In loving memory of Charlie Dean's Daddy...RIP Jason

Driven on Sundays, but Never in the Heat of Competition

Found an amazing article about Denny Hamlin and his new car on the New York Times website. Check out the full story here. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/09/automobiles/collectibles/driven-on-sundays-but-never-in-competition.html?_r=0

You're Kidding Right?

I recently read a tweet by Penny who said that she did an interview with Denny Hamlin this week.  Funny, it was the exact same words I wrote from the chat I had with Denny.  Only my name, my laughter and the closing remark were edited out.  After confronting her on Twitter, she claims that Becca gave her permission to post it.  That's funny, your tweet claimed that you did the interview, now your answer has changed.  Well, I am that Becca and I will never ever give anyone permission to steal my work and pass it off as theirs. 

After threatening a lawsuit, she tells me that I am not the Becca she talks to on Facebook and she has proof. There is only ONE Becca and that is me. I don't have conversations about Denny on Facebook or about this blog or any of its posts! 

It is fun to share interviews and inside information with fans.  It is not fun to be plagerized and lied on.  I was warned about this person, but foolishly I didn't believe it.  I gave her the benefit of the doubt and I got burned. 

Make no mistake...all my work is original. If it isn't I give credit where credit is due!  Every interview I publish I went straight to the source and got the words straight from him.  This person who claims to have done MY interview has been blocked repeatedly by Denny himself and is pretending to be several people online to get to someone she is obsessed with.  Funny how someone who is off their medication can ruin the fun for everyone else....

I got your number Penny, Alex, Amy!  This is war.

Don't mess with me!

I recently did a personal interview with Denny Hamlin in which he answered questions for me for my blog.  Now it is being plagerized by a psycho claiming she did the interview.  Not cool at all!  I do not appreciate my work being taken and used as someone else's work!  If it isn't corrected immediately there will be legal action taken against this person.  Do not read my blog and steal what I write.  I'm sorry you aren't who you claim to be and you need to STEAL from others to keep your lie going but don't come to me with your problem.  You will have a bigger one when all is said and done!

Interview with Denny Hamlin

I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Denny Hamlin this week.  Here is what he had to say.

Becca:  Hi Denny.  First I want to say how good it is to see you back in the #11 car! You sure were missed while you were out for your injury.

Denny:Thank you, it's good to be back.

Becca: How is your back doing?

Denny:  After we cut down a tire at Dover this past weekend my back is pretty sore. I try to take it easy while I'm at home, to get it back in shape for the next race.

Becca: What did you learn during your time on the pit box? How have you used what you learned to make improvements in the car?

Denny:  I've learned how intense it is just watching the driver struggle. While Vickers drove for me I would try to work with him on how the car was and tell him the best things to do for it.

Becca:  How are you feeling about your chances to make the chase?

Denny:  I feel that if we win a few races before the chase starts we will make the wild card. We have been consistent for the most part just haven't quite got where we need to be.

Becca:  What track(s) are you looking forward to that you know you have a good chance to win at? What track(s) are you dreading?

Denny:  Pocono is where I'm pretty good at. It is also one of my favorite tracks. I'm not looking forward to the road course races because we are never good there

Becca:What sports are you watching and keeping an eye on right now?

Denny:  I watch basketball and football mostly. I'm a big Virginia Tech fan.

Becca:  Are you watching any of the NBA or Hockey finals?

Denny:  I'm not a fan of hockey, but I will be watching the NBA finals.

Becca: Care to say who you're rooting for in the NBA finals?

Denny:  Well the Lakers sucked this year, so not them.

Becca: *laughs*

Denny:  Heat vs Spurs is gonna be a good game.  I will be watching, they are both good teams and it will be an exciting game to watch.

Thank you for taking time out to answer a few questions with me, it means a lot to us.  Keep resting and taking care of your back.  We're keeping you in our prayers and cheering you on every race day.

Denny: No problem, Becca. Thank you for your support.

Quite the Return

The look of relief and sheer exhaustion on Denny Hamlin's face at the end of 501 miles at The Track Too Tough to Tame said it all!  It was a grueling battle that left the #11 wounded warrior totally spent.  My favorite track on the circuit proved to be quite the arena to show the NASCAR world that rusty or not, Denny Hamlin was back and ready to rumble.  He fought all night against a gritty track and competitors that were looking to see if there were any cracks in the foundation of the FedEx team and its driver. They found none.  A solid second place finish helped move Hamlin up four spots in the point standings, which is definitely an improvement.  But the battle isn't over yet.

Next weekend, the All Star event gives Hamlin a chance to have some fun, race with his friends and not worry about points.  Always an exciting event, it will be wonderful to be at home for two weeks and relax a little.  The most exciting part of the entire race season, All Star weekend is always a lot of fun for the drivers and the fans.  And it is a much needed reprieve before the Coca Cola 600. 

