Nascar Info

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/07/apex-hypercar-2015-movie-trailer-video/

Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh

Denny Hamlin likes the way the Chase format sets up for his team

When Denny Hamlin saw the new Chase format come out in January, he was immediately optimistic.

?You don?t want to draw too much attention to yourself, but I believe that as soon as I saw this grid and how it all worked out and the Chase tracks I was like, ?Wow, this is like tailor made for us,?" Hamlin said Thursday. "It really is, we just have to get to that eliminator eight or whatever it?s called and that?s when we get into the wheelhouse of our race tracks that we?ve performed at in the past. For us I think that if we can make it to Homestead and have a shot, we go from being the extreme underdogs going into this probably to the favorite being that we?ve won there over the last couple years. Who knows how it all plays out. You have to get there first and you can?t look that far ahead. Our focus is here in Chicago, but you have to be consistent I believe these first two rounds and get yourself in position for those last four races.?

At the beginning of the year, Hamlin got off to a bit of a rocky start; his win at Talladega in his ninth race of 2014 was just his third top 10 to that point. But Hamlin got better in the summer months and had a stretch of six top tens in eight races.

That stretch included Indianapolis, where Hamlin finished third. But after the race, NASCAR found something in inspection with fire wall blockoff plates on Hamlin's car. Crew chief Darian Grubb was suspended for six races.

The suspension is now over at a perfect time; the beginning of the Chase. Could his return boost Hamlin's chances? Hamlin certainly thinks so, especially if Grubb can make a late call to outfox the competition. Grubb, who won the 2011 Chase with Tony Stewart, was with Hamlin in 2012 when he finished sixth.

?He?s been working really hard (over the last six weeks) and I think a lot of it is that he says he?s learned how races play out by watching them and seeing live data ? able to have really papers all around him of strategies and stuff that he can use for races that are coming up," Hamlin said. "I think that he?s been able to analyze everything he could and spend more time doing that stuff. Hopefully it all pays off with the right call at the end of the race that nobody else thought of.?

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/denny-hamlin-says-he-likes-the-way-the-chase-sets-up-for-his-team-204040501.html

Randy Joseph Lajoie Kevin Paul Lepage William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin

Monday

Chase Watch: Kasey Kahne squeaks in to the next round as Kurt Busch misses out

Kasey Kahne is moving on to the next round of the Chase despite an unscheduled pit stop under green Sunday at Dover.

Kahne was forced to pit on lap 163 because of an ill-handling race car. It was an unfortunately timed pit stop as the caution flag flew within 10 laps of his pit stop because of J.J. Yeley getting into the wall.

He was trapped off the lead lap.

"I felt like we went four (laps) down at one point when we pitted," Kahne said. "We had to pit because we had done the wavearound. We had a good Farmer's Insurance Chevy. I had a fast car. Luckily Kenny made great calls, the team prepared a great car. So I was fortunate to have that and drive our way barely back to advance."

"But I had to push hard. I'm glad NASCAR let it go and let us race for it."

Kahne went two laps down just past the halfway point of the race on lap 214. At that point his chances of advancing to the next round of the Chase as one of the top 12 drivers in the points standings looked slim. But thanks to the wavearound on lap 264, Kahne got one lap back and stayed there as the race went green for the last 140 laps.

Kahne finished 20th but it was enough to advance because Kurt Busch slid back over the last portion of the race. With 30 laps to go, Busch's Stewart-Haas teammate Kevin Harvick passed him for 13th position. That pass, plus a few others put Kahne into the Chase. Busch ended up 18th. He didn't advance to the next Chase round along with AJ Allmendinger, Greg Biffe and Aric Almirola.

The 12 drivers that are still in championship contention at Kansas will have their points reset to 3,000.

"It just was tight the last 100 miles," Busch said. "I felt like we were in good position to advance but you just can't expect to advance by running 15th. You have to be more competitive. We gave it a good run. We put this team together pretty late, Gene Haas believed in me to come do this."

Allmendinger (13th, 2 points behind Kahne): Allmedinger simply didn't have the speed he needed to be competitive. He entered Dover 10th in the standings and controlled his own fate. He wasn't fast enough to do that. He finished 23rd.

While 21st at Dover would have put him in a tie for 12th in the standings, it simply wasn't possible as the laps ticked down. Allmendinger was the second car two laps down. He would have had to gain another lap to get a shot at another position.

"We sucked overall, all day," Allmendinger said. "Just weren't good enough. We didn't deserve to make it -- I'm not disappointed about not making it, I'm just disappointed in running like this. It's all I had. I'm worn out. I was trying to get every spot possible."

Biffle (15th, 7 points behind Kahne): Biffle was in that 21st spot, but much like Allmendinger, he didn't have any speed to make a serious run at a top 10 or advancing to the next round. Much like the other three drivers who didn't advance, it's not a huge injustice that Biffle didn't advance. None of the four eliminated after the first three races had much of a title shot because of a lack of consistency and speed.

Almirola (16th, 18 points behind Kahne): Because of his blown engine at Chicago, Almirola simply didn't have a points cushion to absorb the impact of a 28th place finish on Sunday. On a day where he would have needed a top 10 to advance, Almirola was off the pace.

"We picked a really bad day to run like that," Almirola said. "That's kind of what we fought this year, just really inconsistent. We have really good weeks and really bad weeks, we don't just ever run consistently and this week was proof of that. We've run really good the last five weeks and then this weekend we just missed it."

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/chase-watch--kasey-kahne-squeaks-in-to-the-next-round-as-kurt-busch-misses-out-223212844.html

Tom Jones Juan Jover Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan

Sunday

Paul Menard will have new crew chief after Charlotte

Slugger Labbe won't be atop Paul Menard's pit box after the October 11 race at Charlotte.

Richard Childress Racing announced Wednesday that Labbe was taking a leadership role with the team's research and development efforts and would be moving away from his role as Menard's crew chief.

Justin Alexander will take over as Menard's crew chief.

