Williamson County resident Dario Franchitti walked away unhurt following a wreck Monday during IndyCar testing at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham AL. Franchitti's Honda-powered Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara snapped sideways coming off of turn one, sending him into the wall causing damage to the right side of the car. The team was able to repair the car so they can resume testing on Tuesday. (2/21/2012)
Daytona Camping World Truck Setup: Johnny Sauter
READY TO WIN IT ALL? Johnny Sauter, fresh off a holiday season with his wife Cortney and children Penn and Paige, is ready for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to start. At the annual NASCAR Media Day last week, he was voted by the NASCAR media as the one to “win it all” in 2012. While he’s humbled, the veteran driver knows a full field and a stout schedule of 22 races stands ahead of him. After all, he’s no stranger to a challenge – almost overtaking champion Austin Dillon last year after coming back from a deficit of 20 points at Homestead-Miami Speedway; winning the race and narrowly missing the championship by six points.
NEW YEAR, NEW SPONSOR: Sauter brings a new sponsor to the table in 2012. First-time sponsor The Peanut Roaster, parent company to Hot Honeys Honey Roasted Chipotle Peanuts, as well as other brands available on Peanut.com, joins Curb Records as a co-primary sponsor on the #13 truck. In Daytona, Sauter will pilot the Hot Honeys truck, showcasing the brand’s most popular peanut brands – and a new honeycomb paint scheme.
WING IT: The #13 team, along with Sauter, will host a NASCAR Night at the Wing House Oceanwalk Daytona Beach on Wednesday (22nd) for fans in the Daytona area. He and teammate Matt Crafton will sign autographs and give away almost $5,000 in Daytona 500 tickets for some lucky fans in attendance.
CHASSIS HISTORY: The #13 team will utilize chassis No. 25 this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. The tried and true superspeedway chassis for the #13 team, it has been in rotation with Sauter and crew chief Joe Shear Jr for the last few seasons. Its last appearance was at Talladega Superspeedway, where after a challenging crash, Sauter powered back to a 15th place finish.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Sauter drove the #13 home to Victory Lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway in a dramatic rain-shortened finish. With just 15 laps to go, Sauter sat in the lead ahead of competitor Denny Hamlin, when the rain began to fall. Race control made the call, and Sauter – after leading much of the race and executing a near-perfect combination of racing and pit stops all night – became the winner and the championship runner-up for the 2012 season.
THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: Johnny Sauter
What can you take from 2011 to be successful in 2012?
“The biggest thing we can do is look back at last season and see where did we lose points and what could we have done to prevent that. Obviously, there’s a bunch of red flags that stick up that we know. Having said that, I don’t think we can really focus on 2011 too much because it’s yesterday’s news. I think coming out in 2012 with the Toyota support and changing manufacturers, new sponsors — essentially my whole team is back and my crew chief. I feel like we can pick up right where we left off and ultimately try to win races and a championship.Do you enjoy the diverse competition in the Truck Series?
“That’s what makes NASCAR and auto racing so great is competition. Just when you think you have it figured out, you find yourself leading laps and winning races and then two weeks later with the same setup, you’re running 10th. Ty Dillon coming in is great. (Ron) Hornaday landing in a position — that’s great. The same old guys and new faces — the Truck Series is a great place for all that and to see the stars of tomorrow. Just happy to be there and hopefully I can contend for a championship.”What do you expect in the Daytona Truck Series race?
