Ryan Dalziel Wins Overall Pole for Rolex 24, Brumos Racing on GT Pole

posted by Phil Allaway

Friday January 27, 2012

One of the sport’s legendary racetrack owners, spearheading the last independently-owned Sprint Cup facility has died. Dr. Joe Mattioli, 86, passed away Thursday afternoon at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center after a lengthy illness. A dentist by trade, the patriarch of one of the most influential NASCAR families staked the biggest portion of his reputation on racing, constructing the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway in Northeast Pennsylvania and convincing the most popular series in the country to stage races there. Constructed in the early 1960’s, the “Tricky Triangle” as it’s become known has hosted a total of 68 Cup Series events, beginning in 1974. Pocono Raceway is also home to a successful driving experience, a mainstay for the ARCA Series (two races per year) and has recently hosted one Camping World Truck Series event per season. Open-wheel cars also once graced the asphalt at a facility that has grown to hold over 100,000 fans.

But Mattioli’s legacy reaches far beyond the racetrack. His land in Northeast PA is now home to a 25-acre solar energy system, made up of 40,000 American-made photovoltaic modules that will produce more than 72 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy over the next 20 years. Opened in 2010, it makes the raceway the largest solar-powered sports facility in the country, spearheading NASCAR’s push towards protecting the environment and renewable energy.

A Navy medic during World War II, Mattioli went to Temple University in Philadelphia, PA through the G.I. Bill and established a successful dental practice in the area. Investing in real estate during the ensuing decades allowed him to accumulate wealth and establish the funding necessary to build the racetrack, which now has expanded to include nearby lodging year-round among other projects, past, present and future which have helped boost the economy in the Pocono Mountain Region.

“‘Doc’ was a true leader in every sense of the word,” said the Mattioli family in a statement. “As a visionary, he brought an unknown sport into an alien place, where he along with his unstoppable will and undeniable tenacity built one of the biggest monuments of sports. His passion for his projects was only overshadowed by his deep love for his family, which he gave to all of us hand over fist.”

For years, other corporations have looked to buy the speedway and the surrounding land but Mattioli would never sell. That leaves Pocono one of just three tracks on the NASCAR schedule not owned by NASCAR-linked International Speedway Corporation or Bruton Smith’s Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (Indianapolis and Dover are the other two). Mattioli also steadfastly clung to the track’s 500-mile distances, a tradition that was only recently changed for 2012.

The good doctor leaves behind his wife Rose – the couple was married 63 years – three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. In August, 2011 he had retired from his role as President of the Raceway and left the day-to-day operations in the hands of grandchildren Brandon, Nick, and Ashley Igdalsky. There are no plans to sell the facility in the wake of his death; in fact, it was left in a trust so the track will remain in family hands for generations to come.

“They can’t touch it,” he said last year in a conversation recounted by Brendan Gaughan Thursday on SiriusXM’s NASCAR channel. “They’re going to learn how to run it or starve.”

Chances are, with the great teacher the grandkids had to learn from success, not starvation will be the modus operandi for years to come.

Statement On Dr. Joe Mattioli's Passing

posted by Thomas Bowles

Friday January 27, 2012

From the family of former Pocono Raceway owner and president, Dr. Joseph Mattioli…

It is with the upmost remorse that we announce that Dr. Joseph Mattioli passed away this afternoon. His loss has left with each of us an unbearable sadness, which we’ll bear with us for the rest of our lives.

“Doc” was a true leader in every sense of the word. As a visionary, he brought an unknown sport into an alien place, where he along with his unstoppable will and undeniable tenacity built one of the biggest monuments of sports. His passion for his projects was only overshadowed by his deep love for his family, which he gave to all of us hand over fist.

Beyond our family, he had a true love and admiration for the wonderful members of his North Eastern Pennsylvania Community. He had a great respect for all of the great people that laid the foundations of prosperity before him, and an even greater hope for the future of our area, which he believed lies in its youth.

He leaves not only his family, but also everyone he’s ever met with an insatiable desire to take life by the horns. He always lived life on his own terms He did it his way.

“Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” – Ernest Hemingway

He died loved, respected, and admired.

SunTrust Racing, TRG fastest in Opening Practice for Rolex 24

posted by Phil Allaway

Thursday January 26, 2012

When the track opened up for practice at 10am Thursday morning, the teams were ready and raring to go. Many of the teams had new equipment to come to grips with, while others were using older, proven machinery.

Unfortunately for Starworks Motorsport, their new equipment let them down before they even got onto the track. A failure in the Ford powerplant was found on pit road before the car even saw the track. As a result, they were forced to miss the first session while they changed the engine.