?I?m looking forward to slowing down in my NASCAR career a little bit and spending more time with my family,? Labbe said in a statement. ?This is a good move for RCR, Paul and the No. 27 team, and I?m going to be there to help Justin with the upcoming transition.

Alexander came to RCR in January from Hendrick Motorsports. He was the lead engineer for Jimmie Johnson in 2005, became an R&D engineer in 2006 and the lead engineer for Jeff Gordon in 2009.

Menard and Labbe won the 2011 Brickyard 400 together. This season, Menard is 21st in the points standings and has four top fives and 11 top 10 finishes. Labbe has five career wins as a crew chief including the 2003 Daytona 500 with Michael Waltrip. He's been with Menard since the beginning of the 2010 season.

Hopefully the team doesn't leave any notes on Menard's car during the transition.

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/paul-menard-will-have-new-crew-chief-after-charlotte-215125907.html

Bruce Kessler Nicolas Kiesa Leo Kinnunen Danny Kladis

Saturday

S-Max Headroom: Ford Launches All-New S-Max MPV, We Wish It Was Coming Here

America’s affection for minivans may be on the wane, but in Europe the tall-roof family mover (or MPV) segment is as strong as ever. At the Paris auto show, Ford launched the second generation of its S-Max MPV, which is offered in two distinct body styles with room for five or seven passengers. Visually, the […]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/yj6Qdz6rYXs/

Carl Michael Edwards III William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV

Friday

Paul Menard will have new crew chief after Charlotte

Slugger Labbe won't be atop Paul Menard's pit box after the October 11 race at Charlotte.

Richard Childress Racing announced Wednesday that Labbe was taking a leadership role with the team's research and development efforts and would be moving away from his role as Menard's crew chief.

Justin Alexander will take over as Menard's crew chief.

Alexander came to RCR in January from Hendrick Motorsports. He was the lead engineer for Jimmie Johnson in 2005, became an R&D engineer in 2006 and the lead engineer for Jeff Gordon in 2009.

Hopefully the team doesn't leave any notes on Menard's car during the transition.

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/paul-menard-will-have-new-crew-chief-after-charlotte-215125907.html

Paul Goldsmith Josй Froilбn Gonzбlez Oscar Gonzбlez Aldo Gordini

Thursday

Fluidic Sculpture Gets Small as All-New Hyundai i20 Debuts in Paris

Pitched at the teeming masses in Europe’s largest market segment, a new generation of the Hyundai i20 hatchback city car likely will get more attention from attendees of the 2014 Paris show�than it will from the press. Hyundai emphasizes that this tater tot is entirely designed, engineered, and built in Europe and tuned for European […]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/CpvzA9zJ-F0/

Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson

Qualifying rained out for Chicago; Kyle Busch starts first

A fast lap got Kyle Busch the pole for the first race of the Chase. It just didn't happen during qualifying.

Qualifying was rained out for Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race at Chicago, therefore the lineup was set on speeds from Friday's practice session. Busch ran the quickest lap at 191.442 MPH, so he's the polesitter for Sunday's race.

Six Chase drivers start in the top 10. Ryan Newman will start alongside Busch while Carl Edwards starts third. Here's where the entire Chase field starts

1. Kyle Busch
2. Ryan Newman
3. Carl Edwards
5. Matt Kenseth
7. Jimmie Johnson
8. Jeff Gordon
12. Kevin Harvick
13. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
14. Kurt Busch
17. A.J. Allmendinger
19. Kasey Kahne
20. Greg Biffle
23. Aric Almirola
24. Denny Hamlin
25. Brad Keselowski
28. Joey Logano

As you can see, it's quite the field inversion for the Penske cars. Incredibly successful in knockout qualifying, Logano and Keselowski are used to being two of the top qualifiers every week, not the two lowest Chase drivers.

For Keselowski and Logano, this will be their worst starting position of the season -- except for both Daytona races. #NASCAR
? racing-reference (@racingreference) September 12, 2014

The rain that washed out qualifying also postponed Friday night's scheduled Camping World Truck Series race. It will be run at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/qualifying-rained-out-for-chicago--kyle-busch-starts-first-221808447.html

Cliff Griffith Georges Grignard Bobby Grim Romain Grosjean

Wednesday

Chase Watch: Aric Almirola's progression hopes might have gone up in smoke

Three top 10s in the first three races would have virtually guaranteed Aric Almirola's progression into the next three races of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

He was working incredibly well on getting 1/3 of the way there Sunday at Chicago. Unfortunately, his engine didn't want to make it the entire way.

Almirola had moved himself into the top 10 among drivers like Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. when his car started spewing smoke on the backstretch on lap 231. His day was over.

After climbing from his car, he was greeted by team owner Richard Petty. Almirola said that it was the first engine failure he had in his three-year tenure at Richard Petty Motorports and per Racing Reference, he's correct. He'd never retired from a race because of an engine until Sunday.

So proud of my team! We rose to the occasion today and proved we can compete in the chase. Heartbroken for sure but they knew we were there
? Aric Almirola (@aric_almirola) September 14, 2014

It's an incredibly costly explosion. If Almirola would have been able to hold serve where he was for the remaining 36 laps of the race, he's approximately 20 points behind points leader and race winner Brad Keselowski. Instead, he's 52 points behind Keselowski and 16th among the 16 Chase drivers.

After New Hampshire and Dover, the lowest four drivers in the standings are eliminated from the Chase. In addition to Almirola, here's who occupies those four spots right now and how they fared at Chicago.

13. Ryan Newman (-1 point to No.12 Carl Edwards): Newman was at one point three laps down. He got all of his laps back and ended up in 15th place, five spots ahead of Edwards, who had a tire failure and finished 20th. The strategy play by crew chief Luke Lambert and Newman could be critical. If he stays a lap or two down, he doesn't have a chance to get a top-15. It could be the difference between advancing and being eliminated.

14. A.J. Allmendinger (-5 points to Edwards): Allmendinger finished two laps down in 22nd place and had his shifter handle break during the race. However, enough of the shifter remained for Allmendinger to be able to shift the car, even if it wasn't too comfortable.