“I really don’t know. With the new grill openings and things that they’ve put on the trucks — I don’t know that the tandem is going to work. I’m the wrong guy to be asking about racing here at Daytona in the trucks because I haven’t even been able to hardly finish races here. I expect it to be action-packed like it always is. I expect there to be some wrecks. It’s very important to just try to finish here and take what you can get.”(2/20/2012)(ThorSport Racing PR)
Weekly Schedule for 2/13 to 2/19/12
- Music City Quarter Midget Practice @ Music City Speedway
- Bracket Racing @ Pickwick Dragway
- Music City Quarter Midget Ice Breaker 500 @ Music City Speedway
- Rookie winner: Bryson Shaffer
- Jr. Honda winner: Aiden Baker
- Sr. Honda winner: Sam Hatfield
- Jr. Animal winner: Jake Garcia
- Sr. Animal wunner: Dylan Fetcho
- Lt 160 winner: Alex Murray
- Hvy 160 winner: Dylan Fetcho
- Lt World Formula winner: Alex Murray
- Practice @ Clarksville Speedway
Test & Tune @ Music City Raceway(canceled - weather)
Stop-N-Go [World of Outlaws]
In the Sunday nightcap at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville FL, Nashville driver Paul McMahan failed to make the World of Outlaws feature for the second time in the same day. He qualified 30th-quickest of the 32 cars that tied in. The California native finished seventh in his heat race, then ended his night after finishing ninth in the semi-feature.
Craig Dollansky outlasted matinee winner Donny Schatz to claim the checkers and the $10,000 top prize. Click here for complete results. (2/20/2012)
Stop-N-Go [Fairgrounds Meeting]
Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville will have mandatory meetings for some drivers on Thursday, February 23rd. The meetings will take place in the speedway office:
- 6:30 pm - Pure Stock Division
- 7:15 pm - Pro Mod/Pro Truck Division
Stop-N-Go [World of Outlaws]
Paul McMahan failed to make the feature Sunday afternoon in the World of Outlaws event at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville FL. The race was a makeup from a rainout on Friday night.
The Nashville resident qualified 29th-fastest of the 31 cars that timed in. McMahan finished eighth in his heat race, sending him to the B-Main where he finished 7th, ending his day.
Four-time WoO champion Donny Schatz took the checkered flag on a windy day to grab the $10,000 top prize. Click here for complete results. They'll race again Sunday night in the scheduled event. (2/19/2012)
Daytona 500
The 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons opens on February 26th with the Daytona 500. We will be following:
- Michael McDowell (#98 Phil Parsons Racing K-LOVE/Curb Records Ford)
Click here for the complete entry list.
Practice 1
49 cars participated in the opening practice session. Michael McDowell was 41st on the speed chart (189.326 mph). Greg Biffle topped the chart at 193.395 mph. Click here for complete practice results.
Practice 2
Michael McDowell was 40th in speed (189.994 mph) of the 49 cars on the track for this session. Greg Biffle again paced the session at 193.241 mph. Click here for complete practice results.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Qualifying
Michael McDowell qualified 40th-fastest (190.990 mph). McDowell will need to make the Daytona 500 via the Gatorade Duels on Thursday. He will start 21st in the first Duel. Two will transfer from each Duel to the 500.
Carl Edwards (194.738 mph) and Greg Biffle (194.087 mph) locked down the front row for the 500.
Click here for qualifying results.
Click here for the first Duel lineup.
Click here for the second Duel lineup.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Qualifying
Michael McDowell qualified 40th-fastest (190.990 mph). McDowell will need to make the Daytona 500 via the Gatorade Duels on Thursday. He will start 21st in the first Duel. Two will transfer from each Duel to the 500.
Carl Edwards (194.738 mph) and Greg Biffle (194.087 mph) locked down the front row for the 500.
Click here for qualifying results.
Click here for the first Duel lineup.
Click here for the second Duel lineup.
Stop-N-Go [World of Outlaws]
Nashville driver Paul McMahan finished 15th Saturday night in the World of Outlaws season opener as part of the 41st annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville FL.
McMahan qualified 24th-fastest of the 32 cars that timed in. He finished fifth in his heat race, earning the final transfer spot to the feature.
Danny Lasoski took the checkers to claim the $10,000 top prize. Click here for complete results. (2/19/2012)
ARCA @ Daytona
The ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards opens their season Saturday (18th) at Daytona International Speedway with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. The entry list includes:
- Ed Kennedy (#0 Peterson Motorsports Ralph Solhem Racing Chevrolet)
- Mike Harmon (#31 Peterson Motorsports American Heroes Ford)
- Jeremy Petty (#06 Peterson Motorsports Canadian Heroes Ford)
Click here for the complete entry list.
