daytona international speedway

The NASCAR 2012 Shootout at Daytona: The Lineup

by Bruce Simmons on January 20, 2012

The upcoming NASCAR 2012 Daytona Shootout will be the 34th time it runs. It’s been through a rule change here and there, so the field has grown a bit…

The Shootout launches NASCAR‘s Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway and is taking place on Saturday, Feb 18th, 2012.

NASCAR drivers qualified for the Shootout (I have such an urge to type Budweiser in front of that…) by the following qualifications:

The highest ranked 25 competitors in 2011 NSCS driver points
Previous winners at Daytona, including the Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola, and Shootout events

With that in mind, here is the field for the 2012 Shootout at Daytona:

NASCAR Preseason Thunder: Day Two at Daytona International Speedway

by Bruce Simmons on January 13, 2012

After the first day of preseason testing at Daytona, NASCAR made some adjustments to the cars. The adjustments were two-fold…

Tinkering with the restrictions to deter the tandem drafting in the NASCAR restrictor plate race, and as they put it, a test of NASCAR also.

What ever that might mean, is your interpretation.

NASCAR 2012 Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway – Day 1

by Bruce Simmons on January 12, 2012

Softer springs, smaller spoilers, smaller radiators, new fuel system and a no-talk rule are all the new rage in NASCAR for this 2012 season… is everyone ready for some racin’? I know I sure am… NASCAR has always been good to me, and the folks within the industry are just awesome to deal with, so bring it ON!

With the Daytona 500 only 45 days away, well, one of the longest sportings seasons is about to get back underway, and it started with PreSeason Thunder as the teams got to get out on the track and test the new scenarios they’ll be up against when the 2012 NASCAR season commences once again.

Jeff Gordon paced the morning pack today in practice hitting a lap speed of 192.773 as everyone got on-track and practiced their solo and two-car runs, to see how things are going to shake out.

Kyle Busch, with Joey Logano tailing him, paced the afternoon pack with a 202.402 speed.

And not to mention, how the new fuel injected systems are going to work for the gang.

As teams hit up the track, this is the race, the Super Bowl of NASCAR. Sure, it’s the first race of the season, but it’s a storied track and many important events have taken place here, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Coming into today, everyone was looking to get a feel for the smaller spoiler, smaller radiator & larger restrictor plate! And I presume, they were also possibly playing around with the new radio rule, which is no more chatter between drivers in a race.

Upcoming Changes In NASCAR – Do You Approve?

by Bruce Simmons on January 9, 2012

‘Tis the new season and it’s time for new rules, as is usually the case when it comes to NASCAR.

That’s not a ding, just an observation that as they continue to try and improve their product, NASCAR balances on a fine line between fine-tuning and tampering with the end result.

Last year’s 2011 NASCAR race season was pretty impressive. I think all in all, we had quite a few great finishes that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Yes, we also had gas-mileage races, but you have to admit, if its your guy in the car looking at fuel fumes, it can be pretty dramatic trying to not give yourself an ulcer worrying about whether he’ll make it or not.

{Psst: Daytona International Speedway Testing will take place January 14th to 16th}

But be it as it may, NASCAR is looking at some changes for the upcoming year… specifically, they’re looking at what they can change to minimize or eliminate tandem drafting. The people have spoken and NASCAR is reacting for them.

But how do you appease the people and keep it safe out there on the track? That’s a good question because face it, “the people” are not out there behind the wheels in 120 degree cockpits, hurtling along at 200 mph, trying to keep the car going straight and not crashing. (Trust me, they don’t drive like our cars do!)

The NASCAR Yellow Line Rule Needs To Be Changed

by Bruce Simmons on April 13, 2011

In NASCAR at the restrictor plate races at Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway, cars are required to stay above the yellow line because the track angle below the line is different and that can cause issues. Especially in the turns.

But if you’ve been a NASCAR fan for a while now, you know that there is a slight flaw with this rule and that flaw has to do with that last stretch drive running for the checkered flag.