15. Greg Biffle (-9 points to Edwards): Much like Allmendinger, Biffle went down a lap early in the race and never recovered. He finished in 22nd and two laps down.

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/chase-watch--aric-almirola-s-progression-hopes-might-have-gone-up-in-smoke-215530714.html

Franзois Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill Graham Hill

Tuesday

NASCAR grants Tony Stewart waiver into Chase if Stewart wins in next two races

If Tony Stewart wins Sunday at Atlanta or Sept. 6 at Richmond, he's going to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup. That was confirmed by NASCAR President Mike Helton, who said Friday that Stewart would be granted a waiver to remain Chase-eligible if he wins one of the next two races.

Stewart missed races at Watkins Glen, Michigan and Bristol after he struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. during a dirt track race in upstate New York three weeks ago.

Before Helton's announcement, Stewart made an emotional three-minute statement about his time away from the track and his return.

Under NASCAR's new format, any driver who wins a race and is in the top 30 in points makes the Chase. However, the driver also has to attempt to qualify for all 26 races before the Chase unless granted a waiver by NASCAR upon the sanctioning body's discretion. Stewart's situation, NASCAR said, is worthy of a waiver.

"After evaluating the circumstances around this occurrence, we've come to the conclusion that Tony will be eliglble to participate in the Chase if he were to earn a spot in it," Helton said.

When Stewart-Haas Racing announced Stewart's intention to drive Sunday at Atlanta on Thursday, NASCAR said Stewart had been approved for competition.

"Throughout this period of time ... NASCAR has been in constant contact with Stewart-Haas Racing," Helton said. "But when it comes to the assurances that a driver or a NASCAR member is ready to return, we're going to rely on outside experts."

Helton declined to detail the involvement of the outside experts.

Because he missed three races, Stewart is too low in the points standings to get into the Chase via points. (Twelve drivers have won races in 2014, meaning that at least two winless drivers will make the Chase.)

If Stewart wins over the next two weekends, he would fill one of the 16 Chase spots. Last year, when the Chase was set at 12 participants, NASCAR expanded the field to 13 and added Jeff Gordon in the wake of a race manipulation scandal involving Michael Waltrip Racing at Richmond.

Friday, Helton said NASCAR had no plans to expand the Chase to 17 drivers if Stewart won in the next two races.

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/nascar-grants-tony-stewart-waiver-into-chase-if-stewart-wins-in-next-two-races-182902965.html

Graham Hill Phil Hill Peter Hirt David Hobbs

Monday

Jeff Gordon Expects Michigan to be Same as Last Year ? Fast

2013 NSCS Jeff Gordon (AARP Drive to End Hunger) - Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty ImagesBROOKLYN, Mich.�(June 10, 2013) -�While there is more than a race “difference” compared with 2012, Jeff Gordon does not expect much difference at Michigan International Speedway this weekend. Gordon enters Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400, the 15th race of the season, 11th...more»

The article Jeff Gordon Expects Michigan to be Same as Last Year – Fast is from Catchfence.

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2013/sprintcup/06/10/jeff-gordon-expects-michigan-to-be-same-as-last-year-fast/

Copart Ford Denny Hamlin Z Line Toyota Kyle Busch

Sunday

Kyle Busch has been using the 'crash test' approach with his pit crew

In the first two races of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Kyle Busch has been showing some Jimmie Johnson-like resilience. Last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, for instance, Busch overcame a litany of issues, including a crash initiated by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Matt Kenseth, to finish eighth and tie Dale Earnhardt Jr. for fifth in the Chase standings. After qualifying second to pole winner Kevin Harvick on Friday at Dover International Speedway, Busch made light of the four accidents and an engine failure he suffered in the weeks leading into the Chase. Those incidents, he joked, prepared his team for the rally achieved at New Hampshire. ?That?s why I wrecked five, six weeks in a row leading up to the Chase, was to give them plenty of opportunity to know how to fix it,? Busch quipped. ?So they certainly knew what they were doing when we got to Loudon, and I certainly give ?em props for that? ?I was really pumped up, really impressed with our guys and what we were able...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/kyle_busch_has_been_using_the_crash_test_approach_with_his_pit_crew/17376329

Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth

Saturday

Twisted Tea Brings Primary Sponsorship of Richard Petty Motorsports to Dover

Twisted Tea will bring primary sponsorship to the No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) Ford this weekend at the Dover International Speedway.� Marcos Ambrose will race the blue and yellow scheme of the hard iced tea company.� Twisted Tea joined RPM at the end of 2013 and has been an associate sponsor on the No. 9 Ford throughout the season. The company was also a primary sponsor of Ambrose at the Charlotte Motor Speedway earlier this year.
�
Twisted Tea has capitalized on their sponsorship with RPM by connecting with race fans nationally through consumer awareness, creative point of sale and meet-and-greets with Ambrose in various race markets.� They will host over 100 guests this weekend.
�
Ambrose will bring the Twisted Tea No. 9 to Dover where he has three Top-10 finishes and a best finish of third. �
�

.@MarcosAmbrose to race @TwistedTea on the No.9 this weekend.
�

�@Marcos Ambrose #9 Fan Page goes to Dover with Twisted Tea

�
"It's great to see Twiste...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/twisted_tea_brings_primary_sponsorship_of_richard_petty_motorsports_to_dover/17346980

Brian Henton Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann

Volvo pranks newest valet on the Italian Riviera

Filed under: Truck, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Work, Volvo

Being a valet on the Italian Riviera seems like a pretty sweet gig for a young guy. Not only do you get to watch beautiful people coming and going all day and night, but there's the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a plethora of exotic sports cars. Of course, being responsible for those expensive vehicles has to be pretty nerve wracking to get used to on the first day.

In a new commercial, Volvo pranks a new valet at the San Remo Casino to see how he would handle a surprise showing up on the red carpet. If the look on his face in the screenshot above doesn't show it, he's pretty shocked by what he sees. We don't want to spoil the reveal, so just watch the ad to find out. Afterward, if you're interested in the details behind how Volvo made it happen, you can check out a short, making-of documentary, here.