All in all, last night's Southern 500 at Darlington was a great race with amazing results.  Watching Denny stretch before he climbed behind the wheel made me a little nervous, but I'm thankful he made it out of the race in one piece and gave Joe Gibbs Racing a 1-2 finish.  If there was ever any doubt that Hamlin is fighting hard for wins and to secure a spot in the chase, that is all but erased from even the biggest skeptics mind.  Hamlin is ready and his fans are elated.  Welcome back, Denny.  You have made us proud!

Future Still Unclear

When Denny Hamlin crashed in Fontana, California, my heart literally shattered into pieces.  I yelled "NO" repeatedly and cried as if I'd just lost a member of my family.  I was deeply effected by his injury and have struggled to write a fitting blog post to express how I feel. 

I've experienced a wide range of emotions that have been beyond difficult to convey.  I was angry with Joey Logano for his ignorant and callous comments following the on-track incident that left Denny Hamlin in a helicopter flying to the hospital.  I was angry that even after he realized Hamlin was injured so severely, he took no blame and showed no remorse.  And I must admit I take great joy in seeing him standing in the inspection line while the pre race activities were going on and being sent to the back of the field after having parts taken from his car.  Karma truly is a wonderful thing. 

But anger isn't the only emotion that has gripped me since that fateful day.  I've been worried sick for the welfare of my favorite driver.  It has been my worst nightmare to see him in a back brace with a broken back.  Knowing that such a successful driver is dropping in points is devastating.  Were he still in the car, he would no doubt be top 5 in the standings and possibly have a victory or two to his name.  His house should have one more Grandfather clock and a Richmond trophy in the trophy case.  And his charity race should have been won by Hamlin himself.

Seeing Denny on the pit box, giving advice to Brian Vickers and watching his car being driven by someone else is gutwrenching.  I never thought I'd see the day.  Denny looks better than I've ever seen him, he looks healthy and happy, and the sight of him in street clothes is certainly a refreshing vision on race day.  There are some up sides to his down time and his sweet baby girl is on the receiving end of lots of time with Daddy.  Certainly makes being hurt much less painful.  But Hamlin belongs in that race car, period.

Now the true consequences of taking a head on collision with a concrete wall, minus a SAFER barrier, are starting to become clearer. 

What did the doctors see that is keeping you out of this race?"They were -- during our call yesterday they were speaking as much Chinese as I could understand. I saw the scan and saw the healing that they were talking about. However, some kind of in-plate is not healing the way that they wanted it and that's what they wanted in order to clear me. Really, that was their determining factor and, obviously, my injury is very, very hard because there is no exact science to the risk. They don't -- no one knows what the risk will be if I race this week or if I race two weeks from now. Bone healing is completely subjective. It takes bone healing a year most times to be 100 percent, so how do you quantify how much more risk is there this week versus two weeks down the road or three weeks down the road or two months down the road, so that's the tough part of it -- everyone is erring on the cautious side because no one ultimately wants to be responsible and have their name on the line of clearing a driver and then he goes out and gets hurt."

Do you still feel like you can compete in a portion of the Talladega race?
"They all came to the conclusion they were happy with me starting Talladega and getting out when it's a safe time to get out. Ultimately, we even talked about doing that here at Richmond, but it's unfair to the team for me to get out and then go three or four laps down on pit road and really know that the team's not going to finish any better than 35th -- why would they even show up for that? So, I think it's better for them to at least have a chance to win with one full-time driver and we decided not to do that this weekend and we'll start our process at Talladega and then rescan again and try to go to Darlington."

Is there a possibility of surgery?
"We talked briefly about the injury that I deal with every day and that was not the main focus of our conversation, but I think that it is going to be a possibility in the off-season. If I get back to it in a timely fashion in the Cup Series this year then am still able to salvage some kind of season, then obviously it's not going to be an option until the off-season. So, either way, I'd like to get it fixed and get it over with."

At what point will you consider not returning this season?
"I think if this goes past Darlington then I don't know what the chances of us making the Chase are even if we were to race this weekend, race next weekend or the one after -- I don't know the chances. There's a lot of good teams that you have to beat to guarantee you're going to win the races. Obviously, if it goes past Darlington our chances are crushed even harder. Eventually you have to have a shut down point of not going out there and racing for nothing at a point. I think a recovery on the kind of surgery that I would like to have is about a month-and-a-half or so -- I could potentially come back maybe for the tail end of the year. It wouldn't be a season-ending -- I don't think anything would be season-ending I guess you could say. Eventually you have to know the point at which you're looking at improbabilities of making the Chase and just being smart about it. If everyone keeps getting these penalties, I'm going to be the points leader soon."

This is the point where racing next week isn't as important as racing ever again. And that is the most frightening thought of all.  I care deeply for the man in that #11 car, and the idea of a season without him is shattering.  But there is something more disconcerting.  The idea of someone else in that #11 car, permanently.  My prayer is that Denny will continue to heal and improve like he has in such a short time.  That if surgery is required, it will be the greatest success story ever and he will be relieved of all back pain forever.  And that I will see him win Championships and many more races.  That he will be better than ever and keep me glued to my TV and cheering for him week after week.