The other 13 Daytona Prototypes managed to make their way onto the track and set times. The results more or less kept in line with the Roar Before the 24 test. The SunTrust Racing No. 10 Chevrolet Corvette DP driven by Max Angelelli turned in the fastest lap with a time of 1:41.952 (125.706 mph). This is about six-tenths of a second slower than the fastest test times. However, temperatures are just about 80 degrees at the track.

Second was the No. 01 BMW Riley DPG3 for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. The car, driven by Graham Rahal, posted a lap at 1:42.086 (125.541 mph), a tenth and a half slower than the Corvette. Third was the No. 99 Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP driven by Alex Gurney with a 1:42.199 (125.402 mph). Juan Pablo Montoya in Ganassi’s No. 02 and John Pew in the Michael Shank Racing No. 60 Ford Riley DPG3 rounded out the top-5.

In GT, Spencer Pumpelly in the No. 67 TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup set down the fastest lap of the session right at the end of the session. His lap of 1:49.867 (116.650 mph) was less than two-hundredths of a second faster than Dirk Muller in the No. 94 BMW M3 for Turner Motorsport.

Third in class was the Paul Miller Racing No. 48 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup driven by former Porsche factory driver Sascha Maassen with a 1:50.078 (116.426 mph). Sebastian Asch in the No. 17 Burtin Racing with Goldcrest Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup was fourth fastest, while Emil Assentato in the No. 69 FXDD Ferrari 458 Italia rounded out the top-5.

Ford Racing unveils 2013 Ford Fusion

posted by Mike Neff

Tuesday January 24, 2012

In the biggest announcement so far of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ford Racing took the wraps off of their 2013 Ford Fusion. The car incorporates common areas agreed upon by all manufacturers with style components unique to the 2013 production car to give fans a race car that truly resembles the street version of the Fusion. While there are most likely going to be some tweaks to the design the car is definitely a much needed change from the current race car and a vast improvement toward bringing the STOCK back to stock car racing.

The car was a collaborative effort across many different parts of the Ford organization. One of the key members of the project was Garen Nicoghosian, design manager for specialty vehicles. He was oozing with pride over the car as the assembled members of the media commented on the great looks. He’s a fan of the cars that used to race in the old Trans Am series and it shows in the end product. “I am a big fan of the flared fenders” Nicoghosian said. “The body style and the proportions we came up with lent itself to the flared fenders and the planted look that it gives to the car. It reminds you a lot of a Porsche 911 in how it just looks planted into the track.”

While the other manufacturers have not yet unveiled their proposed cars for 2013, Ford has certainly set the bar high with their Ford Fusion.

Crew Chief, NNS Changes For Joe Gibbs Racing

posted by Amy Henderson

Monday January 23, 2012

There are no changes to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Sprint Cup driver lineup for 2012, but several key positions changed hands, bringing two new crew chiefs to the fold as well as giving Michael McDowell an expanded Nationwide Series role. McDowell will run a limited schedule in the No. 18 NNS Pizza Ranch car while Brian Scott returns to that series full time in 2012 with sponsorship from Dollar General. In addition, development driver Darrell Wallace, Jr. will race a few select Nationwide races. Kyle Busch will not race in the Nationwide Series for JRG at all this yer, but will make 15 starts in his own car. Busch will not race in the Camping World Truck Series this year, though he will field the No. 18 for Jason Leffler and possibly other drivers to be announced later.

In the Cup garage, Jason Ratcliffe will take over crew chief duties for Joey Logano after the departure of Greg Zipadelli to Stewart-Haas Racing and reigning Cup champion crew chief Darian Grubb takes the reins for the No. 11 team and driver Denny Hamlin. Dave Rogers and Kyle Busch enter 2012 as the only pair to have worked together in 2011. Hamlin says that his confidence level is at an all-time high as new racecars and a new crew chief give Hamlin a renewed faith in his program. For Logano, it will be the chance to make the No. 20 team his own for the first time since Tony Stewart left JGR to form Stewart-Haas Racing. On the sponsor front, Dollar General will join Home Depot as a primary sponsor of the No. 20.

Joe Gibbs told the media that all of the team’s 2011 sponsors have signed to return for 2012, providing stability for the entire team.

New Year: New Faces, New Team, New Challanges for Stewart-Haas Racing

posted by Amy Henderson

Monday January 23, 2012

After winning the closest title battle in NASCAR, Stewart-Haas Racing is back and ready to start 2012. The team has somewhat of a new look this year. Ryan Newman and Tony Gibson return to the No. 39. Tony Stewart has a new crew chief in Steve Addington, who joins the organization after serving as head wrench for Kurt Busch at Penske Racing last year. SHR is also expanding to a third car with Danica Patrick in the new No. 10 GoDaddy.com-sponsored Chevrolet. Greg Zipadelli, who worked with Stewart during Stewart’s entire tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing, rejoins Stewart’s team as Competition Director, and will also serve as Patrick’s crew chief this year. Patrick will run a limited schedule, including the Daytona 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. She will not attempt to run the Indianapolis 500 this year.