Continue reading Volvo pranks newest valet on the Italian Riviera

Volvo pranks newest valet on the Italian Riviera originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Sep 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/09/24/volvo-prank-valet-italian-riviera-video/

Franзois Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill Graham Hill

Friday

Grand jury testimony reportedly begins in Tony Stewart case

A grand jury began hearing testimony on Tuesday in the case involving Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward Jr.

Stewart struck and killed Ward on August 9 at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, a dirt track in upstate New York. Stewart and Ward were racing together when Ward hit the wall. Ward exited his vehicle to confront Stewart's car and was struck by the right rear tire.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported that the testimony began and Chuck Hebing, who was in the race with Stewart and Ward, confirmed he was called to testify. However, Hebing declined to discuss the matter further.

Ontario County (N.Y.) District Attorney Michael Tantillo sent the case to a grand jury last week. As part of New York state law with all cases that could possibly result in felony charges, the motion to go to a grand jury is simply due process.

After the grand jury hears all testimony and reviews all evidence, it will have three options. It can go forth with felony or misdemeanor charges against Stewart or it could say that no charges are ncessary. There is no timetable for the grand jury's decision.

The Ontario County Sheriff's Department announced it sent the case to the district attorney's office on September 11 after investigating the incident for approximately a month.

Stewart returned to the Sprint Cup Series at Atlanta on August 31 after missing three races following the incident. In the wake of the incident between Stewart and Ward, NASCAR banned all drivers from getting out of their vehicles following a crash until safety personnel arrive.

Stewart raced at New Hampshire on Sunday after Tantillo's announcement that the case had been sent to a grand jury.

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/grand-jury-testimony-reportedly-begins-in-tony-stewart-case-224132652.html

Hans Klenk Peter de Klerk Christian Klien Karl Kling

Thursday

Investigation into Kevin Ward's death complete and sent to district attorney

The Ontario County (N.Y.) Sheriff's Department's investigation into the death of Kevin Ward Jr. is complete and has been handed over to the Ontario County District Attorney.

The OCSD has been investigating the death of Ward for approximately a month after he was struck and killed by Tony Stewart on Aug. 9 in a sprint car race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. After missing three races, Stewart returned to the Sprint Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Any action against Stewart will be announced next week, according to the OCSD. When speaking during the early stages of the investigation, Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said there was no evidence of criminal intent in the incident.

The Ontario County Office of Sheriff has completed its investigation into the death of Kevin A. Ward, Jr., which occurred August 9, 2014, at the Canandaigua, New York, Motorsports Park. The entire thorough investigation, including a forensic video enhancement recently received from the New York State Police Laboratory in Albany, has been submitted to the Office of the Ontario County District Attorney for review. The District Attorney?s Office, which has been meeting throughout the investigative process with members of the Sheriff?s Office, will make a statement late next week advising what action will be taken regarding the investigation.

Stewart and Ward were racing together when Ward's car hit the wall. After it came to a stop, Ward climbed from his vehicle and went down the track towards the rest of the field. As he gestured angrily at Stewart, the right rear tire of Stewart's car struck Ward, killing him.

A video of the accident surfaced on YouTube later that evening. Povero said the OCSD had obtained a second video during the investigation and it is unclear what footage the forensic video enhancement refers to.

Even though the incident didn't happen at a NASCAR-sanctioned race, NASCAR banned drivers from getting out of their cars before safety personnel arrive less than a week after Ward's death.

Stewart received a waiver from NASCAR to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup if he were to win at Atlanta or Richmond. He did not win either of those races, and is not in the Chase. Aside from a three-minute statement at Atlanta, Stewart has not commented publicly on the incident.

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/investigation-into-kevin-ward-s-death-complete-and-sent-to-district-attorney-201202476.html

Boy Hayje Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld Theo Helfrich

Wednesday

Inaugural Grand Prix Of INDY Road Course Event Pleases On Many Fronts

The pace and feel of a race on the road course at the Grand Prix Of INDY felt a lot like watching a race on the Portland International Raceway track only much larger to scale.

Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2014/05/inaugural_grand_prix_of_i.php

Eddie Keizan Al Keller Joe Kelly Dave Kennedy

Tuesday

Mr. Hank Williams And His 289 Cobra CSX-2227

The original order called for "Princess Blue" with Red interior, 1 of only 3 built in that exterior color. Although not an official Shelby [Cobra] color it was an AC Cars color and the car contains a certificate stating that fact.

Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2014/05/mr_hank_williams_and_his.php

Christian Klien Karl Kling Ernst Klodwig Kamui Kobayashi

Monday

WRC Cars Be Jealous: VW?s 544-hp Beetle GRC Tears It Up in New Video

To get folks stoked for the debut of the Beetle GRC at the Port of Los Angeles Global Rallycross event this weekend, Volkswagen has released a bitchin’ video of the thing in action. With well over 500 horsepower on tap, the Beetle-based machine is one of the most powerful rally cars in the world. Although […]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/TSEGvmDtwOQ/

Ryan Joseph Newman Kyle Eugene Petty Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs

Brad Keselowski takes lead with three-wide pass, wins at Chicago

Brad Keselowski saw Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson battling for the lead ahead of him and as Larson went high and Harvick went low heading into turn one, Keselowski took the middle.

It was the right option.

Keselowski stormed past both drivers and held on for the lead through a last restart to win the first race of the 2014 Chase for the Sprint Cup on Sunday at Chicago.

Larson and Harvick were having a fantastic battle off a restart with 18 laps to go. Larson had the lead and Harvick, who restarted second, was able to hang with him. The two ran side by side for virtually the entirety of two laps, but the great racing came at a price.

Keselowski was hanging around in third and got an incredible draft of the huge hole in the air the two were creating with 16 laps to go. As Harvick headed to the white line and Larson went towards the wall, Keselowski cut the middle and was clear by the time he was on the backstretch.