My two year old son is a huge fan of Denny Hamlin.  He is still two young to realize there are other drivers besides his favorite.  He yells "De" when he sees him and lately I've had to tell him "Denny isn't racing this week, remember he got hurt?" to which he asks "OK?".  It breaks my heart to have to tell him, no he isn't ok but he will be.  He hangs his little head, covers his face with his hands and starts to cry.  That tiny pouty lip and real tears break this Mom's heart.  I ask him, "Who's the greatest race car driver in the world?"   And without hesitation he screams "DE"! I agree son, I agree.

I hope that Aaron is graduating college when he watches Denny retire, after one of the greatest racing careers since Dale Earnhardt.  And I'm praying for the very best.  This entire ordeal has taught me that life is fragile, we are delicate, and nothing is worth our future.  Not a disagreement over how you were raced, not anger over 'being a bad teammate' or any other flimsy excuse Joey Logano used to convince himself his massive stupidity was justified.  Every inch of every racing surface at every race track should have a SAFER barrier.  The penalties should be more severe for intentionally wrecking another driver than they are for parts that don't conform to the rules in engines that team owners have no way of tampering with.  I think NASCAR has gotten it deadly wrong and I'm not willing to sacrifice my driver to prove this point. 

I'm beyond elated to see Denny Hamlin back in the FedEx Toyota at Talladega this weekend.  For a few laps or the entire race, I want to see him in his fire suit where he belongs.  Despite the fact that Dega is my least favorite track and one that terrifies me beyond words.  Because I miss him racing and know that not doing what he loves is killing him even more than it is me.  I pray that he continues to heal and takes the track by storm when he returns full time.  My wish is that this injury motiviates him to race his heart out and win every race he drives in.  Nothing silences the rivals like trips to Victory Lane.  What a celebration it will be when he drives into the winner's circle and shuts Joey Logano up for good. 

Joey, I believe you forget who took you under his wing, guided you and advised you.  Treated you like a little brother and celebrated all your successes.  I believe you forget that Denny Hamlin is a better race car driver than you will ever be, no matter what team you drive for and you couldn't hold his helmet, or outrace him for one lap let alone beat him for a win.  You sir, and I use that term as loosely as possible, let NNS success go to your head and your arrogant attitude will be your downfall.  I have reserved my front row seat to your demise and look forward to watching you crumble back into the dust you were before Joe Gibbs took a chance on you.  Be careful who you step on as you try to climb the ladder of success. They are the same faces you have to look into as you fall back down. 

Toyota Owners 400 ~ Richmond

Denny Hamlin delivers for Red Cross

Denny Hamlin disturbed by lack of SAFER barriers

by Jeff Gluck USA Today

Hamlin believes SAFER barriers should be everywhere at every track, talks about tweeting Joey Logano and says he's still waiting to be cleared to return to racing

Denny Hamlin won't be racing this weekend at Richmond and he remains frustrated about how he ended up sidelined in the first place.
Hamlin said he finds it hard to believe that tracks like Texas Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway — where he was injured last month — don't have protective SAFER barriers covering every inch of their concrete walls.
"I have a picture of Texas Motor Speedway with highlighted areas of the racetrack where there are no SAFER barriers — and it's an overwhelming amount of spots," Hamlin said. "We just ran 196 (mph) there in qualifying. So that disturbs me. There are a lot of people making money in NASCAR, so let's help it be SAFER barriers where they should be – especially at these very very fast racetracks."
HAMLIN: Anxious to return but appreciates the view
Though Hamlin said he was just "unlucky" in Fontana — he hit one of the few spots that didn't have a soft wall, he said — Texas was more glaring. He called it "a little disturbing" that the racetracks would not be more proactive with safety measures.
"Somebody needs to cut their profit margin and contribute to making our sport safer," he said.
Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage was not available for comment.
NASCAR: Levies harsh penalties against Matt Kenseth
COLUMN: NASCAR had no choice with Kenseth
Following Hamlin's crash at Fontana, Sprint Cup director John Darby said the area at Auto Club Speedway would be reviewed by NASCAR and its coalition of independent safety experts who are employed to make suggestions on track improvements. Darby said that there could be consequences for a track if recommendations for safety improvement aren't implemented. Sanctioning agreements hold that tracks risk losing races if they aren't in compliance with NASCAR directives.
Auto Club Speedway spokesman David Talley told USA TODAY Sports the day after the March 24 race that the track would follow any recommendations made by the review.
Hamlin touched on several other topics after delivering Red Cross supplies to The Grooming Lounge, a barbershop which is a FedEx customer in downtown Washington:
-- Joey Logano. Hamlin has been poking at his rival on Twitter, even as recently as Sunday (when Logano was collected in a crash with Kyle Busch).
Hamlin acknowledged he was "probably just overly bitter" because contact with Logano put him out of the car, but said was tweeting as much out of boredom as anything.
"I was very, very close to tweeting him right before Texas (when Logano's car had trouble in inspection) saying, 'Hey, man, I've got a spot right beside me if you want to sit down and watch this race,' " Hamlin said. "I hit the delete button right before I sent that. I'm just poking fun and trying to entertain myself during my time off."
-- His future. If Hamlin isn't cleared anytime soon (he plans to start Talladega and get out of the car at the first caution if doctors allow), he'll "strongly consider" having surgery that could put him out for the entire season.
Hamlin has been battling bulging discs in his back for several years, and the Fontana crash made the problem much worse, he said.
The decision comes down to whether he wants to undergo a surgery that could have two outcomes: "Get better for the rest of my life or put myself in a small risk where I can never drive again.
"For me, as much pain as I'm in every day, I'm willing to take the risk," he said. "... I'm at the point now that if they don't let me back in the car in a timely fashion – where I'm just going to be racing for nothing the rest of the year – I'd just as soon do it now and get it over with and be strong and ready to go."
If the surgery isn't done now, Hamlin said he'll wait until the end of the season