The team also announced additional sponsorship for 2012 from Aspen Dental. Stewart calls 2012 “our best year” as far as sponsorship goes, though he noted ther are still races to sell, adding that while there is pressure to repeat as champion, from the sponsor side of the coin, that’s a very good thing as the sponsors are squarely in the spotlight. Stewart will run the season-opening Nationwide Series race in 2012 in the No. 33 for Richard Childress Racing.

RAB Racing to Make Sprint Cup Debut at Daytona with Kenny Wallace

posted by Amy Henderson

Saturday January 21, 2012

Add Kenny Wallace to the list of drivers entered in the 2012 Daytona 500. Wallace, who finished seventh in NASCAR Nationwide Series points in 2011 with RAB Racing, will attempt to make the team’s first Sprint Cup race for car owner Robby Benton with sponsorship from American Ethanol, who will also sponsor his RAB Racing Nationwide Series effort in races this year. Wallace last ran the Great American race in 2008 with Furniture Row Racing. On that day, Wallace was having a strong run before an engine failure ended his day early.

The team will race the No. 09 Toyota during Speedweeks, and they will need to qualify for the race on speed, as they have no 2011 owner points in the series.

In conjunction with Wallace’s attempt at the Great American Race, SPEED TV can NASCAR Media Group partnered on the documentary “Chasing Daytona: Kenny Wallace” which chronicles Wallace through his quest to make NASCAR’s most prestigious race with an independent team and offers insight into the driver’s personal life as well as his professional life at RAB Racing. The special will air on Speed in the week leading up to the Daytona 500.

Tony Stewart display unveiled

posted by Mike Neff

Saturday January 21, 2012

As part of Acceleration Weekend, 2011 Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart unveiled a display in the Great Hall of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The glass display case houses the driver’s uniform, helmet, gloves and shoes that Stewart wore during his championship clinching victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It also holds his tuxedo and shoes that he wore during the NASCAR Awards Banquet in Las Vegas along with his over-sized check and champagne bottle from Victory Lane at Homestead.

Stewart is the only driver who has a tuxedo on display in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. This tux joins a previous outfit that has been on display in the Hall for some time. Stewart was quick to point out that the 2011 version of his duds is a smaller size than the previous monkey suit that he shared with the Hall.

Jeff Gordon and Dupont – Together for 20 years

posted by Mike Neff

Saturday January 21, 2012

Jeff Gordon took to the racetrack in Atlanta for the final race of the 1992 for his first Cup series start the same day that Richard Petty hung up his helmet. 20 years later DuPont is still a sponsor for Gordon’s Cup racing efforts. As part of the Acceleration weekend activities, Gordon and Petty were together again on the stage in the Great Hall of the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the unveiling of the paint scheme that Gordon will field when DuPont is his primary sponsor in 2012.

The first officially licensed artist of NASCAR, Sam Bass, once again designed the paint scheme for Gordon’s car that was uncovered for the first time during the press conference Saturday. The predominantly black paint scheme will adorn Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet for 14 races during the 2012 season. The car has the familiar DuPont oval prominantly displayed on the hook with yellow fading to red stripes on the nose and sides. The flames that were present on the most recent No. 24 scheme are gone.

Gordon acknowledged the importance of DuPont during the press conference. Pointing out the myriad of products that are not only used by his race team, that are produced by DuPont, but the many products that DuPont has developed that benefit race fans and the public in general.

Petty reminisced with Gordon about the advances in safety that took place during his time in the sport while Gordon touched on the advances that have occurred since the King left active driving. They also discussed the qualities necessary to be a top flight driver and both admitted that they have no idea what the sport will look like in 20 years.

NASCAR Gears Up for 2012

posted by Amy Henderson

Saturday January 21, 2012

The 2012 NASCAR season unofficially kicks off on Saturday, January 21 at the Charlotte Convention Center with NASCAR Acceleration, an event where race fans can meet their favorite NASCAR stars and get autographs or participate in question and answer sessions throughout the day. Several teams have their 2012 racecars on display, and several sponsors ad SPEED TV are also in on the action. In addition, several special events have been scheduled throughout the day at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, including special tours from Hall of Fame members, storytelling sessions, and more.

The event wraps up on Sunday morning, January 22, at the Hall of Fame, where the newly-inducted class of 2012 will have their racecars and spires displayed to the public for the first time.