Author: Mike Haag

Courtesy of the NHRA POMONA, Calif. – Jack Beckman picked up right where he left off last season by racing to the No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car Saturday at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also will lead their categories into Sunday’s 11 a.m. eliminations at the season-opening event of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Beckman, who failed to qualify at this event one year ago but then rallied to post seven wins and set the national record four times en route…

Courtesy of the NHRA POMONA, Calif. – Tony Schumacher raced to the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel Friday at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Bo Butner (Pro Stock) also were qualifying leaders in their respective classes at the season-opening NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event. Eight-time world champion Schumacher was quickest in Top Fuel with a 3.722 second run at 323.66 mph in his U.S. Army dragster. “The second run was a good run,” said Schumacher, a two-time winner of the tradition-rich Winternationals. “We got…

Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH – Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band that was fundamental in defining the term “Southern rock,” will headline the Loud & Proud Pre-Race Show powered by Texas Lottery for the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, April 9, at Texas Motor Speedway. Lynyrd Skynyrd will perform an hour-long concert on the frontstretch stage beginning at approximately 4:40 p.m. CT prior to the start of the Duck Commander 500 at 6:30 p.m. Fans can enjoy the concert from their seats or upgrade with the VIP…

INDIANAPOLIS – INDYCAR and Honda announced a multiyear extension to the agreement that retains the manufacturer as an engine supplier to the Verizon IndyCar Series. “We’re grateful for Honda’s longstanding partnership with INDYCAR the last 13 years,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Racing is a part of Honda’s DNA and its continued investment in the Verizon IndyCar Series – technically on the competition side, but also through sponsoring of events and additional activation – is instrumental to the success and continued growth of our sport.” Honda has collected…

Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH – NASCAR officially announced the race start times for its three national series Tuesday and Texas Motor Speedway’s schedule will feature four of its six races in the evening. Texas Motor Speedway’s opening race weekend – the April 7-9 Duck Commander 500 doubleheader – will be an all-evening affair with the NASCAR XFINITY Series and Sprint Cup Series both running their respective races under the lights. The XFINITY Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 set for Friday, April 8, will start at 7:30 p.m. CT and be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.…

Special to Raceday SA CONCORD, N.C.  – A passionate and innovative pioneer in the sport of auto racing, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. founder and Executive Chairman O. Bruton Smith was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Saturday, after dedicating his life to creating unforgettable at-track experiences for millions of race fans across the country. “Being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame is truly an honor,” Smith said. “For nearly 60 years, my life’s work has been to build first-rate facilities and host world-class events for fans around the country. Along with thousands of my employees, I have worked hard for the…

Courtesy Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH – Texas Motor Speedway will once again open its massive infield area for free during the opening weekend of the NASCAR season so fans can enjoy the infield revelry and spectacle of the season-opening Daytona 500 weekend on Feb. 20 and 21 on the world’s largest HDTV screen. Fans can bring their RVs, campers and tents – or just simply tailgate – to celebrate NASCAR’s opening weekend and have a front-row seat to enjoy the racing on “Big Hoss”, the world’s largest HDTV screen that is nearly a half-acre in size and nine…

Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH- The LKCM Radio Group L.P., anchored by 95.9 FM The Ranch in Fort Worth, has signed a three-year agreement beginning in 2016 to be the official radio broadcast partner of Texas Motor Speedway. The 100,000-watt KFWR 95.9 FM The Ranch and other group affiliates in the LKCM Radio Group focused in the north central Texas and southern Oklahoma coverage region will broadcast live, expanded coverage of Texas Motor Speedway’s three major motorsports race weekends. The group will air a combined minimum of 32 hours of live broadcasts from the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR…

Information provided courtesy of NASCAR DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – Using the overwhelming success of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format introduced in 2014 as a guidepost, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France announced today the implementation of a playoff system in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. On the heels of a 2015 Chase that saw the highest season-finale viewership in nearly a decade, record-breaking page views on NASCAR.com and unparalleled volume on social media, the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will each feature a seven-race Chase to decide…

Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH – In an effort to recognize greatness across its premier motorsports facilities, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: TRK) officials has named Texas Motor Speedway its “Track of the Year” for 2015. “Our success is born from the immense pride that each of our employees has in Texas Motor Speedway,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “Our team continually strives to identify ways to enhance the experience for our fans as well as seeks to be the industry leaders in every aspect that drives our overall success. I’m extremely proud of this group, especially knowing the…