Detrimental But Determined

Last week was full of talk of Denny Hamlin and his $25,000 fine from NASCAR for "statements detrimental to NASCAR" and his refusal to accept and pay this fine.  He took a stand, posted a tweet, and was backed by not only his team, but by millions of fans. Even people that weren't his fans before are standing behind him now.

So I ask the question, what exactly did Denny say that was so bad, or more importantly, so wrong?

The first two races were complete snooze fests. Even Daytona, that is normally action packed, was a single-file, follow the leader, boring event.  It was clear that the new car wasn't what it was hyped to be. Not since "Sliced bread" that turned out to be moldy has anything been more disappointing. 

The crashes in the NNS race at Daytona was terrifying and noone wanted a repeat of that tragedy.  But was it too much to ask for some excitement? Danica Patrick lead the race which clearly gave away the issues the car was facing.  That was the first clue that everything wasn't sunny in the Sunshine State.

Then NASCAR headed to the desert and the racing was even dryer than the atmosphere. The only excitement was on the final lap when Hamlin dove onto the apron and made a move on the 48 and the 2.  Denny's post-race interview was dead on!  The racing was boring and there is a problem and everyone but NASCAR knows it.

Heading into Las Vegas, I wouldn't have bet on what took place when NASCAR decided that stating the obvious wasn't allowed.  NASCAR is protective over its new race car like a secret society is over its top secret happenings.  But the G6 car has become the elephant in the room that noone wants to talk about and the sport has now become scripted.  Apparently, you can have a DUH! moment with a reporter, that is never printed and be suspended.  The officials are out to tattle tale and the higher ups are going to squash the competition like bugs if they speak their minds.

Going into week 4, it's time to start stating the obvious.  The golden child is starting to look a little tarnished and it's time to tweak it.  The fans aren't happy and neither are the drivers.  Admitting that everything needs improvement, even Apple had to admit its products had a bruise on occasion, is what competition is all about. Being unyielding to the obvious is what sunk the Titanic and is exactly what will destroy NASCAR.

The fans took up Hamlin's cause and began the FREE DENNY hastag on Twitter and STAND WITH DENNY was plastered all over Facebook.  They called for t-shirts to be printed and the support meant a lot to the driver.  Walking out to face Goliath with just a few stones and a sling shot is scary, and not every David topples its foe with just one shot.  It isn't just because Denny had chosen to speak and the world should listen.  He didn't say anything everyone else wasn't already saying. He simply stated it on camera. 

My personal opinion is that NASCAR has taken a dangerous stance that the drivers aren't allowed to say anything honest about the competition on the track.  They want "boys have at it" and for personalities to show, but only if it fits inside a tiny box that suits the lie they want to present.

Hamlin has refused to pay the fine and chose not to appeal it either.  When I first read that, I have to admit I was fearful of the repercussions of such a decision.  I want him to win races, I want him to make the Chase, and even better, I want him to be Sprint Cup Champion.  I do not want anything to stand in the way of that, no matter what the point is. 

NASCAR has declared the matter closed, the fine will be taken out of Hamlin's race winnings.  Well, I'm not buying that.  I think NASCAR realized it infringed upon Denny's freedom of speech, underestimated the fans reaction and has backed off on its foolish fine.  Do I think the money will ever be paid? NO! Do I think the matter should be forgotten? NO!  NASCAR has a huge problem and it's bigger than Denny Hamlin and a few statements of the obvious post-race. 

They are blind to the fact that nothing and no one is perfect and everything can be improved upon.  After 5 races there need to be changes. After 10 races there need to be more changes. Changes need to continue to be made until the drivers and teams are happy.  And the way to find out what those changes should be is to talk to the people IN the cars and the people working ON the cars.  Giving them a gag order and demanding they not air the family dirty laundry will lose fans from a sport that is already seeing more empty seats in its stands. 

