an amaz-ing performance. My pit crew was basically flawless, (crew chief) Jimmy Fennig made per-fect calls, I felt like I did a really good job. But we just werent fast enough at Phoenix (to make the final four), and thats the way it goes.

The extra JGR car is number 19. This gives Coach Gibbs num-bers 11 and three in a row 18, 19 and 20. The first three are historic quarterback numbers. Johnny Unitas wore 19, as did Joe Montana with the Chiefs. Peyton Manning is 18. Phil Simms and Norm Van Brocklin were 11. The 20 reflects such star backs as Barry Sanders.

Edwards can put the 19 on the NASCAR map. Its drivers have won merely three Cup races

CARL EDWARDS FLIPS ROUSH FOR GIBBS, SAVORS GRUBB

by PET E ZAMPLAS

in history, with two by Jeremy Mayfield. Cale Yarboroughs first top-five finish was in a 19 car.

Edwards primary sponsors are ARRI telecommunications technology and Stanley tools/security.

Looking ahead and reflecting back, Edwards said Im very excited about whats coming. Its a new adventure. But Im very proud of what weve done. Ford will always be a part of my life. All the wins that we have, and the Nationwide championship have come with Jack (Roush) and Ford.

He feels nervous about per-forming from heightened pres-sure, yet that drives a competi-tor. The fit flip artist said I feel like Im stepping off of a ledge, and I dont know whats down there. We have a lot of expecta-tions and hopes. Now, weve just got to do it.

If he reaches his ultimate goal, hell be flipping with joy.


1998 DAYTONA 500 Dale Earnhardt (ISC Archives via Getty Images)

rian Vickers will sit out the early portions of the 2015 NASCAR Spr i nt Cup S er ies

season because of health issues, his Michael Waltrip Racing team announced.

In a statement released by the team, Vickers said he had surgery Saturday to repair a patch covering a hole in his heart. Complications from blood clots have sidelined the 31-year-old driver twice in his career -- for most of the 2010 season and for the latter stages of his part-time schedule in 2013.

Fi rst , I wa nt to t ha n k everyone for their sincere support, Vickers said in a s t atement . I h ave fac ed obstacles before and it has made victory that much sweeter and I know that will be the case again.

My previous experiences have given me a very keen understanding of my body. Late last week, I knew something wasnt right, so I went to the hospital to be checked out. Following several tests, it was discovered that my body was rejecting an artificial patch that was inserted in 2010 to fix a hole in my heart. Saturday, I had to have corrective surgery to repair the hole and now I am beginning the recovery process. I will need plenty of time, rest and rehab but this temporary setback will not stop me from pursuing my dream of becoming a NASCAR

Sprint Cup champion.Michael Waltrip Racing did

not mention a specific length of time that Vickers would be out of the cockpit. The team release also didnt specify a potential substitute driver for the No. 55 Toyota.

Brian has been a part of the MWR family since 2012 and our thoughts today are with Brian, his wife Sarah and the Vickers

family, said Rob Kauffman, the teams co-owner with Michael Waltrip. As a race team, MWR has plenty to consider and we will confer with our partners, including Aarons and Toyota. As this is fresh news, we will adjust our future plans as more information becomes available.

Vickers made his first start in NASCARs premier series in 2003, the year he won the championship in what will become the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2015. Vickers has three victories in NASCARs top division, his most recent coming with Waltrips team at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July 2013.

NASCAR MEDIA

MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING DRIVER HAD SURGERY TO REPAIR A HOLE IN HIS HEART

Vickers To Miss Start Of 2015 Due to Health Issues

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 Theres a fight between CALE YARBOROUGH and DONNIE ALLISON! The tempers overflowing, theyre 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 box17. 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.

NASCAR MEDIA


DALE JR. Pocono August 2014 (NASCAR via Getty Images)

DALE EARNHARDT JR. revved up his win total to four last year and turned in a career-best 22 top-ten Cup finishes, finishing consistently well with multiple checkered flags for a success recipe in the new points and playoff formats that emphasize victories.

These are pivotal steps to finally securing his coveted f i rst NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.

His four victories in the no. 88 Chevrolet Camaro SS were his most in seven seasons with Hendrick Motorsports, and his most in a decade since six in 2004 with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Four wins equaled his output for the prior nine campaigns. He won no races in 2013. Newfound winning and snappy tweeting both signal revived confidence and daring.

He h a s 2 3 Cup c a r e e r triumphs. His dozen top fives were his most since 04. He has made the Chase in seven of 15 seasons.

