Thursday, April 30, 2015

North East Mini Stock Tour Results

Race Results for 4/26/2015  Lee USA. 
    
North East Mini Stock Tour – Feature 
FinishCar NoDriverHometown
12NHToby WellsDublin, NH
263Nick ManiatisHooksett, NH
338Cristofer KingDerry, NH
47Pete ZakariteNiantic, CT
555Nicholas AndersonOxford, MA
618NHJacob RheaumeRochester, NH
724Joe BaxterPascoag, RI
885Michael ViensSeekonk, MA
948Justin KingDerry, NH
1066Devin MirandaTaunton, Ma
1151Kale BillingsGonic, NH
126MIchael MetcalfWest Minster, VT
1343Dana ShepardPutney, VT
1495Bruce KnowlesDover, NH
1511Taylor MorseWaterbury, VT
1620MEJohn LarsenPeru, ME
1725Nic SkillingsHillsboro, NH
1810CTMitchell BombardWillimantic, CT
1990Desmond SkillingsAntrim, NH
2022EAustin EricksonAshland, MA
2169Louis MaherNorth Brookfield, MA
2233Matt SonnhalterE. Thetford, VT

Pascoag's Joe Baxter

Keith Ballou

No. 88 Whelen Modified Tour Team Penalized


No. 88 Whelen Modified Tour Team Penalized

Rules Violations At Stafford Motor Speedway
Official Release
April 30, 2015 - 5:45pm

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The No. 88 team that competes in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered during post-race inspection April 26 at Stafford Motor Speedway.
This infraction is a P2 level penalty and violates the following Sections in the 2015 NASCAR rule book:
12.1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing;
20D-4.1: General Engine Eligibility:
B. As an option, Teams may compete in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour/Whelen Southern Modified Tour with a NASCAR-approved “Spec Engine”. If used, the “Spec Engine” must be completely assembled using only NASCAR-approved “Spec Engine” components without any modifications.
INFRACTION: Non-approved fasteners were used.
The options for a P2 penalty are outlined in the following sections of the NASCAR rule book:
12-4.2: P2 Penalty Options:
A.
Minor fasteners, nuts, bolts, etc. of the wrong material, but not of a nature rising to higher numbered Penalties.

As a result of this violation, crew chief Ron Ste-Marie has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.

Modifieds - 3/29/2015 - Big Diamond Speedway / Big Wreck


Lebanon Valley Opener 2015


Happy Birthdays Today in NASCAR

Elliot Sadler

Mikey Waltrip

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

DAVID RAGAN to run remainder of 2015 at Kansas for MWR #55

By Wayne G. Barber
   Ragan in the #55 rest of the year, starting at Kansas: Michael Waltrip Racing announced that David Ragan will drive the #55 Aaron's Dream Machine for the remainder of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, beginning May 9 at Kansas Speedway. Brian Vickers had planned to race the Toyota fulltime in 2015, but heart surgery in December forced the Thomasville, N.C., native to miss the first two races of the season. Vickers returned at Las Vegas on March 7, but was sidelined two weeks later by recurring blood clots in his lungs. No timetable has been set for his return.
"Life has thrown a lot at MWR the first part of this racing season, but our team has stood tall and worked through it," said Michael Waltrip. "Our original plans for the #55 team have been challenged since December and we felt it was important for our employees and our sponsors to solidify the remainder of the 2015 season. The opportunity to bring David Ragan into the team is incredible for a number of reasons. He will bring experience, consistency and a lot of confidence based on how he has been running with our Toyota teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing. He also puts the #55 team and Aaron's right back into the Chase for the Sprint Cup contention, which is a very positive turn of events for that team. There is absolutely no question about Brian Vickers' ability, but there remains a question of his availability. We are going to remain very close with Brian while he works on his plan to return. We have told him that MWR is here when he has a clear picture about what the future holds, but we don't need to add any timeline pressures. He is working with a lot of medical advisors and once he has established his plan, we will sit down and discuss next steps. I'm really proud of the incredible job Brett Moffitt has done for us in the 55. He has been a big part of this organization for the last couple of years and he will continue in that role. With the limited number of starts Brett has in this industry, he has proven that he has the talent to be a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and we are still committed to helping him get that opportunity."(MWR)
Front Row Statement: "We are grateful to David Ragan for his contributions to the growth of Front Row Motorsports and his commitment to our partners over the past three years. He led us on our first trip to Victory Lane, and that's a moment we'll never forget. We wish him the best with his new team. As previously announced, Chris Buescher will be the driver of the #34 at Talladega this weekend. We are working on finalizing the driver line-up for races to follow and will announce those plans soon."(Front Row Motorsports), Michael Waltrip will drive the #55 at Talladega. For earlier news on Brian Vickers and the #55 team

