For Immediate Release

CORNELIUS, N.C. (September 2, 2010) – - As a part of V8X magazines 10-year celebration, motorsports journalists have rated NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Marcos Ambrose as the best V8 Supercar driver ever.

“It’s just an honor to receive this kind of recognition,” Ambrose humbly stated. “I really want to thank V8X magazine and the motorsport journalists who voted for me. I love the V8 Supercar Series and I have so many fond memories. I’m proud to have been able to be a part of its history.”

The magazine states that journalists were polled on ‘who was – or is – the best driver in the sport’ and ‘who they thought laid it all on the line’.

The dual V8 Supercar champion came out on top besting Mark Skaife (1994, 2000, 2001, 2002 champion), Craig Lowndes (1996, 1998, 1999 champion), Jamie Whincup (2008, 2009 champion), Garth Tander (2007 champion), Glenn Seton (1993, 1997 V8 Supercar champion), Greg Murphy, John Bowe (1995 champion), Russell Ingall (2005 champion), Rick Kelly (2006 champion) respectively.

Ambrose’s V8 Supercar stats are impressive. He has 28 race wins to his credit along with 18 pole positions and the Barry Sheene Medal in his Championship winning years of 2003 and 2004.

The article also cited that Ambrose was ‘a revelation when he arrived on the scene with pole position at the Australian Grand Prix support race in his first outing and from there he shrugged off the rookie tag with a round win in his first season and became only the second rookie in Bathurst history to score pole on debut.’

His strengths were listed as: Mind like a steel trap, racing, qualifying and development.

Ambrose, branded the ‘Devil Racer’, bid farewell to the V8 Supercar Series in 2005 to go across the pond and pursue a career in NASCAR.

Aligning with JTG Daugherty Racing based in Cornelius, N.C., he became a three-time NASCAR Nationwide Series winner at Watkins Glen International. As a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor, his career-best finish is second-place (Watkins Glen International).

ATLANTA – Aaron’s, Inc. will sponsor driver Michael Waltrip at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 31 as part of its 55th anniversary celebration. The two-time Daytona 500 champion and former Talladega winner returns to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driving the No. 55 Toyota fielded by his Michael Waltrip Racing organization.

Waltrip drove the Aaron’s 55th anniversary paint scheme at Talladega in April in a Toyota fielded by Prism Motorsports. He started last but led laps 31-34 before a multi-car crash ended his race. Waltrip also finished 18th in the 2010 Daytona 500.

“If the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series raced every weekend at Talladega and Daytona I’d still be driving full-time,” laughed Waltrip. “That’s how much I like those tracks and restrictor plate racing. The only place better than sitting in the stands or watching a restrictor plate race on television is behind the wheel of the Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota.”

Aaron’s sponsorship of this race program is designed to develop awareness of Aaron’s 55th Anniversary Super Sweepstakes with scratch-off chances to win every month through November 2010 and grand prize drawings in December including multiple chances to win a Toyota Camry Hybrid. People may pick up a game card each month at any of Aaron’s 1,700+ stores. And they should register their game cards each month at Aarons.com/55.

“We could not be more pleased having Michael racing the No. 55 Anniversary Dream Machine at Talladega,” said Aaron’s Chief Operating Officer Ken Butler. “His experience at superspeedways is like no other and we are confident that he will be at the front of the pack contending for the win.”

Aaron’s, Inc. entered NASCAR racing in 2000 when it agreed to sponsor the Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Waltrip agreed to serve as spokesman for the race in a television commercial, and Aaron’s agreed to sponsor Waltrip’s Nationwide team then housed in the backyard of his home.

As Butler, Waltrip and Aaron’s became more visible through television commercials during race broadcasts, the Aaron’s race car began to develop a public identity of its own and become synonymous with the number 99, Michael Waltrip and Aaron’s.

