NASCAR Selects Gene Stefanyshyn to Lead Innovation and Racing Development

On By

Veteran Automotive Executive Brings Global Experience in Engineering Strategy, Product Development and Finance

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 25, 2013) – NASCAR announced today that Eugene (Gene) Stefanyshyn has been named Vice President, Innovation and Racing Development to drive continual improvements in racing performance. He will be based at NASCAR’s Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C.

In this role, Stefanyshyn will lead and shape NASCAR’s future approach to Competition by utilizing and developing innovations that advance the racing product and fan experience. Additionally, he will work in close collaboration with other NASCAR departments and industry stakeholders to develop a leading edge culture for NASCAR surrounding engineering and technology.

Stefanyshyn, a native of Ontario, Canada, will join NASCAR on May 13, 2013. His hiring concludes a thorough four-month search that was led by Courland International. He will report directly to NASCAR President Mike Helton and will work closely with Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell and Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. Read Full Article →

Daytona Beach Half Marathon Returns to Budweiser Speedweeks

On By

Daytona DISDaytona Beach Half Marathon Returns To Budweiser Speedweeks

DAYTONA BEACH (April 11, 2013) – The Daytona Beach Half Marathon returns to the Budweiser Speedweeks lineup in 2014. Scheduled for Sunday, February 16, the sixth annual Daytona Beach Half Marathon, hosted by Volusia County, Daytona International Speedway and the Central Florida Sports Commission will take place one week before the 56th annual “The Great American Race” – the Daytona 500.

Registration will open on Wednesday, April 17, with the advanced entry fee for the Daytona Beach Half Marathon set at $85 per person. The half marathon will start at 6:30 am, just hours after The Sprint Unlimited At Daytona finishes up under the lights on Saturday night, and lead into DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger on Sunday afternoon.

The integration of the race into Budweiser Speedweeks, once again allows organizers to further incorporate the racing theme into the already unique event. In addition, it enables many from the NASCAR community to participate. Included in the nearly 1,400 runners that registered for the 2013 event were four NASCAR drivers (Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Michael Waltrip and Aric Almirola) and more than a dozen other team members. Read Full Article →

GoDaddy.com Racing: Danica Patrick 55th Daytona 500 Race Report

On By

GoDaddy.com Driver Finishes Eighth, Marking Highest Finish for Woman in Daytona 500

Date: Feb. 24, 2013
Event: 55th Daytona 500 (Round 1 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway
Start/Finish: 1st/8th (Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
Point Standing: 7th (37 points, 10 out of first)
Winner: Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

Danica Patrick finished eighth in the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, earning the highest finishing position ever for a woman in the “Great American Race.”

The previous best finish for a woman in the Daytona 500 was 11th by Janet Guthrie in 1980.

Patrick, driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), wrote another chapter of Daytona 500 history by leading laps 90-91, becoming the first female to lead NASCAR’s most prestigious race. She also led laps 127-129. Patrick made similar history in the IZOD IndyCar Series when she led 19 laps as a rookie in the 2005 Indianapolis 500, becoming the first woman to lead open-wheel racing’s premier event. She finished fourth that year at Indy. Read Full Article →

Jimmie Johnson Wins Second Daytona 500 in 400th Career Start

On By

Jimmie Johnson NASCAR
Patrick finishes Eighth and Becomes First Female to Lead Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag in a thrilling finish to the 55th annual Daytona 500. The five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion claimed his second Harley J. Earl trophy Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway.

Johnson’s first Daytona 500 victory came in 2006. He started in the ninth position for both of his Daytona 500 race wins.

“I’m a very lucky man to have won it twice and (I am) honored to be on that trophy with all of those great names,” said Johnson.

“Chad Knaus and all of Hendrick Motorsports had me (in) a fast car and I could really stay up front all day long. I had a lot of confidence in the final few laps leading the train, so I knew just how fast the car was. So big credit to everybody at Hendrick Motorsports.” Read Full Article →

CHEVY NSCS AT DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS: Post Race Driver Notes and Quotes

On By

 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
FEBRUARY 24, 2013

 JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – WINNER OF THE 55TH DAYTONA 500

 THIS IS THE SECOND TIME YOU’VE WON THE DAYTONA 500, BUT IT’S BEEN A BIT OF A DROUGHT SINCE 2006.

“It has. Plate racing is awfully tough racing form of racing and there’s a lot of luck involved. Pack racing is a little different. You can’t ride and kind of wait for things to happen. You have to race all day long and fight for track position. And this race car, this Lowe’s Chevrolet, was so good. Chad Knaus and all of Hendrick Motorsports gave me a fast car and I could really stay up front all day long. I had a lot of confidence those final few laps leading the train because I knew just how fast this car was. It’s a big credit for everybody at Hendrick Motorsports.”

IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAD A SPECIFIC GAME PLAN FROM THE MOMENT YOU UNPACKED HERE IN DAYTONA

“We did. We wanted to get this car to the 500. We knew it was the best car for us and I’m very happy to have it in the 500 and it certainly did its job for us. I just want to give a big shout-out to all the fans and I also want to send my thoughts and prayers out to everybody yesterday that were injured in the grandstands. Go to Lowe’s. Buy some stuff. Spring is coming. Go buy a Chevrolet. I’m very happy to win the first Gen-6 car race by racing the Gen-6 car for Chevrolet and their Chevrolet SS. It’s been an awesome day.” Read Full Article →

Ford Daytona 500 Post-Race Quotes

On By

Ford Racing NSCS Notes & Quotes:
Daytona 500 (Daytona International Speedway)
Sunday, February 24, 2013

FORD FINISHING RESULTS
4th — Brad Keselowski
6th — Greg Biffle
9th — Michael McDowell
12th — Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
13th — Aric Almirola
18th — Marcos Ambrose
19th — Joey Logano
23rd — Scott Speed
26th — Terry Labonte
27th — Trevor Bayne
29th — Casey Mears
33rd — Carl Edwards
35th — David Ragan
38th — David Gilliland
40th — Josh Wise

DAVID RAGAN – No. 34 Detail Doctor Ford Fusion – “We were going through a green flag cycle of pit stops and just kind of riding and all I saw was the 2 coming across the race track, so I don’t know if the 2 cut down a tire or if he spun or if someone hooked him. I just saw the 2 c oming up the race track and I hit the guy in front of me and the guy behind me hits me. It was just an unfortunate event. We had some speed in our Ford and had a fast car. I enjoyed racing hard and was hoping to set ourselves up for the finish, but it just didn’t work out.” Read Full Article →