"I'm not really sure," Keselowski responded when asked how he made the pass in victory lane. "I'll have to watch the ESPN replay to figure it out. But we obviously had a great car ... these Fords have really come together for a strong Chase run."

Last week, Keselowski won the last race before the Chase at Richmond for his fourth win, a victory that gave him solitary possession of first place for the Chase. With the win at Chicago, he keeps first place in the Chase and may put him in place for a repeat. Keselowski won at Chicago en route to the 2012 title. (Oh, and Keselowski is also guaranteed a spot through the first elimination round of the Chase.)

It was a win that came without the benefit of great track position too. Keselowski and his teammate Joey Logano have been the masters of qualifying this season but Friday's qualifying session was washed out. The lineup was set on practice speeds and both Penske cars started in the 20s. It ultimately didn't matter.

And neither did late pit stop trouble. Keselowski had to pit a second time under caution on lap 184 because of a potential loose wheel. He restarted 17th after starting at the back of the field but quickly sliced and diced his way up through the field. He was ninth within 25 laps and two more late cautions helped his ascent.

Jeff Gordon finished second and he's second in the points standings, seven behind Keselowski. Larson finished third while Joey Logano was fourth and Harvick was fifth.

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/brad-keselowski-takes-lead-with-three-wide-pass--wins-at-chicago-213304817.html

Jean Pierre Jabouille Jimmy Jackson Joe James John James

Sunday

NASCAR tweaks Talladega qualifying rules

There will be a different qualifying setup for the final restrictor plate races of the season.

NASCAR announced tweaks to the group qualifying format for the Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega in October.

At Talladega in the spring and Daytona in July, qualifying was a game of wait and draft. Teams were trying to time runs so that they were all on the track at the same time and were catching up to a group of cars. With the draft, a group of cars is faster than a single car. The waiting to draft game meant that there were long stretches, especially in the first round of qualifying, where there wasn't much action.

There will still be three qualifying rounds where the field is whittled to 24 drivers and then to 12. However, the first round will involve two groups. Each group, which will be selected by a random draw, will qualify for five minutes. The top 24 speeds overall will advance to the second round. (The first round was previously 25 minutes long.

The second round will be five minutes instead of 10 and the fastest 12 drivers will advance to the final round. The final round will then be five more minutes, where the top 12 qualifiers will be decided.

It's a good move. The group qualifying format has had a tendency to drag on, especially in the first rounds at times. There's no problem with speeding up the pace of it, especially at a track where qualifying position is the least important.

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/nascar-tweaks-talladega-qualifying-rules-171446666.html

Paul Goldsmith Josй Froilбn Gonzбlez Oscar Gonzбlez Aldo Gordini

Saturday

Richard Childress Racing 2013 NSCS Party in the Poconos 400 Post-Race Report

Richard Childress Racing LogoParty In The Poconos 400 Pocono Raceway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pocono Raceway June 9, 2013 Race Highlights: Richard Childress Racing teammates finished ninth (Kevin Harvick), 11th (Jeff Burton) and 30th (Paul Menard). Following the event at Pocono Raceway, Harvick remains fifth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings,...more»

The article Richard Childress Racing 2013 NSCS Party in the Poconos 400 Post-Race Report is from Catchfence.

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2013/sprintcup/06/10/richard-childress-racing-2013-nscs-party-in-the-poconos-400-post-race-report/

Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Georges Grignard Bobby Grim

Friday

Kasey Kahne at last nabs Chase spot as Kyle Busch's woes continue

HAMPTON, Ga. - Rest easy, mature ladies of NASCAR. Your boy made the Chase.

If this race were a romance novel, which fits the boyish good looks of race winner Kasey Kahne, it'd be titled "Kahne's Konundrum," or "Racin' Kasey," and it'd have dashing heroes (Kahne, of course) and scheming suitors (Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick) and even a villain (Kyle Busch) who almost vanquished our hero's chances of winning the heart of his beloved Chase Bertha. (All right, we'll work on the name.)

Alas, this was only a race, albeit a crucial one for the points standings, and the only romance taking place in the Atlanta Motor Speedway infield probably isn't the kind we can discuss in any detail on a family website. Regardless, Kahne captured his spot in the Chase, bringing a satisfying end to a long and frustrating regular season for the Hendrick Motorsports driver.

And for a moment, it looked like Kahne was going to watch it all slip away. He was dominant through the race's final laps, out in front of Harvick and riding the smooth clean air. But then Busch and Martin Truex Jr. got together ? more on that in a moment ? and Kahne saw his lead evaporate. Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, and Paul Menard all beat Kahne off pit road for a green-white-checkered finish, and for a lap or so, it appeared Kahne's best chance to make the Chase was over and done.

But then onetime teammates Menard and Harvick collided, taking them out of the mix and bringing out the second late caution flag. Kahne was able to outrun Kenseth, not exactly a surprise given the fact that Kenseth was on two fresh tires to Kahne's four, and just like that, the fourth of four Hendrick cars was locked into the Chase.

Kahne's three teammates ? Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon ? all stopped by victory lane to congratulate Kahne. After the race, team owner Rick Hendrick pronounced this year's quartet "the most balanced" he's ever fielded in the Chase.

The race's drama came about when Busch and Truex collided in the closing laps, each repeatedly hammering each other. After the race, Truex stopped his car at Busch's hauler, holding up the entire line of entering cars, and leaned in Busch's window to express his displeasure.

#Nascar ... Martin Truex Jr's discussion with Kyle Busch after the race. #AskMRN @MRNRadio pic.twitter.com/V4T3f4tc24
? Dustin Long (@dustinlong) September 1, 2014

Truex continued the discussion with Busch's crew chief Dave Rogers as Busch climbed out of the car and left the garage without speaking. It marked yet another low point in Busch's ongoing late-season skid, and while Kyle is locked into the Chase, there's little indication at the moment that he'll be entering with any momentum.

The series now heads to Richmond for its regular-season finale on Saturday night. Two Chase spots remain up for grabs, with a victory guaranteeing a berth. If Sunday night in Atlanta was a romance novel, that night is going to be an MMA fight.

