Ruggier Rolls to Victory in Japan

Ruggier took the lead at the start and sailed-off into the sunset in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Round 7 of the iRacing.com V8 Supercar Championship paid a return visit to the Land of the Rising Sun at 4.8km Twin Ring Motegi.  With ANZ drivers Justin Ruggier and Scott McLaughlin returning this week it was ‘game on’ and, with most of the drivers having a break over Christmas and New Years, it would be the series’ last big online race of 2012.

Ruggier would take pole position with a 1:53.456 just edging Madison Down (1:53.520) with Rens Broekman and Vail Riches starting from the second row. Richard Hamstead and Scott McLaughlin comprised Row Three ahead of John Emerson and Mitchell McLeod on the fourth row with Shaun Kelly and Corey Slade rounding-out the top 10.

Ruggier and Down claimed the front row ahead of Broekman and Riches.

When the lights went green it was Ruggier leading into Turn One with Broekman and Down side-by-side for second place, with Down maintaining his second place and Broekman slotting back into P3.  Behind them, a big mid-field crash saw Slade clout McLeod’s rear bumper through the first turn, sending McLeod around.   Slade got launched over his tyre and into a full rotation barrel roll which ended-up with the Falcon V8 back onto its four wheels.

A lot of cars suffered collateral damage in the incident, but more was to come.   McLaughlin and Broekman battled until a mistake by Broekman allowed McLaughlin through.  Then as Hamstead came up alongside him, Broekman understeered and — with a little bit of net code — sent Hamstead around. Everyone was able to get by, that is until a recovering Slade hit Hamstead head on, giving Hamstead the dubious honour of being the first DNF of the race.  At that he just edged Cal Whitmore, who retired on Lap Two owing to his first lap damage with team McLeod destined to join him on the sidelines.

Turn One ws the scene of much carnage.

Happily, the race settled-down for a spell and Lap 10 saw Broekman come into the lane, trying to undercut McLaughlin.  On the following laps John Emerson and Riches would also pit in their efforts to jump McLaughlin as well as Scott opted for a longer first stint and a shorter second stint. Down would try to undercut Ruggier when he came into pit on Lap 13 but Ruggier reacted straight away and pitted as well, covering Down and retaining the lead when he rejoined the action.

Ruggier now led with Down five seconds back in second and Emerson up into third after leap-frogging Broekman on the pit stop exchange.  Similarly, Riches would come out ahead of McLaughlin but when McLaughlin pitted on Lap 15 the fresher tyres allowed the ANZ sim racer to catch and pass his rival.

As the laps wound down it was clear no one had anything for Ruggier here in Japan as he cruised to a commanding win over Down, with Emerson joining them on the podium after one of his best drives.   McLaughlin maintained fourth place ahead of Broekman while Riches came home in sixth with Mitchell Abrahall’s great drive resulting in seven positions gained and a seventh place finish.  Another great drive by Scott Fountain saw him move from 18th on the grid to finish in eighth position ahead of Michael Fabian and Samuel Collins.

Next week the drivers head to Spa in Belgium but due to the race being on Christmas Eve, a thin grid is expected.

Top Five Drivers – Championship Points – Overall
1.    Richard Hamstead – 1714
2.    Rens Broekman – 1618
3.    Madison Down – 1506
4.    John Emerson – 1443
5.    Vail Riches – 1439

Split Two Winner: Robert Hartley

Split Three Winner: Kane Baxter-Smith

Split Four Winner: Glen Frencham

To view a replay of the race, click here.

Broadcast done by the crew at www.v8sonline.com.au

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/ruggier-rolls-to-victory-in-japan

David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch

Alabama Lottery

The field races down the backstretch during the early laps of the NiCBS race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Week Eight of the NASCAR iRacing.com Class B Series took to Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama for the only restrictor plate race during Season 4.  Over 1,500 sim racers entered race servers during the week to see who could survive the lottery known as Talladega.

Chad J Laughton (Carolina) would lead only one lap in route to the Strength of Field win on Friday night.  Laughton made a last lap pass over Dustin Montgomery (Mid-South), barely beating Montgomery by .058 seconds.  Liam Lambert (New York) rounded-out the top three finishers.  Malik Ray (Carolina) and Steven Eszenyi (Connecticut) concluded the top five.

For winning the SoF race, Laughton picked-up 366 points for Week Eight.  Dustin Motgomery garnered 352 points with Lambert taking home 338.  Steven Eszenyi raced four times over the course of the week and took 311 points with him.  Dylan Duval (Eastern Canada) would collect 284 points.   The race would run caution-free with no fewer than 38 lead changes among 14 drivers.