I stand behind Denny Hamlin no matter what.  I like the person he is when he speaks his mind.  But thanks to NASCAR, I won't get to see the real Denny because he won't give as many interviews and he certainly won't be as fun to listen to when he does choose to speak. 

It's times like these when I wish Dale Earnhardt was still around and can't help but wonder what would happen were he still The Intimidator and the icon and voice of NASCAR.  Just makes me realize what a huge hole he left when he left us and how badly NASCAR needs him still.

Long Wait Over - Daytona

Since the checkered flag waved at Homestead-Miami and Brad Keselowski was crowned 2012 Champion, fans have been anxiously awaiting the start of the 2013 season.  The cold winter months have left NASCAR die-hards chomping at the bit for the sun and fun of Daytona and the beginning of the new season. 

A lot happened in the off-season, especially for new Dad, Denny Hamlin.  There is a new focus to his life as of late and for good reason. His beautiful daughter, Taylor James, was born on January 20th.  Her full head of dark hair, full lips and precious smile have melted Daddy's heart and caused him to fall head-over-heels in love with his tiny angel.  But this latest, tiny edition to the Hamlin family hasn't dampened the fire in the #11 Toyota's belly to win races and get that Championship.  He is still a racer at heart, who just so happens to have added the title of Dad to his impressive resume.

The first race at Daytona was the Sprint Unlimited. The new format for the season-opener that awards 2012 pole sitters and previous Unlimited winners with a non-points event, was unique and Hamlin started 5th.    Things didn't go as planned for the #11 FedEx Toyota, as Hamlin was involved in a crash and finished 15th.  Not exactly the way the team wanted to start the season, but lesson learned.

Or was it?  Denny went out to qualify for the Great American Race 24th and logged the 7th fastest time, behind pole-sitter Danica Patrick.  His time gave him a 4th place starting spot for the first Budweiser Duel.  And the inevitable happened when yet again he was caught up in someone else's mess and finished 20th in his Duel.  Not exactly where the Virginia native wanted to finish.  It put the FedEx Toyota 33rd in the lineup for the Daytona 500.  This race fan was hopeful that the old adage "it doesn't matter where you start, it only matters where you finish" would hold true.

There was plenty of sheet metal getting tangled up during the Daytona 500 but luckily Denny avoided the catastrophes.  His teammates Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch, as well as fellow Toyota driver, Martin Truex Jr, suffered engine failures, leaving doubts in the minds of the Joe Gibbs Racing crewmembers about the powerhouse under the hood of Hamlin's ride. 

It was an impressive race for Denny, leading 33 laps and finishing 14th with all the fenders on his machine.  He lead the second-most laps and is 13th after the first race is complete.  Given the difficulties of his fellow Toyota teammates and a field that was unable to make a move seemingly throughout the entire race, it's a pretty good start to the season.

The Joe Gibbs Racing #11 team heads to Phoenix for race #2 of the season with plenty to be proud of.  Any time you finish at Daytona on the lead lap without cosmetic damage it's a good day. 

Wheels up....Phoenix, AZ here we come!

Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, Benefiting Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Returns to RIR, April 25

 

Late Model Event to Benefit the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab

For the third year in a row, the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown is set to open the Spring race weekend at Richmond International Raceway. The race, which typically features a dozen NASCAR drivers and celebrities battling on the ¾-mile track with some of the best local Late Model Stock Car drivers, will serve as a fundraiser for the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

In 2012, the Denny Hamlin Foundation committed to a 3-year grant totaling $150,000 for the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR). Funds from the grant, which are raised through events like this year’s Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway, will help accelerate the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab's ability to bring new therapies to cystic fibrosis patients. In addition, the newly established Denny Hamlin Foundation Summer Scholars program will help train the next generation of CF research scientists.

"Every dollar we give to cystic fibrosis makes a difference,” explained Hamlin, Virginian and driver of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. “You never know. This could be the year that we find a cure."

The Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway has brought some of the best late model racing action to Hamlin’s hometown track for the past two years and is sure to provide another great show for fans who come out to support cystic fibrosis research.

“We are excited to once again host the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway,” said RIR President Dennis Bickmeier. “RIR is proud to partner with Denny to raise awareness and money that will assist one of the best research teams as they work to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.”

The Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown and BLUE OX 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races will run on Thursday, April 25, as part of an action-packed opening day of the Spring NASCAR weekend at Richmond International Raceway.

"The Showdown has had some of the best late model racing in the past,” added Hamlin. “This year will be no different. We've invited the region’s finest drivers to compete against some of my Sprint Cup Series friends. I can't wait to get back to Richmond. It's going to be wild!"