Practice
52 cars hit the track for practice Friday. Ed Kennedy was 31st on the speed chart (179.878 mph), Mike Harmon was 33rd (179.802 mph) and Jeremy Petty was 50th (173.906 mph)
Steve Blackburn paced the session at 188.632 mph. Click here for complete practice results.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Qualifying
Ed Kennedy will start the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 from the 27th position after qualifying at 177.834 mph. Mike Harmon needed a provisional after qualifying at 176.883 mph and will start 34th. Jeremy Petty failed to make the show after qualifying at 171.412 mph.
Sean Corr put the #82 Empire Racing Ford on the pole after a qualifying run at 182.663 mph. Bobby Gerhart had originally won the pole, but he was taken off the board after his engine failed post-qualifying inspection. Gerhart used a provisional and will start 42nd.
Click here for qualifying results. and here for the starting lineup.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Final Practice
Only 18 cars participated in the final practice session today. Ed Kennedy was third-fastest among that group at 183.872 mph. Mike Harmon did not participate in the session.
Bobby Gerhart put the #5 Lucas Oil Slick Mist Chevrolet on top of the chart with a speed of 184.102 mph. Click here for complete practice results.
Race Results
After running in the top 10 for much of the first half of the race, Ed Kennedy fell back to finish 24th, one lap off the pace. Mike Harmon was 32nd, two laps behind the leaders.
Due to a green-white-checkered finish, the race went 83 laps. Brandon McReynolds was leading coming out of the final turn on the final lap when he and the other leaders ran out of fuel. Bobby Gerhart charged through the slowing cars to claim his eighth Daytona victory.
Chris Windom, driving the #32 Win Tron Racing Toyota that will be shared this year with Brentwood TN driver Mason Mingus, ran in the top five most of the day and was second, right on McReynolds' bumper coming out of the final turn when he too ran out of gas. Windom finished eighth.
Click here for complete results.
Practice
52 cars hit the track for practice Friday. Ed Kennedy was 31st on the speed chart (179.878 mph), Mike Harmon was 33rd (179.802 mph) and Jeremy Petty was 50th (173.906 mph)
Steve Blackburn paced the session at 188.632 mph. Click here for complete practice results.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Qualifying
Ed Kennedy will start the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 from the 27th position after qualifying at 177.834 mph. Mike Harmon needed a provisional after qualifying at 176.883 mph and will start 34th. Jeremy Petty failed to make the show after qualifying at 171.412 mph.
Sean Corr put the #82 Empire Racing Ford on the pole after a qualifying run at 182.663 mph. Bobby Gerhart had originally won the pole, but he was taken off the board after his engine failed post-qualifying inspection. Gerhart used a provisional and will start 42nd.
Click here for qualifying results. and here for the starting lineup.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Final Practice
Only 18 cars participated in the final practice session today. Ed Kennedy was third-fastest among that group at 183.872 mph. Mike Harmon did not participate in the session.
Bobby Gerhart put the #5 Lucas Oil Slick Mist Chevrolet on top of the chart with a speed of 184.102 mph. Click here for complete practice results.
Race Results
After running in the top 10 for much of the first half of the race, Ed Kennedy fell back to finish 24th, one lap off the pace. Mike Harmon was 32nd, two laps behind the leaders.
Due to a green-white-checkered finish, the race went 83 laps. Brandon McReynolds was leading coming out of the final turn on the final lap when he and the other leaders ran out of fuel. Bobby Gerhart charged through the slowing cars to claim his eighth Daytona victory.
Chris Windom, driving the #32 Win Tron Racing Toyota that will be shared this year with Brentwood TN driver Mason Mingus, ran in the top five most of the day and was second, right on McReynolds' bumper coming out of the final turn when he too ran out of gas. Windom finished eighth.
Click here for complete results.
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