Aaron’s support of Waltrip continued over the years as Waltrip opened his 140,000-square-foot race shop in Cornelius, N.C. Michael Waltrip Racing now fields Toyotas for David Reutimann’s No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine and Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS entry in the Sprint Cup series and Ryan Truex’s No. 00 in the K&N Pro Series. MWR along with Gary and Blake Bechtel co-own Diamond-Waltrip Racing that fields the OUT! Pet Care/Aaron’s Toyota for Trevor Bayne in the Nationwide Series.

LISTEN HERE (About 45 mins)

Download audio file (tfl_chat_show125_10.mp3)

CORRECTION: The point leaders in 2010 have been: Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick from Fontana to Bristol (races 2-5), Jimmie Johnson from Martinsville to Talladega (races 6-9), then Kevin again after Richmond (race 10)
-Thanks to listener KC

SUBSCRIBE HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

SUBSCRIBE FROM iTUNES: Take us with you! Subscribe to our audio shows from iTunes, and they will automatically show up on your computer as soon as we post fresh shows..it’s easy, FREE, and we take no information. It’s like a DVR for audio so you can take us with you anywhere and listen on your schedule!

Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

NOTE: Also HEARD on Stitcher Radio

CREDITS:
Hosts: Kerry Murphey & Paul Northrop
Production: Kerry Murphey
Music: Radium Sound
Voice Over: Thomas Moog

Atlanta Motor Speedway, site of the next NASCAR Sprint Cup event, on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 5, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

AMS’s first year of hosting NASCAR events was 1960. The track had two races that year, won by Fireball Roberts and Bobby Johns.

Since then, the best-of-the-best have conquered, with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt atop the wins list with nine.

Prior to the Chase, the 12 drivers who qualify have their point totals re-set to 5,000, whereupon 10 bonus points are tacked on for each pre-Chase race win. Those adjusted point totals establish Chase seedings.

Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin have the prospective top two seeds all but locked up via five wins apiece, which would give them Chase starting totals of 5,050.

After that come Kevin Harvick and Busch with three wins apiece and potential starting totals of 5,030.

Two races remain until the Chase begins. Twenty more bonus points are there to be had.

Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon have already clinched berths in the 2010 Chase. A number of drivers can add their names to that coveted list. Leaving Atlanta, a driver must be 196 points ahead of 13th place to officially clinch a spot in the Chase. A few seem likely to do that; others have a chance; still others might have to wait until Richmond to cement a spot. Here’s the breakdown:

Sure Things?
There’s no such thing as a sure thing. But these guys are as close as it gets. Below are the finishing positions each driver would need to guarantee a Chase spot this weekend, regardless of how any other driver finishes:

Kyle Busch
40th or better, no laps led
42nd or better, at least one lap led
43rd or better, most laps led

Carl Edwards
21st or better, no laps led
23rd or better, at least one lap led
25th or better, most laps led

Denny Hamlin
20th or better, no laps led
22nd or better, at least one lap led
23rd or better, most laps led

Likely Candidates
Here are a few drivers who have a better than average shot at clinching this weekend:

Tony Stewart
19th or better, no led
21st or better, at least one lap led
23rd or better, most laps led

Jeff Burton
17th or better, no laps led
19th or better, at least one lap led
21st or better, most laps led

Matt Kenseth
15th or better, no laps led
17th or better, at least one lap led
19th or better, most laps led

There’s Always Richmond
Finally here are the remaining drivers who can clinch this weekend. They may have to wait until Richmond to lock up their spot:

Jimmie Johnson
10th or better, no laps led
11th or better, at least one lap led
13th or better, most laps led

Kurt Busch
9th or better, no laps led
10th or better, at least one lap led
11th or better, most laps led

Greg Biffle
4th or better, no laps led
5th or better, at least one lap led
7th or better, most laps led

Clint Bowyer
Currently 100 points ahead of 13th, Bowyer would need to gain 96 points. Therefore, there is no finish that would guarantee a Chase spot. He would need to finish strong, and get some help.