____
Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/kasey-kahne-at-last-nabs-chase-spot-as-kyle-busch-s-woes-continue-042743711.html

Jean Pierre Jabouille Jimmy Jackson Joe James John James

Thursday

Kasey Kahne at last nabs Chase spot as Kyle Busch's woes continue

HAMPTON, Ga. - Rest easy, mature ladies of NASCAR. Your boy made the Chase.

#Nascar ... Martin Truex Jr's discussion with Kyle Busch after the race. #AskMRN @MRNRadio pic.twitter.com/V4T3f4tc24
? Dustin Long (@dustinlong) September 1, 2014

____
Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/kasey-kahne-at-last-nabs-chase-spot-as-kyle-busch-s-woes-continue-042743711.html

Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte

Wednesday

Kyle Busch dominates Virginia529 College Savings 250; JR Motorsports remains strong

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2014/09/kyle-busch-dominates-virginia529.html

Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki

Tony Stewart case sent to grand jury

The Ontario County of New York District Attorney?s office announced Tuesday that they will send�evidence from its investigation into the Kevin Ward Jr.-Tony Stewart�incident to a grand jury. The statement from Michael Tantillo, Ontario County District Atttorney, reads in full: ?Over the past several weeks I have reviewed with members of the Ontario County Sheriff?s Department their investigation, as it progressed, in the Tony Stewart matter. Recently that office concluded its work and forwarded the complete case file to me. Upon my review of all of the information contained in the entire investigation, I have made the determination that it would be appropriate to submit the evidence to a grand jury, for their determination as to what action should be taken in this matter. Accordingly, the evidence developed in the investigation will be presented to an Ontario County grand jury in the near future.? As grand jury proceedings in New York State are strictly confidential by law, I am unable to state when

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/tony_stewart_case_sent_to_grand_jury/17294738

Bertrand Gachot Patrick Gaillard Divina Galica Nanni Galli

Tuesday

Audi Q7 plug-in hybrid spied, Porsche powertrain possible

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hybrid, Crossover, Audi, Luxury

It's no secret that a new Audi Q7 is on the way. The replacement for the aging, three-row luxury CUV has already been spotted once, in December of 2013. Now, though, we have images of the second-generation model lapping Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife, and it just happens to be showing a feature we reported on at the end of July - a plug-in-hybrid powertrain.

Given away by its high-voltage stickers on the window and a spare door to hide the charger - note how both the driver and passenger sides sport an access point - our spies snapped a series of photos, and put forth the compelling idea that the new Q7 would use the PHV system from the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid.

If that's the case, that should mean at least 320 horsepower from a 3.0-liter, supercharged V6, while an electric motor chips in a further 95 ponies for a total system output of 416 hp.

As for when the first Q7 PHV could arrive, our spies claim that the new model will debut in 2015, with the Hybrid available from the start. As for when it will debut, the Geneva Motor Show is always a solid candidate, although the other big shows - Detroit, New York and Shanghai - remain possibilities. Basically, this debut is still up in the air. Should that change, though, we'll be sure to make sure you know.

Audi Q7 plug-in hybrid spied, Porsche powertrain possible originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Sep 2014 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Helm Glцckler Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/09/15/audi-q7-plug-in-hybrid-spy-shots/

Sunday

A 50's Bumper Car Revival For Towncar Use

Take a hulk of an electric-powered amusement park and traveling carnival bumper car and turn it into a head-turning conversation piece that can get one easily around for local errands in an artistic style that is more fun than a Smart car, mo-ped scooter, bicycle, or ... skateboard.

Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2014/06/a_50s_bumper_car_revival.php

Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson

Saturday

2014 Maserati Ghibli Diesel

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Maserati, UK, Diesel, Luxury, Quick Spins

It used to be easier to make sense of the auto industry. There were mainstream manufacturers, and there were niche sports car manufacturers. That was before Porsche starting selling more crossovers than it does sports cars, Lamborghini began preparing to go down the same road, and Ferrari introduced an all-wheel-drive hatchback. But long before the arrival of the Cayenne, the unveiling of the Urus and the advent of the FF, the storied marque that is Maserati was already bolstering its sports car offerings with four-door sedans.

In fact, it's now been half a century and six generations since the launch of the original Quattroporte. So the idea of a four-door Maserati shouldn't come as any surprise by now, but the vehicle you see here has the Modenese automaker breaking new ground in another way entirely. And it's not the size, either: although the new Ghibli is smaller than the current QP, it's roughly the same size as the aforementioned original - not to mention the Dodge Charger, a corporate stablemate which similarly revived a coupe nameplate for a four-door sedan. No, what makes this Ghibli 'special' is what resides under the hood, because the model you're looking at packs the very first diesel Maserati has ever offered in its hundred-year history.

Sacrilege, you say? Maybe, but as so-called performance brands have turned their attention to four-door sedans and crossovers, they've also begun to embrace diesel propulsion. In Europe these days, even Porsche, Jaguar, the BMW M division and Audi Quattro GmbH are burning the midnight oil. So while it may be new territory for Maserati, the Ghibli is far from the first high-end, performance-oriented diesel on the Old World's market. It's also a vital addition to the brand's portfolio, particularly in Europe where the advantageous price of diesel fuel over gasoline (and the smaller volumes of fuel a diesel engine typically consumes) makes offering a model so equipped vital to the Trident marque's ambitious growth plans. The question, then, is whether it delivers.