Cystic Fibrosis is a fatal genetic disease that affects about 30,000 children and adults in the United States. CF causes chronic infections in the lungs and inadequate digestion of nutrients. There is no cure for CF, but medical advances have doubled the life expectancy of children in the last 30 years and increased the overall median age of survival to 38.

Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR) has a large research staff focused on finding a cure for CF. This research group has been critical in developing new therapies for CF. They recently discovered a promising CF lung disease treatment that is in development and undergoing pre-clinical testing at CHoR. As the only accredited CF center in the region, CF patients cared for at CHoR have access to the latest therapies and can participate in groundbreaking clinical studies.

Click here or call 866-455-7223 to purchase tickets for the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown. All tickets are general admission and $25. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with a ticketed adult. Thursday’s ticket also includes the BLUE OX 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race.

Tickets are on sale now for the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Advance tickets, including seats in Turns 1 and 4, start at $45, and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling 866-455-7223. Tickets for the ToyotaCare 250 start at $30 in advance and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling 866-455-7223. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with a ticketed adult in general admission sections on Friday.
Courtesy Richmond International Raceway

Denny Hamlin Appearance at NASCAR Acceleration Weekend

The return of NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, a fan-friendly, interactive experience is scheduled for FEb 8-10, 2013, at the Charlotte Covention Center and includes the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and NASCAR Preview 2013.

Tickets are on sale now and available at www.nascaracceleration.com and the NASCAR Hall of Fame Box Office.  Tickets for Friday night's Induction Ceremony start at $45.  In addition, $20 a ticket will gain fans all-day access into NASCAR Preview 2013 and the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 9.

More than 50 drivers across NASCAR's three national series are scheduled to particiapte in the all-day NASCAR Preview 2013 event.  Fans will have the opportunity to interact with drivers and secure autographs, particiapte in driver Q&A Sessions, get a first-look at the new Gen 6 NASCAR Sprint Series race cars and paint schemes and check out various interactive displays, among other activities.

Fans headed to NASCAR Acceleration Weekend will have the opportunity to meet inagurual NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnsion at Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon Shine and Sign.  The new event will feature a fan Q&A and autograph session with Johnson and a free tasting at the Midnight Moon moonshine bar.  All fans with a NASCAR Preview 2013 ticket will have a free admission to the Shine & Sign, which will be held immediately following the NASCAR Preview on Saturday, Feb 9 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Driver Appearance Times on Saturday, Feb. 9th

9 AM - 11 AM (autographs begin at 9:30AM):  Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Jamie McMurray, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Justin Allgaier, Eric McClure, Brian Scott, Timothy Peters, Migue Paludo and Todd Peck.

10:30 AM- 12:30 PM (autographs begin at 11 AM):  Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Aric Almirola, Paul Menard, Joey Logano, Hal Martin, Elliott Sadler, Sam Hornish Jr., Jamie Dick, Sean Corr, Brennan Newberry, Ross Chastain, and Ron Hornaday Jr.

Noon-2 PM (autographs begin at 12:30 PM):  Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, David Ragan, David Gilliland, Marcos Ambrose, Ryan Newman, Brian Vickers, Johanna Long, Austin Dillon, Michael Annett, Nelson Piquet Jr, Ty Dillon, Joey Coulter, Trevor Bayne, and Todd Bodine.

1:30 PM-3:30 PM (autographs begin at 2 PM):  Brad Keselowski, Danica Patrick, Kasey Kahne, Joan Pablo Montoya, Bobby Labonte, Justin Lofton, John Wes Townley, Regan Smith, Parker Kligerman,  Max Gresham, Dakoda Armstrong, James Buescher, Michael McDowell and Alex Bowman.

For more information check out www.jayski.com and www.nascaracceleration.com

Go see Denny, wish him luck for the 2013 season and congratulate him on his finest accomplishment, new daughter, Taylor James Hamlin. 

SPEED Ready for Start of 2013 Season

SPEED is prepared to broadcast 11 days of programming, nearly 100 hours of coverage, live from Daytona International Speedway, in preparation for the 55th running of the Daytona 500.

It all kicks off February 14th at 6 PM with a special 2 hour edition of NASCAR Race Hub from Media Day.

The fan voted-upon format for the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona (formerly the Budweiser Shootout) will be revealed on Feb. 14th on Hub.

A total of 25 SPEED on-air personalities present 2 weeks of on-track action to viewers beginning when Cup Series cars fire up Feb. 15 for the first The Sprint Ultimate practice session, carried live on SPEED at 5PM/et.

NASCAR Race Hub returns to deliver all the days' happenings Feb. 18-20 at 6 PM/et, with Danielle Trotta hosting from the SPEED studios and Steve Byrnes and Ray Dunlap on-site at Daytona.

SPEED is live from the Budweiser Duel at Daytona on Thursday Feb. 21 at 2PM/et as drivers battle for the final spots on the Daytona 500 starting grid.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series opens its season under the lights Feb. 22 at 7 PM/et with NCWTS Setup with Krista Voda setting the stage for the green flag at 7:30 PM/et.