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
PHOTO CREDIT: CIA STOCK PHOTO

(August 29, 2010)
MONTREAL—At long last, road-course ace Boris Said is a winner in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Said won Sunday’s NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve when—with the two strongest cars out of contention—the always unpredictable event ended with Said beating Max Papis in a drag race to the finish line.

After leader Robby Gordon ran out of gas on a green-white-checkered-flag finish that sent the race three laps past its scheduled distance of 74 laps, Said lost the lead to Papis at the entrance to the final two corners. But Papis’ momentum sent him wide in Turn 14, and Said drew alongside at the top of the final straightaway.
Papis lost a fraction of a second when he hit the rev limiter in second gear but still had enough to race side by side with Said all the way to the finish line.

Said’s .012-second margin of victory was the closest ever on a road course in the Nationwide Series, the fifth closest overall in series history and the closest since 1998 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The victory was more than just a first for Said, 47. It was the first Nationwide win for car owner Robby Benton and the first for the new pairing of Said and crew chief Scott Zipadelli.
“I don’t think we had the fastest car today,” Said admitted, “but we definitely had the smartest race strategy with Scott Zipadelli as the crew chief—the first time I ever worked with him. We had great communication, he called a great race, and it was really about managing the racetrack, managing your brakes.
“I’m shocked … overwhelmed. I thought I was going to cry, but I didn’t. My wife would have made fun of me. But I was pretty happy.”

Local hero Jacques Villeneuve finished third, followed by Brad Keselowski, who extended his series lead to 365 points over hard-luck 20th-place finisher Carl Edwards. Paul Menard ran fifth, with Joey Logano, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Parker Kligerman, Justin Allgaier and Trevor Bayne completing the top 10.

The race that gave polesitter Marcos Ambrose another heartbreak (he retired with an electrical problem after leading 25 laps) turned on a bad break—literally—for defending winner Edwards, who led a race-high 29 laps before breaking the track bar on his No. 60 Ford as caution flew with eight laps left in regulation.

Edwards held a lead of almost three seconds over Gordon when Michael Annett slid into the Turn 4 wall to cause the fifth caution of the race, ending a green-flag run of 42 laps.

Two more late cautions forced overtime and prolonged the race enough to empty Gordon’s fuel tank. Gordon led the field to the green flag for a restart on Lap 76 but coasted to a stop before completing the circuit. He finished 14th.

But it was the drag race to the finish between Said and Papis that had the more than 70,000 fans on their feet.
“I was ahead, I was behind, I was ahead,” said Papis, who was driving Kevin Harvick’s No. 33 Chevrolet. “At the end of the day, this was an amazing race. I had a blast. It came down to a green-white-checker, and the thing I’m the most proud of … this is maybe the first time I’ve had the chance to really sit in a car that legitimately can win, and it came down to the last corner.
“For me, I’m really proud. I know it’s a second-place finish, but it’s equal to one of my best wins.”

Race Recap | Montreal
10 Trevor Bayne
9 Justin Allgaier
8 Parker Kligerman
7 JR Fitzpatrick
6 Joey Logano
5 Paul Menard
4 Brad Keselowski
3 Jaques Villenuve
2 Max Papis

Victory Lane

1 In a thrilling finish, Boris Said takes home his very first career NASCAR win racing to the line in a photo finish.  He simply said in victory lane “Finally”

Other Stories on the day

Marcos Ambrose dominated this race again, only to come up short after battery and suspension problems.  He finished 33rd.

Carl Edwards also led the most laps but broke a track bar with 9 laps to go but still managed to finish 20th

Robby Gordon’s fuel mileage gamble didn’t pay off with so many late caution laps and the green white checkered at the end.