During a race, I get the precaution. No problem. We’re trying to prevent an avoidable accident when some doorknob dives below the line in the corner and gets out of control and takes out 10 other cars with him.

Granted.

But more often than not, good drivers get penalized in that last 2000 feet when they have the better car but can’t duck low to get around the slower car.

Or worse yet, you’re the low line car and the 2nd line car drops down to block you because you are passing on the inside.

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‘Transformers 3′ Wreckers Cars & Stars At The Daytona 500 [Pictures]

by Bruce Simmons on February 21, 2011

in Entertainment, movies

a Daytona International Speedway hosted the Daytona 500 last weekend and was also the spot to see the first official public appearance of the Transformer 3 Autobot Wreckers Roadbuster (No 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy), Top Spin (No. 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevy) and Leadfoot (No.. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chevy). Also in attendance were was director Michael Bay and actors Josh Duhamel and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley from Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the third film in the Transformers movie franchise that Michael Bay has brought to life.

Last Sunday the Daytona 500 went into the record books and produced a great win with the 20-year-old Trevor Bayne won the race in his 2nd ever start in NASCAR. It was a very popular victory as he was driving for a great, established team in the storied No. 21. During the race, we even got a taste of a new movie trailer for Transformers 3, featuring the Wreckers in a few scenes.

But before the race, Michael Bay, Josh Duhamel and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley were making the media rounds and prior to the race, being the Grand Marshals of the event, they got make that classic call, “Gentlemen, start your engines.”

'Transformers 3' Director Michael Bay, actor Josh Duhamel and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley pose before the Daytona 500

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2011 ‘Daytona 500′ Restrospect

by Bruce Simmons on February 21, 2011

Trevor Bayne, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quicklane Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Trevor Bayne celebrates after winning the '2011 Daytona 500'

The 2011 Daytona 500, lasted 208 of 200 laps taking 4 hrs, 3 minutes and 32 seconds, with 16 caution flags, 22 leaders and 74 lead changes. It was the longest Daytona 500 in the books but it also delivered a winner in the form of the 20-year-old Trevor Bayne, driving the Wood Brothers No. 21 Ford!

What a wonderful homage to the Wood Brothers, to return to the Daytona 500 winner’s circle in the storied No. 21 NASCAR Cup car after what, 30 years?

To boot, the young man turned twenty on Saturday and delivered himself one heck of a birthday present.

I do not mean to discredit Trevor Bayne’s win but almost half the field was culled in a lap 30 wreck that started around the blue & yellow Napa sponsored Michael Waltrip car.

The 2012 Daytona Race Date Pushed Back 1 week

by Bruce Simmons on February 20, 2011

With the 2011 Daytona 500 in the books (Congrats to winner Trevor Bayne and the Wood Brothers No. 21 car), NASCAR announced the race date for the 2012 Daytona 500. Of note, is that the race date has been pushed back one week and will run on February 26th, 2012.

This move effectively has been reported to be shortening the race season by 1 week, eliminating the off-weekend we usually see in March.

This off-weekend has been eyed as a glitch in ratings, as the momentum of the season is broken during that weekend break.

Other Daytona International Speedway dates have yet to be determined.

Tickets for all Daytona International Speedway events are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

[NASCAR Press]

The New Plate Configuration Says Farewell To the Classic Draft [NASCAR]

by Bruce Simmons on February 18, 2011

During Speed Weeks at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR prepares for the 2011 Daytona 500. In the meantime, the repaving of the venerable restrictor plate track took place in the off-season and this new flat surface, along with the new configurations of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars has made for a very fast track and twitchy drafting issues.

Looking towards the 2011 Daytona 500, there are a lot of contributing factors to the new speeds and what would seem to be a very jumpy draft equation. One being that the splitters have been covered prior to the season so that grass plowing doesn’t take out a front end. But when Kasey Kahne hit 206 mph in the draft, NASCAR stepped in to slow the cars down.

To slow the car packs down, NASCAR stepped in and added coolant release valves to the engines set at 33 PSI so they can’t draft for too long a period of time. That and they reduced the restrictor plate opening.