NA S C A Rs p e r e n n i a l ly most popular driver ignited his legions right away, when glowing in victory lane of the Daytona 500. He got there with versatile tactics of passing high and low, and by winning a two-lap shootout. Winning this race is the greatest feeling that you could feel in this sport, besides accepting the trophy for the

championship, he told media. When radioing his crew during his victory lap, he yelled This is better than the first one! The victory eased pressure, in qualifying him for the Chase.

He won both Pocono races, for his first track sweep since Talladega in 2002. Then he finally won at Martinsville, bringing home the grandfather clock trophy as he beat Father Time and the field. (He turned 40 on Oct. 10.) This is very personal and very special to me to be able to win here. He said hed put the clock by his front door, for all visitors to marvel at.

His runner-up at Darlington was best there. His third place was his first top ten on Sonoma, Calif.s road course. He equaled his best (second) at Vegas. Perhaps that beard got his Mojo motoring.

But the wheels fell off in the postseasons second/Contender Round. He finished 20th or worse at Kansas and Charlotte, again at Talladega after a late accident squelched his efforts to win the race to stay to advance in the Chase.

Earnhardt has hovered among the top three for parts of recent seasons, only to finish in the 5-10 sector of final standings. Last year he finished eighth in the final, official pecking order. But he was fourth best figuring the new point system that better

rewards victories, without applying Chase elimination rounds. He would have been seventh, under the old format, and 95 points back of top dog Joey Logano.

Junior was seventh in points in 2011, his first with Steve Letarte as crew chief. Letarte helped teammate Jeff Gordon, now in his swan song, win his four Cup trophies. He got Junior to dedicate more time to evaluating practices. He then led the series in points much of 2012 and notched a career-best 10.9 average finish, in a dizzying season sidetracked by a concussion and a missed race. He finished fifth in a winless but consistent-finishing 2013, then eighth last season. His best was third, in 2003.

The Kannapolis native is optimistic about this season, and revised rules.

I think the package will favor me, as much as anyone for maneuvering with less power, Earnhardt said after a Goodyear tire test at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The horsepower drops from 850-900 to 725. But he said after a while, you sort of get used to it and forget youre even down on power.

He is patient for his 2015 success. By midseason, I expect us to be a better race team than we were last year, Earnhardt predicted. I expect the cars to

have more speed eventually; it may take us a couple of races or a couple of months to get there. But I think our cars will be faster, and give us an opportunity to run better.

With Letarte in the NBC booth, Junior must adjust to new crew chief Greg Ives and new car chief Travis Mack in place of Jason Burdett. Ives guided Chase Elliott to the Nationwide (now Xfinity) title in 2014, for Juniors JR Motorsports. Ives mentored under Chad Knaus, as an engineer for Jimmy Johnsons title streak, and even now in

EARNHARDT REGAINS WINNING SWAGGER, COVETS FIRST CUP CROWN

by PET E ZAMPLAS

their 88 and 48 cars sharing a shop.

Greg is a talented crew chief. He has many advantages that will make us a better team, Earnhardt said. Steve was the strategist, one of the best guys on the box when it came to strategies, fuel mileage and stuff like that. It s too soon to tell exactly where we are there. Nationwide strategies are mapped out already because of the tire rule. You cant really pull a lot of little levers and get things done, get crazy.

However, he emphasized, I know the engineering side is getting stronger because of Gregs history as an engineer. Also, the return of engineer Kevin Meendering smooths transition. Thats going to help a ton, Earnhardt said. Kevin has all this information on whats worked with me. All drivers like things a little different. So Kevins going to be real influential in getting Greg up to speed.In turn, theyll help Junior stay up to speed on the track in his championship quest.

WINNING THIS RACE IS THE

GREATEST FEELING THAT YOU COULD

FEEL IN THIS SPORT, BESIDES ACCEPTING THE TROPHY FOR THE

CHAMPIONSHIP


n recognition of his career achievements as a champion driver, team owner and philanthropist,

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was named the recipient of the 2014 NMPA Myers Brothers Award, a prestigious accolade recognizing those who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of stock car racing.

This doesnt even seem real, said an emotional Earnhardt after receiving the honor at the 2014 NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon held at Wynn Las Vegas. The truth is obviously Im extremely humbled by this award, but I feel like I share it on so many levels - my sister Kelley (Earnhardt Miller) along with everyone at JR Motorsports is as deserving of this as anyone. I have a lot of passions with NASCAR, but I wouldnt be able to know how to make them realities without all those folks.

An accomplished driver, evidenced by his 23 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories and two NASCAR Nationwide Series championships, Earnhardt was cited just as much for his achievements outside his No. 88 Chevrolet, namely as the owner of JR Motorsports and a tireless community benefactor.