Rick Allen hosts with Michael Waltrip and Phil Parsons providing analysis and Ray Dunlap, Hermie Sadler, and Bob Dillner reporting from the pits.

NASCAR Race Day Fueled by Sunoco returns for 3 pre-race editions from Daytona with John Roberts hosting.  Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace, Larry McReynolds and Matt Clark provide analysis and Wendy Venturini and Rutledge Wood will be reporting from the garage.

NASCAR Race Day offers pre-race coverage of the Sprint Unlimited, Budweiser Duel at Daytona and an expanded 3 hour show Feb 24 (9am- Noon/et) leading into FOX Sports live coverage of the 55th running of the Daytona 500.

TRACKSIDE, the network's longest running NASCAR program returns Feb 22 at 5:30 PM/et for a live 30 minute edition hosted by Krista Voda, Kyle Petty, Rutledge Wood and Kaitlyn Vincie.  The gang hangs around the next day for another 1 hour edition at 4:30 PM/et.

Live coverage of Cup and Truck series practice and qualifying sessions, as well as up-to-the-minute updates from NASCAR Live! round out the schedule.

Wind Tunnel has Dave Despain hopping back in his chair for an 11th season Feb 24 at 8 PM/et live.

NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED's Cup Series post-race show, rolls into the famed Victory Lane at Daytona Feb 21 and Feb 24 at 5:30 PM/et live with hosts John Roberts, Kyle Petty and Kenny Wallace and garage reporting by Bob Dillner.

35 Teams Testing at Daytona

35 teams testing at Daytona: NASCAR fans will get their first glimpse of the new sixth-generation NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars on the storied Daytona International Speedway for three days this week at Preseason Thunder, the unofficial on-track start of the 2013 NASCAR season. This week's sessions will be the only test for the new car at Daytona prior to Speedweeks, which begins with The Sprint Unlimited on Feb. 16 and culminates with the 55th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 24.
"This test is an opportunity for the teams to prepare their cars for Speedweeks and the 55th running of the Daytona 500," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "This is the teams' test and provides an excellent lead in to the upcoming 2013 season. There has been a lot of work put into the development of the Gen-6 car by the manufacturers, teams and NASCAR. It will be exciting to see the new cars on the track for Daytona Preseason Thunder."
After several tests for the new car, including one restrictor plate test at Talladega Superspeedway, the rules package has been set heading into Preseason Thunder.

The rules package for Daytona includes:• Plate size - 29/32" (same plate size as 2012)
• Spoiler size - 4" high x 53" wide
• Spoiler angle - 70 degrees
• Front Grill size - 1-3/4" high x 23" wide
• Radiator Relief valve - 32 psi
 
Teams participating in the test are:

Car #	Team Name	Driver
1	Earnhardt Ganassi Racing	Jamie McMurray
2	Penske Racing	Brad Keselowski
5	Hendrick Motorsports	Kasey Kahne
9	Richard Petty Motorsports	Marcos Ambrose
10	Stewart Haas Racing	Danica Patrick
11	Joe Gibbs Racing	Denny Hamlin
13	Germain Racing	Casey Mears
14	Stewart Haas Racing	Tony Stewart
15	Michael Waltrip Racing	Clint Bowyer
16	Roush Fenway Racing	Greg Biffle
17	Roush Fenway Racing	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
18	Joe Gibbs Racing	Kyle Busch
20	Joe Gibbs Racing	Matt Kenseth
21	Wood Bros Racing	Trevor Bayne
22	Penske Racing	Joey Logano
24	Hendrick Motorsports	Jeff Gordon
27	Richard Childress Racing	Paul Menard
29	Richard Childress Racing	Kevin Harvick
31	Richard Childress Racing	Jeff Burton
33	Richard Childress Racing	Austin Dillon
36	Tommy Baldwin Racing	Dave Blaney
38	Front Row Motorsports	Josh Wise
39	Stewart Haas Racing	Ryan Newman
42	Earnhardt Ganassi Racing	Juan Pablo Montoya
43	Richard Petty Motorsports	Aric Almirola
47	JTG-Daugherty Racing	Bobby Labonte
48	Hendrick Motorsports	Jimmie Johnson
51	Phoenix Racing	Regan Smith
55	Michael Waltrip Racing	Mark Martin
56	Michael Waltrip Racing	Martin Truex
78	Furniture Row Racing	Kurt Busch
83	BK Racing	Travis Kvapil/David Reutimann
88	Hendrick Motorsports	Dale Earnhardt Jr.
95	Leavine Family Racing	Scott Speed
99	Roush Fenway Racing	Carl Edwards

Off-Season Schedule

Jan. 10-12: Pre-Daytona 500 testing at Daytona International Speedway

Jan. 17-18: 2nd round of testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Jan. 19: (NMPA) National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame ceremony in Charlotte