DAVID RAGAN Winning "Pedigree" at Talladega

By Wayne G. Barber
 
photo by Todd Warshaw
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (April 29, 2015) – For many reasons, David Ragan couldn’t be more excited for Sunday’s Geico 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
 
First off, look no further than his record at the 2.66-mile superspeedway to see why the driver of the No. 18 PEDIGREE® Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is very much looking forward to Sunday’s 500-mile race. Much is made about racing luck at Talladega, but Ragan’s record there indicates there’s a little more to his solid finishes there than luck. In all, Ragan has four top-fives, and seven top-10s in 16 career starts there. But, the most memorable came in April of 2013, when he made it to victory lane with underdog team Front Row Motorsports.
 
On top of his solid track record and Talladega race win, Ragan will be celebrating a career milestone Sunday regardless of the outcome. He’ll be making his 300th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. Of particular note: Busch, the regular driver of the No. 18 Toyota, went to victory lane the day of his 300th start in April 2013 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
 

Sunday’s race at Talladega will also be the first of two this season with Pedigree as primary sponsor of the No. 18 Toyota, the other coming in September at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. Ragan, an avid animal lover and dog owner, would like nothing more than to bring the dogs riding along on the Pedigree Toyota back to victory lane at Talladega, a place he’s quite familiar with. The Talladega race will coincide with the launch of a new tastier and meatier PEDIGREE® Dry Dog Food recipe that delivers the variety that pet parents are looking for. The new recipe is loaded with whole grains and protein accented with vegetables, providing a nutritious and delicious difference that pet parents will see and their dogs will taste.

Despite his success at Talladega over the years, Ragan admits the winner of Sunday’s 500-mile race will not only need to have a strong car, but also have that racing luck on his side in order to survive the seemingly inevitable multicar accident on NASCAR’s longest track. That, in addition to his winning “Pedigree,” he might have just what the No. 18 PEDIGREE® Toyota needs to celebrate in victory lane late Sunday afternoon.

 
DAVID RAGAN, Driver of the No. 18 Pedigree Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:
 
Do you look forward to Talladega knowing that you have such a good record there?
 
“I love going to Talladega. I wouldn’t enjoy the racing there if it was 36 times a year but, a couple times a year, it’s just a different strategy and mindset the entire weekend. You have to do different things with strategy for the whole weekend. You have to do different things with your racecar to make it fast. And you have to work well with others. It’s a fun weekend. Always a great crowd and close to home and I went there a few times as a kid. Any time you’ve won at a track, it’s always fun to go back because you know you can do some of the right things to win there. Obviously, going to Talladega this year and driving for JGR in the Pedigree Toyota, it’s going to be another new experience with a different group of guys and seeing what their strategy is. Also, you get to see the strengths and weaknesses of their cars on the superspeedway. I know the Toyotas ran really well at Daytona, and it’s going to be fun to strap into one at Talladega and see what we can do.”
 

What is it about the restrictor-plate tracks that have helped you run so well on them over the years?

“I think the biggest thing is having a good mindset going into the weekend. We all know you can get caught up in a wreck that’s not of your doing. You can be part of accidents that you can’t avoid. I think sometimes guys just have a bad attitude going into the weekend. I remember the first time I went there as a rookie – Jimmy Fennig was my crew chief and he talked about having the right attitude, taking it serious all weekend long, and it’s really worked out well for me. I’ve been fortunate to have some good racecars, good engines, good crew chiefs and spotters, and it does take that whole package to run well. It’s definitely something I enjoy and, when you find some success at the plate tracks early in your career, it’s something you can really build on. Going to Talladega, I know anything could happen and there could be the big one early in the race and we can get caught up in it. I also know I can avoid it and we can play the right strategy and win the race. It just gives me a lot of confidence going into the weekend.”
 
You have Pedigree on board with you this weekend, and you are an animal lover. How special are your pets and dogs to you?
 