This season, JR Motorsports driver Chase Elliott became the youngest competitor to win a NASCAR national series championship after clinching the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series title. The 18 year old will likely join Brad Keselowski, Aric Almirola, Danica Patrick and Cole Whitt as Sprint Cup regulars who have developed under Earnhardt full time at the Nationwide level.

In addition to his Nationwide Series program, Earnhardt contributes to racing at its grassroots levels, fielding Late

Model or Street Stock cars since founding JR Motorsports. His Late Model drivers Josh Berry and William Byron finished first and second, respectively, this season in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Hickory Motor Speedway.

Earnhardts work extends off the track into the community. He has made 235 appearances on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a number that ranks in the top five among professional athletes. Furthermore, his Dale Jr. Foundation raised $913,000 to be distributed to more than 70 different charities.

Im just as proud of what weve accomplished there as anything weve ever done on the race track, Earnhardt said about his foundation.

The NMPA Myers Brothers Award has been presented annually since 1958 in the names of pioneer NASCAR

DALE EARNHARDT JR. accepting the 2014 NMPA Meyers Brothers Award in Las Vegas in December. (David Becker/NASCAR via Getty Images)

competitors Billy and Bobby Myers and its winner is chosen by a vote of the National Motorsports Press Association. Past recipients are a virtual whos-who of the industry drivers, owners, track operators, sponsors and members of the media and include nearly every current member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Seventeen other awards were given out at the luncheon, spanning from achievements in marketing, performance on the track and exemplary work in the garage. 2014 NASCAR

Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick garnered seven honors, including the 3M Lap Leader Award and Mobil 1 Driver of the Year.

This is really the first time Ive gotten to stand up here and actually realize what weve accomplished, Harvick said. Thank you to everyone who has participated in making our sport what it is. NASCAR MEDIA

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Receives 2014 NMPA Myers Brothers Award


COMCASTS XFINITY BRAND TO BECOME ONLY THIRD TITLE SPONSOR OF THE SERIES WHERE NAMES ARE MADE

NASCAR + COMCAST Reach 10 Year Series Entitlement Agreement A S C A R a n d

Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) announced today a

historic agreement that will make Comcasts XFINITY brand the title sponsor of what is now known as the NASCAR Nationwide Series through 2024. The 10-year term matches the longest single agreement around title sponsorship of any NASCAR national series in history, and is the longest e nt i t l e m e nt s p o n s o r s h ip agreement in this series history.

Beginning January 1, 2015, the property will be known as t he NASCAR XFINITY Series. XFINITY will become only the third title sponsor in series history following

Anheuser-Busch (26 years) and Nationwide Insurance (seven years). The agreement also makes XFINITY an Official NASCAR Partner in the multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) and broadband ISP categories.

The announcement was made during an event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame where the sports h istory is celebrated every day and was the first series entitlement sponsorship ever announced at the venue.

X F I N I T Y i s C o m c a s t s residential service brand and is the nations largest video and high-speed Internet provider. The company has increased Internet speeds for existing customers 13 times in 12 years and recently

CHASE ELLIOTTYOUNGEST NATIONAL

SERIES CHAMPION

2015 NASCARHALL OF FAME2015 SEASON PREVIEW


introduced XFINITY on the X1 Entertainment Operating System. The company also offers XFINITY On Demand, the most robust video on demand platform in the world. Comcast serves business and residential customers in 39 states and Washington, D.C.

Were proud to welcome XFINITY to t he NASCAR community as title sponsor of the NASCAR XFINITY Series for the next decade, said Brian France, NASCAR Chairman & CEO. NASCAR and XFINITY are each leader brands with much in common. Both are focused on innovation and have products built for speed. Together, we will work to take

this series to new heights and elevate one of the most unique and powerful partnerships in all of sports.

What will soon be known as the NASCAR XFINITY Series is the property where names are made and is like nothing else in major pro sports. It features the most talented young drivers regularly competing side-by-side against NASCARs biggest and brightest stars.

Te c h n o l o g y l i v e s a t the heart of NASCAR, just as it does for XFINITY, said Dave Watson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Comcast Cable. NASCAR provides an exciting env i ron ment i n wh ic h to

showcase our video and Internet products and we look forward to further enhancing the fan experience at home, at the track and on the go for years to come.

The series also has a large, highly engaged and technology-connected television audience. It races in some of the nations largest markets from Chicago to Los Angeles to Miami and at the sports biggest and most iconic tracks from Daytona I n t e r n at i o n a l S p e e dway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway, to Talladega Superspeedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

According to NASCAR Fan Engagement Tracker 2013 (commissioned by NASCAR

and conducted by Toluna), NASCAR fans spend an average of four-and-a-half hours each week watching NASCAR on television and an additional two-and-a-half-hours each week following the sport on digital platforms.