Driving Notes

The basic parameters of the Ghibli should be familiar from our first drive in Italy and our subsequent review back on American roads. We won't go into the same depth in this short report, because this engine isn't coming to North America, and this diesel model is visually almost indiscernible from its benzine-burning stablemates. Suffice it to say that its evocative shape is a welcome addition to a segment that typically appeals to conservative tastes with cookie-cutter uniformity, but such non-traditional styling won't be for everyone: the shape may whisper "Italian Riviera" to some, but the detailing will say Buick Riviera to others.
The interior is a nice (if somewhat plain) place to be, the infotainment system is a marked improvement over those found in older Maseratis (thanks, Chrysler), and the seats are comfortable and supportive (if teetering a little too high for a proper sports sedan), but the cabin doesn't feel as special as a Maserati should, especially all in black like our tester.
Power in this least potent, most fuel-efficient Maserati comes from the same 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel as you'll find in a variety of models under the Fiat-Chrysler umbrella, which has by now fully absorbed the VM Motori engine manufacturer that supplies it. In the Ghibli (as in the diesel Quattroporte), it's been retuned to produce 271 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque - which is, by both measures, more potent than the same engine as fitted to the Chrysler 300, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500.
Relative to the diesel versions of the BMW 5 Series, for comparison's sake, that puts it smack in between the 535d available Stateside (with 255 hp and 413 lb-ft, sold overseas as the 530d) and the more powerful Euro-spec 535d (308 hp and 465 lb-ft) but well shy of the more performance-oriented M550d (376 hp/546 lb-ft). Clearly there's room for improvement, and we hope Maserati aims higher next time around.
Compared to the gasoline versions available in the US, the diesel Ghibli is down on power but up on torque, netting a (comparatively) lethargic 6.3-second 0-62 time versus to the 5.6 seconds quoted for the 345-hp base Ghibli (which gets a lower power rating overseas at 325 hp but the same torque and performance figures), and the 4.8 quoted for the top-of-the-line S with its 404 prancing horses (which comes standard with Q4 all-wheel drive in the US, available in Europe but not in the left-hand UK market). That's a hefty penalty in performance, which partially comes down to the difference in weight: the diesel model tips the scales at 4,045, which is heavier than either spec of the rear-drive gasoline models (but less than the all-wheel-drive version) - the diesel's extra torque failing to overcome the added weight under acceleration.
What you get in return, however, is far better fuel economy: 37 miles per gallon in the city, 56 mpg on the highway (by European standards) easily trumps the 20 mpg the base gasoline model gets in a European metropolis and 40 mpg between them. Factor in the diesel fuel that's cheaper in Europe and you're looking at a substantial savings at the pump.
The relative drop in performance, however, is not helped by a transmission that seems determined never to hold the gear selected, controlled (in addition to the paddles) by a console shifter that, to put it charitably, takes some getting used to. Naturally, the turbodiesel doesn't sound quite like a Maserati should, though the synthesizer engaged with the Sport button makes up for it, at least in part.
With the added weight in the nose - and on the punishing Hill Route at the Millbrook Proving Ground where we drove it - we didn't experience that perfect 50/50 weight balance Maserati's been crowing about with the gasoline versions. (Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to compare them back to back since the gasoline testers on hand, rather tellingly, ran out of fuel early on.) The impression with which we were left was one of a reasonably solid chassis, well damped from the surrounding environment, but saddled with a lackluster engine. We weren't entirely convinced, either, that a "reasonably solid chassis" can keep up in such a competitive segment - an impression further reinforced when we drove a diesel Panamera later the same day and a diesel Jag XF just a few days later, both of which (though based on older architectures) gave a better impression of the driver's connectedness to both machine and road.
The diesel Ghibli, however, is still new, and represents new territory for Maserati - one to which we trust it will become better adapted as development progresses... especially when a new diesel engine arrives. In the meantime, the current diesel, arguably better suited towards trucks than performance sedans, isn't one which American buyers should pine for when there are newer, better gasoline options available from Maserati and better diesels offered by the competition. At the end of the day, the diesel Ghibli's greatest achievement may very well be the more realistic proposition of actually driving one in Italy, where a troubled economy and high fuel prices - currently hovering at around $9 per gallon for gasoline and $8.50 for diesel - have made the sight of a Maserati on the road a tragically rare one.

2014 Maserati Ghibli Diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/09/11/2014-maserati-ghibli-diesel-quick-spin-review/

Joe Kelly Dave Kennedy Loris Kessel Bruce Kessler

Friday

Kia Soul EV priced at $33,700*, leases start at $249/month

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Kia

Kia must have thought VW was aiming a little high when the German automaker priced its upcoming electric vehicle for the US market. Kia has just announced that the price for its new Soul EV will be $33,700 (before any tax incentives) when it comes to the US later this year. That's well above the base model Nissan Leaf, which starts at $28,980, but a few thousand dollars below the Volkswagen e-Golf, which starts at $35,445.

The upper end Plus model starts at $35,700.

The Soul EV will come in two trim levels, with the upper end Plus model starting at $35,700. The extra $2,000 will get you leather-trimmed heated and ventilated seats, fog lamps and power folding mirrors. As any EV driver in a cold climate will tell you, heated seats can do a lot for your body comfort when electrons count. Every Soul EV will have an onboard 6.6-kW charger, a nav system, a rear camera and Kia's UVO EV Services connection (with app) - as well as Kia's $800 destination charge. There are a few more details in the press release below. The Soul also has something that its competitors don't: an official range of 93 miles thanks to a 27-kWh lithium ion battery pack. The Leaf sits pretty at 84 miles while the e-Golf has not yet been officially rated.

For those more interested in leasing than buying, the cost will be $249 per month with $1,999 down for the base model. Kia will announce more lease details closer to launch this fall. By the way, the Soul EV will be "initially available in certain California markets only with limited availability," so only some of you will have the option to get one from the start. Kia has said that the Soul EV will be available in other states -Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Maryland - as well, so expect announcements on that front at some point.

Continue reading Kia Soul EV priced at $33,700*, leases start at $249/month

Kia Soul EV priced at $33,700*, leases start at $249/month originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: http://green.autoblog.com/2014/09/11/kia-soul-ev-priced-at-33700-leases-start-at-249-month/

Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte

Thursday

Tony Stewart withdraws from dirt track race planned for this weekend

In the wake of the events of Saturday night, in which driver Kevin Ward Jr. died as a result of contact with Tony Stewart's sprint car at an upstate New York dirt track, Stewart has bowed out of another dirt track race.