1 47 * Marcos Ambrose Little Debbie/Glad Toyota
2 32 Jacques Villeneuve Dollar General Toyota
3 20 Joey Logano GameStop Toyota
4 60 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
5 09 Boris Said Zaxby’s/PFC Ford
6 38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Toyota
7 98 Paul Menard Colonial Elegance/Menards Ford
8 22 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge
9 33 Max Papis Rheem Chevrolet
10 18 Brad Coleman Safeway Driving Centers Toyota
11 27 Andrew Ranger Dodge Dealers of Quebec Dodge
12 81 * Michael McDowell MacDonald Motorsports Ford
13 00 * Patrick Carpentier NAPA Toyota
14 16 Colin Braun # 3M Ford
15 88 Ron Fellows Canadian Tire Chevrolet
16 07 * Robby Gordon Mapei/Menards Toyota
17 7 J R Fitzpatrick Schick Hydro Chevrolet
18 66 Steve Wallace 5-hour Energy Toyota
19 62 Brendan Gaughan South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota
20 99 Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota
21 26 * Parker Kligerman No.26 K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge
22 23 Alex Kennedy Media Master Chevrolet
23 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. # CitiFinancial Ford
24 12 Justin Allgaier Verizon Wireless Dodge
25 35 Tony Ave TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
26 11 Brian Scott # AccuDoc Toyota
27 97 * Joe Nemechek Gator.com Chevrolet
28 43 * Justin Marks Future Electronics Ford
29 10 Tayler Malsam Iron Horse Jeans Toyota
30 24 * DJ Kennington Del Monte Ford
31 87 Paulie Harraka Exide Chevrolet
32 34 Tony Raines Long John Silvers Chevrolet
33 01 Mike Wallace GK Services Chevrolet
34 59 * Kyle Kelley UPR.com/Apex/A1 Certified Solar Chevrolet
35 05 * Victor Gonzalez Jr. 31-W Insulation Chevrolet
36 15 Michael Annett Flying J Toyota
37 40 Mike Bliss Happy 75th Birthday Mom! Chevrolet
38 89 * Brett Rowe Victory in Jesus Chevrolet
39 82 * Tomy Drissi Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Dodge
40 28 Kenny Wallace Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet
41 70 Mark Green ML Motorsports Chevrolet
42 21 Morgan Shepherd Victory In Jesus Chevrolet
43 36 * Jeff Green TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet

Kyle Busch extends winning streak at Chicagoland

By Lee Montgomery
Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
PHOTO CREDIT: CIA STOCK PHOTO

(August 27, 2010)

JOLIET, Ill.—What can slow down Kyle Busch? Perhaps only the checkered flag.

Busch won his second consecutive NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and his fourth national series race in a row by dominating the EnjoyIllinois.com 225 on Friday night at Chicagoland Speedway.

Busch swept all three NASCAR national series races at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend and continued his winning ways at Chicagoland. He led three times for 121 laps for his fourth truck series win in nine starts in 2010.

Busch now has 17 wins across the Sprint Cup (three wins), Nationwide (10) and truck series this year.

The only drama for Busch came on pit road under two separate caution flags. On Lap 81, Busch’s gasman had trouble with the second gas can, and Busch lost four spots for the restart. But he charged to the lead on Lap 98 after another caution slowed the race.

On Lap 126, Busch changed four tires on his No. 18 Toyota, with several other drivers taking two. Busch restarted sixth but passed three cars on the first green-flag lap and got the lead on Lap 131.

Busch also survived a late-race thrust from Todd Bodine, who made an inside move on Busch with six laps to go but slipped and lost ground. Busch then held off Bodine on a green-white-checkered finish after Timothy Peters blew an engine. The race went four laps beyond the scheduled 150 on the 1.5-mile track.

Bodine ended up second, with Ron Hornaday Jr. third, Johnny Sauter fourth and rookie Justin Lofton fifth. Aric Almirola, Matt Crafton, Rick Crawford, Austin Dillon and David Starr completed the top 10.

The victory was Toyota’s 75th in the truck series since 2004, when it entered NASCAR competition.