XFINITY is among the premier sponsors in sports today and a robust sponsorship activation program is part of the new agreement with NASCAR, with aggressive planning already underway.

Comcasts involvement with NASCAR is expanding rapidly. In addition to the NASCAR XFINITY Series announced today, Comcasts NBC Sports unit will begin broadcasting

NASCAR race events in July 2015.

After a successful seven-year run as series entitlement sponsor, Nationwide Insurance pivoted its marketing programs to become a NASCAR team sponsor next season. Nationwide also is the official auto, home, life and business insurance partner of NASCAR.

NASCAR MEDIA

SIX DRIVERS WILL COMPETE IN DIVERSE DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

New Names Fill 2015 NASCAR Drive For Diversity Roster

ASCAR Drive for Diversity (D4D), the leading developmental

platform for female and multicultural drivers and pit crew members, announced its 2015 class today. The program welcomes four talented program newcomers to the roster of six drivers striving to transition into the sports national series spotlight. Rev Racing, the programs competition arm, has played a key role in the development of 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the

Year Kyle Larson and NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Darrell Wallace Jr. and Daniel Suarez.

Taking steps to find and develop young female and multicultural athletes who could represent the future of NASCAR is at the core of our organizations mission, said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. We were impressed by the talent displayed at the Combine [in October of 2014], and are eager to help this group develop their strengths on and off the track.

Rev Racing will field four

teams in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and two in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. The 2015 class is led by returning K&N Pro Series East driver Jay Beasley and Devon Amos, who after an impressive 2014 performance in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series earned a spot in the K&N Pro Series East.

The 2015 NASCAR D4D roster includes:

DEVON AMOS: Returning to the team, the 23-year-old Rio Rancho, New Mexico, native will make the jump to

the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East after two full seasons in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

JAY BEASLEY: Finishing 13th overall and sixth in a loaded Sunoco Rookie of the Year field in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East last season, the 23-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada will return for a second season, aiming to best his rookie campaign.

COLLIN CABRE: After an impressive NASCAR D4D Combine performance, the 21-year-old Thonotosassa, Florida, native will compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in his first year with Rev Racing. Cabre has spent the past five years racing asphalt and dirt sprint cars.

NATALIE DECKER: A 17-year-old newcomer to the Rev Racing roster from Eagle River, Wisconsin, Decker collected feature wins in a limited late model and super late model, as well as earning Rookie and Sportsman of the Year honors in ARCA SCAG Midwest Truck Tour. She will compete in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in 2015.

KENZIE RUSTON: Entering her third season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and first with Rev Racing, the 22-year-old El Reno, Oklahoma, native is also a member of NASCAR Next, an industry initiative to identify tomorrows stars. Ruston broke her own record in 2014 as the highest finishing female driver in the K&N Pro Series East with a runner-up finish at Iowa Speedway on her way to finishing ninth in points.

DYLAN SMITH: The 22-year-old from Randolph, Vermont earned a spot with Rev Racing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series after competing in his own Late Model last year. The Stewart-Haas Racing employee ran 15 races and finished 38th in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I national standings.

Under Rev Racing owner and CEO Max Siegels leadership, the development program aligns drivers with a team of executives, athletic directors, crew chiefs and mentors tasked with helping NASCAR D4D drivers achieve career successes; thus, improving their goal of reaching one of NASCARs three national series.

NASCAR Drive for Diversity goes much deeper than putting drivers behind the wheel of race cars, said Siegel. The program is all encompassing, providing competition, athletic training and professional development opportunities for drivers who have the determination and talent to reach NASCARs top levels. Weve seen this with Larson, Suarez and Wallace Jr. and are excited about the potential of this talented group of drivers.

Growth of the program extends to pit crew members under the NASCAR D4D Crew Member Development Program, also managed by Siegel. In 2014, more than 30 multicultural athletes pitted fulltime for teams across all three national series.

NASCAR MEDIA

Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images


Youngest NASCAR national series champion (18 years, 11 months, 18 days)

First rookie to win a NASCAR national series championship

First NASCAR Next alum to win a NASCAR national series championship

With father Bill, becomes the fifth father/son combo to win national series championships, joining the Jarretts, Pettys, Pearsons and Earnhardts

CHASE ELLIOT (C), driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, poses with his crew chief Greg Ives (R) and team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. (L) for a portrait after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship following the Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 15, 2014 in Homestead, Florida. NASCAR via Getty Images

CHASE ELLIOT celebrates with his father Bill after winning the NASCAR

2015 iwanna nascar preview

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