Jan. 21-24: Charlotte Motor Speedway Sprint Media Tour

Jan. 28-29: Testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Feb. 8: NASCAR Hall of Fame class 3 induction

Feb 9: NASCAR Preview in Charlotte

Check out Denny in Victory Lane

http://www.nascar.com/video/post-race/victory-lane/120304/cup-phx-high-winner/index.html

Budweiser Shootout and Budweiser Shootout Selection Show

The ever-evolving rules that determine the potential lineup for the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway have opened the door for the top rookie drivers of the past decade.  The revised qualifications are much simpler than its previous incarnations and include only two provisions:

· 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

Thirty drivers will be eligible for the Feb. 18 race. The Shootout, a non-points event, opens the NASCAR portion of Daytona SpeedWeeks. It will be the first NASCAR race on Daytona’s recently repaved surface.

The starting grid for the 75-lap (two segments of 25 and 50 laps) race will be set with a blind draw Feb. 17.

“Race fans expect to see NASCAR’s best drivers compete in the Budweiser Shootout to kick off the 2011 racing season, and this star-studded lineup will not disappoint when they take the green flag for the first time on the new asphalt,” said DIS president Joie Chitwood. “The Budweiser Shootout has showcased some of the most thrilling racing over the years, and our fans are in for an exciting night on February 17.”

With that in mind, the drivers eligible for the 2012 Bud Shootout at Daytona include:

2011 Top 25 Driver Points:
Tony Stewart
Carl Edwards
Kevin Harvick
Matt Kenseth
Brad Keselowski
Jimmie Johnson
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Jeff Gordon
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Newman
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Clint Bowyer
Kasey Kahne
AJ Allmendinger
Greg Biffle
Paul Menard
Martin Truex Jr.
Marcos Ambrose
Jeff Burton
Juan Pablo Montoya
Mark Martin
David Ragan
Joey Logano
Brian Vickers

Others (criteria in parentheses)Bill Elliott (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Shootout)
Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Shootout)
Derrike Cope (Daytona 500)
Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
Jamie McMurray (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
Trevor Bayne (Daytona 500)
Terry Labonte (Shootout)
Ken Schrader (Shootout)

The Budweiser Shootout Selection Show will air on SPEED Friday, February 17th @ 8:30 PM with a replay at 12:30 AM on Saturday, February 18th.

No More 'Secret' Fines

WARNING: NASCAR will continue to fine competitors who 'Challenge the Integrity of the Sport'.

Gone of the days of "secret fines" that are hinted at in the Media, yet refuted by NASCAR and the party involved.  Here to stay is the effort to keep drivers from making comments that are irresponsible and unhelpful to the growing of the sport. 

Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman have been previously fined for comments each had made, but the sanctioning body did not make the penalties public knowledge at the time they were issued. Such secrecy, some competitors said, made it unclear of what would or would not be construed as “damaging.”

“We're not talking about who's critical of NASCAR,” France said. “You can be critical of things you don't think we're doing well, in particular a race call. You can say ‘I don't think I was speeding; I disagree with that.’ We understand that. It's when you go after the integrity of the sport is where we will step in, and they will be public.”

Keselowski, who was fined for criticizing NASCAR new fuel injection system last year, said he didn’t believe the decision to make future penalties public came from his fine last year or from recent meetings between the teams and NASCAR officials.

“I don’t think I have that influence,” he told a group of reporters Thursday. “It’s probably more of a direct result of you guys [the media] than anything else.”

While questionable comments aren’t as black and white as technical issues, Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition for NASCAR, said the same group of officials determine if and when a line has been crossed.

“If it’s a competition fine, it isn’t just Mike Fisher (Managing Director, NASCAR R&D) or (Sprint Cup Series Director) John Darby ... weighing in,” Pemberton said. “We run that stuff all the way up and all the way down. Brian [France] weighs in on all the penalties. A lot of people do.”
Pemberton acknowledged that the move to announce such fines was partly due to the media’s concern over the secrecy aspect of the fines and the question of how they were being levied.
Previously, he said, the determination to keep such fines private was to protect those who were involved, the competitors as well as the team’s sponsors.

“If you were private on [issuing] one, and it got out there, immediately everyone thought we had [issued] 100 fines,” he said. “And [in reality] you could count them on one hand.
“When we started out, private was about giving the benefit to a team, to not drag them through the mud. They’re embarrassed about what they said and it’s an embarrassment for their sponsor, and then for us to go through and drag everyone through the mud again ....

“Obviously we tried it one way and it didn’t work. It got put back on us because everybody thought we were trying to hide something and we’re not. So there they are.”

The effort to keep the sport honest, will they also let us in on the happenings inside the NASCAR hauler during private meetings? Will they be honest about whether blows were exchanged between waring drivers? Or is that still a line that will not be crossed?  I for one wish their 'open door policy' and full disclosure concept didn't have limits. If it's leaked to the Media they should address the rumors, tell the truth and let us see what really goes on behind the scenes.