“My wife and I have some traditional pets and non-traditional pets. We have a couple of cats and dogs at our house. My wife Jackelyn worked at the local animal shelter over the years so, if we didn’t travel 36 weeks a year, we would probably have even more animals in the house. We are definitely an animal family and have a lot of different kinds. Our dog Oliver is annually in the Greg Biffle pet calendar. He’s a good dog and he’ll be in Talladega with us since we usually bring him there. Talladega has some nice grass and a lot of infield to run around in at the track.”
DAVID RAGAN’S TALLADEGA SPRINT CUP SERIES PERFORMANCE PROFILE
Year
Date
Event
Start
Finish
Status/Laps
Laps Led
Earnings
2014
5/4
×Aaron’s 499
39
35
Accident, 174/188
1
$98,910
 
10/19
×GEICO 500
25
30
Running, 194/194
2
$94,086
2013
5/5
×Aaron’s 499
19
1
Running, 192/192
4
$373,108
 
10/20
Camping World RV Sales 500
7
6
Running, 188/188
1
$133,618
2012
5/6
×Aaron’s 499
32
7
Running, 194/194
0
$137,723
 
10/7
×Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500
25
4
Running, 189/189
1
$142,743
2011
4/17
Aaron’s 499
7
39
Accident, 89/188
2
$87,550
 
10/23
Good Sam Club 500
8
28
Running, 188/188
1
$81,250
2010
4/25
×Aaron’s 499
26
6
Running, 200/200
8
$130,650
 
10/31
AMP Energy Juice 500
28
21
Running, 188/188
0
$85,375
2009
4/26
Aaron’s 499
10
12
Running, 188/188
2
$107,500
 
11/1
†×AMP Energy 500
28
17
Running, 191/191
0
$89,600
2008
4/27
Aaron’s 499
6
4
Running, 188/188
0
$152,775
 
10/5
×AMP Energy 500
16
3
Running, 190/190
11
$149,200
2007
4/29
×Aaron’s 499
10
17
Running, 192/192
2
$127,100
 

 
 




KEVIN HARVICK A Bloomin' Million

By Wayne G. Barber
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (April 29, 2015)Each year in early May, signs of spring begin to appear. The grass begins to grow, the weather becomes warmer and flowers bloom. Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), is hoping to do his part and “make it bloom” in conjunction with Outback Steakhouse this May.
Outback Steakhouse has celebrated Harvick’s eight top-10 finishes thus far in 2015 by giving its customers a free Bloomin’ Onion® on Bloomin’ Mondays – the Monday immediately following each top-10 finish. Harvick would like to continue those Bloomin’ celebrations this weekend by scoring another top-10 by way of his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race win of 2015 and the second of his career at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. 
In fact, if Harvick is able to score his ninth top-10 of the season this weekend, Outback Steakhouse will give away its 1 millionth Bloomin’ Onion as part of its Bloomin’ Monday promotion.
Harvick has been generous with Outback Steakhouse Bloomin’ Onions since joining SHR at the beginning of the 2014 Sprint Cup season. He has scored 28 top-10 finishes in 45 Sprint Cup points-paying races since joining the team, including both his 2014 Sprint Cup starts at Talladega. Only Joey Logano with 30 top-10 finishes and Jeff Gordon with 29 have scored more top-10s since the start of last season.
Harvick’s spot in the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship is secured with two wins in the first nine races as the No. 4 has been dominant just about every weekend.
Nine races into 2015, Harvick sits atop the driver standings with 357 points. His five straight Sprint Cup finishes of second or better to start the season is a series record. He has led a series-high 952 laps with an average finish of 6.4 thus far. His 952 laps led are nearly twice as many as the next-closest competitor – SHR teammate Kurt Busch’s 520.

Harvick leads several other statistical categories – 129.4 driver rating, 536 fastest laps run, 21.7 percent of fastest laps run, 31.1 percentage of laps led, 1,008.22 miles led, 2,832 laps in the top-15, 92.5 percentage of laps in the top-15, average running position at 5.2, average finish of 6.4 and 84.5 percent quality passes.