In advance of this weekend's Sprint Cup race in Michigan, Stewart had planned to race at the Plymouth Speedway in Indiana. However, on Monday morning the track released the following announcement: "We at Plymouth Speedway extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the family of Kevin Ward, Jr. and thoughts and prayers to Tony Stewart and his family. Tony Stewart will NOT be racing at Plymouth Speedway this Saturday."

Stewart had been on track to race at dozens of dirt tracks across the country. His presence has always bolstered attendance and improved the bottom lines of tiny, rural tracks.

Stewart is not presently under any criminal investigation stemming from the accident involving Ward. He withdrew from Sunday's Watkins Glen race, and has not yet announced plans for Michigan.

[H/t Lucky Dog]

____
Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/tony-stewart-withdraws-from-dirt-track-race-planned-for-this-weekend-152246554.html

Hans Herrmann Franзois Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill

Tony Stewart's return to racing ends in quiet, disappointing night

HAMPTON, Ga. - After three weeks of pain, sorrow, and horribly misinformed speculation, the Tony Stewart story returned to where it belonged: the race track. But for Stewart, the night ended early, and perhaps that's for the best.

This marked Stewart's first race since the accident in upstate New York that resulted in the death of fellow driver Kevin Ward Jr. Stewart has remained in seclusion since the incident, not speaking publicly and missing three races. His return to race in Atlanta brought with it many questions, questions that Stewart himself was not willing or able to answer.

Certainly, Stewart didn't race to lose, or to leave the track more than 150 laps early. But this weekend almost surely wasn't about victory, or qualifying for the Chase, or satisfying sponsors, or anything else other than just allowing Stewart to spend some time in the one place where he's still in control.

The weekend began with an emotional press conference, and ended with Stewart's wrecked No. 14 being loaded onto a hauler, the result of a blown right front tire and a collision with the wall. Along the way, Stewart received the support of both NASCAR, which granted him a waiver into the Chase should he qualify, and fans, who showed their support with cheers, signs, and scrawled messages on the white paint of the wall in front of his pit stall.

Stewart's first true public appearance since the tragedy came when he stepped out onto the narrow catwalk of the drivers' stage at Atlanta, and while he looked downcast, he entered to the loudest cheers of the afternoon:

Here's Tony Stewart at driver introductions. He walked onstage to deafening cheers. pic.twitter.com/arobiwdp36
? Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) August 31, 2014

Stewart started 12th, and raced as high as third before sliding back into the pack. On lap 122, Kyle Busch collided with Stewart, sending the No. 14 into the wall. A few dozen laps later, Stewart's right front tire gave way, ravaging Stewart's car and ending any chance of a reasonable finish.

After driving the car to the garage, Stewart dodged the horde of waiting media and disappeared inside his hauler. He'll presumably race again at Richmond, and from a purely competitive perspective, that race would be his last opportunity to make the Chase this year.

However, Stewart's reps have said the Chase is the last thing on Stewart's mind. Racing for racing's sake, as grief therapy and a return to whatever will now pass for normalcy, is all that's on the table right now.

____
Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/tony-stewart-s-return-to-racing-ends-in-quiet--disappointing-night-031636572.html

Maurнcio Gugelmin Dan Gurney Hubert Hahne Mike Hailwood

Wednesday

Horizon Pharma Partners with Peck Motorsports for Lucas Oil 225 at Chicagoland

Horizon Pharma has joined NASCAR driver Todd Peck's mission to inspire those living with arthritis to maintain an active and fast-paced lifestyle. Horizon Pharma will serve as the primary sponsor of Peck's No. 40 Chevrolet Silverado for the Lucas Oil 225 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 12. The race will mark Peck's fourth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event of the season.
Horizon Pharma, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on improving patients' lives by identifying, acquiring and commercializing differentiated products that address unmet medical needs. Horizon markets a portfolio of products in the areas of arthritis, pain and inflammatory diseases including VIMOVO� (naproxen/esomeprazole), DUEXIS� (ibuprofen/famotidine) and RAYOS� (prednisone) delayed-release tablets.
Peck, who suffers from both juvenile arthritis and osteoarthritis, has never let his conditions slow him down. He, along with Horizon Pharma, will visit the Illinois Bone and J...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/horizon_pharma_partners_with_peck_motorsports_for_lucas_oil_225_at_chicagoland/17233046

Mike Hailwood Mika Hдkkinen Bruce Halford Jim Hall

Monday

Volkswagen do Brasil doubles up on new Saveiro ute [w/video]

Filed under: Volkswagen, South America

Volkswagen may have come a long way since the original Beetle to produce hatchbacks, coupes, convertibles, sedans, wagons and crossovers... but pickups? As we found out in England recently, the Amarok is a notable exception, but it's not the only one. Head down to South America and you can also pick up the Saveiro.

Based on the Brazilian-made Gol hatchback, the Saveiro is a neo-Camino-esque coupe with a pickup bed - similar in form to the Fiat Strada that's also made in Brazil for the South American market. Like the Corvette, the Saveiro (Portuguese for "sloop") takes its name from a nimble sailing warship. It's been on the market in its current iteration since 2009, but Volkswagen do Brasil has recently rolled out an updated version.

As you can see, the facelifted Saveiro adopts a front end more in keeping with VW's current design language, but that's not the end of the updates. For the first time VW is also offering the Saveiro in a Double Cab configuration with an extra row of seats for three more passengers.

In addition to the standard, extended or new double cab body styles, buyers can also choose between Startline, Trendline, Highline or Cross trim levels, the latter adopting an off-road treatment to bring that much closer to the Amarok. A new 1.6-liter flex-fuel four mated to a five-speed manual gearbox offers up to 120 horsepower (in the Saveiro Cross) or 104 hp (in the less rugged models) and can run on gasoline, ethanol or both.

Like what you see? There's more to read in the press release below, which we've included in both the original Portuguese and in auto-translated form, along with the video in its original form.

Continue reading Volkswagen do Brasil doubles up on new Saveiro ute [w/video]

Volkswagen do Brasil doubles up on new Saveiro ute [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Sep 2014 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.