With his ticket into the Sprint Cup postseason punched thanks to his two Sprint Cup victories, Harvick and his Rodney Childers-led crew can head to Talladega feeling less pressure and welcome the opportunity to race aggressively for a third win. The 30-time Sprint Cup race winner will look to score his eighth win and 29th top-10 since joining SHR, as well as providing Outback Steakhouse a chance to give away its 1 millionth Bloomin’ Onion on another Bloomin’ Monday.
KEVIN HARVICK, Driver of the No. 4 Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing:
You’ve won at both superspeedways on the circuit, Daytona and Talladega. Your record on the restrictor-plate tracks speaks for itself. Do you approach these races with a strategy in mind, as far as working to get out front and stay there, or ride at the back? Or, do you just take each race as it comes? 
“I think a lot of the approach depends on where you qualify. At a lot of these tracks, if you can qualify decent and race up front with the current rules package, I think it’s better to stay up front and try to keep yourself there throughout the day. Obviously, if you don’t qualify well, you go with the opposite strategy. For us, having a couple of wins in the bank, I think you race as hard as you can all day to try and keep yourself up front and have a complete day of hopefully keeping the car rolling when it’s time to be around at the end.”
Do you feel tracks like Talladega and Daytona are anomalies in the sense that, unlike most tracks, track position is not as important until the last few laps?
“I still think track position is pretty important, just for the fact that it seems like it takes longer to make a move and to make things happen. So I think, as you look back at this current car and this current rules package, you want to be somewhere toward the front.”
Talk about your sponsor this weekend – Outback Steakhouse – and the unique activation they do around the program, including the Bloomin’ Monday promotion.

“Outback is very involved in what they do. The Bloomin’ Monday promotion is really fun, and it’s something that the fans are really into. It’s something that draws a lot of attention to Monday mornings, afternoons or evenings, whatever time zone you’re in, for everyone to head to Outback Steakhouse. People love free stuff. It’s crazy that they are almost to 1 million for the entire program. That’s a huge number. But, I’m hoping we can add to it and deliver again for the race fans this Monday.”
Kevin Harvick Talladega Superspeedway Performance Profile:
Year
Event
Start
Finish
Status/Laps
Laps Led
Earnings
2014
Aaron’s 499
8
7
Running, 188/188
15
$158,778
 
×Geico 500
39
9
Running, 194/194
2
$134,261
2013
†×Aaron’s 499
24
40
Accident, 47/192
0
$122,021
 
Camping World RV Sales 500
33
12
Running, 188/188
0
$134,071
2012
×Aaron’s 499
20
25
Accident, 184/194
1
$136,016
 
×Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500
21
11
Running, 189/189
12
$132,621
2011
Aaron’s 499
38
5
Running, 188/188
9
$175,711
 
Good Sam Club 500
13
32
Running,179/188
13
$121,786
2010
×Aaron’s 499
4
1
Running, 200/200
2
$344,501
 
AMP Energy Juice 500
14
2
Running, 188/188
12
$201,999
2009
Aaron’s 499
19
38
Running, 127/188
0
$118,353
 
†×AMP Energy 500
21
21
Running, 191/191
28
$122,678
2008
Aaron’s 499
39
24
Running, 188/188
1
$129,736
 
×AMP Energy 500
39
20
Running, 179/190
22
$129,486
2007
×Aaron’s 499
41
6
Running, 192/192
0
$164,536
 
UAW-Ford 500
37
20
Running, 188/188
1
$125,236
2006
Aaron’s 499
42
23
Running, 187/188
0

UAW-Ford 500
14
6
Running, 188/188
0
$137,161
2005
×Aaron’s 499
1
12
Running, 194/194
12
$139,706
 
×UAW-Ford 500
42
10
Running, 190/190
6
$137,161
2004
Aaron’s 499
14
3
Running, 188/188
14
$185,808
 
EA SPORTS 500
15
2
Running, 188/188
3
$165,208
2003
Aaron’s 499
2
2
Running, 188/188
12
$179,233
 
EA SPORTS 500
30
7
Running, 188/188
4
$101,953
2002
Aaron’s 499
14
28
Running, 181/188
0
$98,498
 
EA SPORTS 500
19
27
Running, 186/188
3
$91,288
2001
Talladega 500
9
12
Running, 188/188
0
$96,197
 
EA SPORTS 500
19
32
Running, 187/188
0
$85,712
* Race cut short due to weather. × Race length extended due to green-white-checkered finish. † Qualifying canceled due to weather, starting position set via car owner points.
  
 
– TSC –
 
 
$121,811