Brandon M. Thrasher (11), Ian Hann (7), Logan Cathcart (15), and Matthew Wright2 (10) go four wide at ‘dega.

John Cordon (Florida) would led all sim-racers with 47 starts for the week, collecting four wins for his efforts.  Cordon’s four wins tied for the most wins among four drivers.  Also collecting four wins would be Jason Gould (Flordia), Adrian Duncan (Eastern Canada), and James Avalos (Virginias).  Joey Schmidt (Benelux) would finish in the top five 17 times, the most of all drivers.  James Avalos and Adrian Duncan saw the green flag first 13 times.

Brandon Jerrell (Atlantic) continues to have a stranglehold on the field in the overall points standings.  Jerrell holds a 425 point lead over new second place man, Tyler D Hudson (Mid-South).  Wes Weidman makes his first appearance in the top five as he now sits third.  Brandon Buie (Atlantic) also makes his first look inside the top five in fourth.  Ryan Luza takes the biggest hit this week dropping to fifth, 648 points out of the lead.

The NiCBS heads to the Kentucky Speedway for Round Nine of Season Four.  Stay tuned to inRacingNews for all the latest on the NiCBS.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/alabama-lottery

Bruce Kessler Nicolas Kiesa Leo Kinnunen Danny Kladis Hans Klenk

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-class Photos Posted Early

Mercedes-Benz has high hopes for its upcoming compact CLA sedan. Based on the brand’s new front-wheel-drive platform, it is a close relative of the third-generation A-class. The CLA’s looks aren’t a huge surprise, as it was previewed by the Concept Style Coupé, our spy photographers snapped a few shots of an undisguised CLA earlier in the year, and AMG posted pictures on its Facebook page of a camouflaged CLA45 AMG earlier this month. But here is the real thing after these photos hit AutoMonthly—and judging from the style of the photographs, we believe these are not press shots but photos from a sales brochure for the upcoming model.

Mercedes is taking a gamble with the expressive design of the CLA. To get some perspective, we got on the phone with Gernot Bracht, who teaches transportation design in Pforzheim, Germany. His opinion of the compact four-door is that it represents a design language in Germany that’s become somewhat ambiguous.

“The CLA is clearly informed by Asian tastes, and it symbolizes yet another departure from the traditionally purist German approach to design,” he says. “But this is becoming a trend, and in a way the CLA reminds me of Opel’s approach with the new Adam.” Bracht does not buy into Benz’s insinuations that the CLA is a “small CLS,” saying: “The upper character line drops down too early. It does not quite come together with the big trunk, which seems like an add-on. Altogether, the car is too short to carry all of these lines and graphics with grace.” His conclusion: “Definitely not a typical Mercedes-Benz.”

---

• Comparison Test: 2012 Audi A7 3.0T Quattro vs. 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550
• Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S6 vs. 2013 BMW M5, 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
• Comparison Test: 2012 Audi A7 3.0T Quattro vs. 2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe

---

But perhaps that’s exactly what Mercedes has tried to achieve, considering the CLA marks an aggressive move downmarket. In the U.S., the model targets a younger crowd than does the current lineup. As to what’s below the skin, we’ll have to wait for official information until mid-January. We already know that the CLA will be offered with 1.6- and 2.0-liter gasoline engines, as well as 1.8-liter and 2.1-liter diesel engines, all of them turbocharged and covering a wide power and performance range; we’re not likely to see anything but the 2.0-liter and possibly the 2.1-liter diesel in the U.S. There could be an entry-level model using a Renault-sourced 1.5-liter turbo-diesel, and then there is the CLA45 AMG with around 350 hp. All-wheel drive will be standard on the AMG version and optional on select other models.

More information on Benz’s CLA should become available in the coming weeks as the car’s as-yet-unannounced debut date looms.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/qDF1O_m7RDM/

Jacky Ickx Yuji Ide Jesús Iglesias Taki Inoue Innes Ireland

McLaren reveals 2013 car launch date

McLaren is to unveil its 2013 car on January 31, the team announced on Thursday.

The Mercedes-powered MP4-28, which will be driven by Jenson Button and Sergio Perez, will be launched at a currently unspecified location in the United Kingdom.

The Woking-based outfit finished third in the constructors’ championship last year, despite winning seven races through the efforts of Button and Lewis Hamilton.

A spate of reliability problems late on hurt the team’s title prospects as it was just beaten by Ferrari to the runner-up position behind Red Bull.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/mclaren-reveals-2013-car-launch-date

Leslie Johnson Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones Juan Jover

Report: Is Chevy giving Beyonce a C7 Corvette during Super Bowl halftime show?

Filed under: Performance, Chevrolet, Celebrities

Could Beyonce really become one of the first people to take delivery of a C7 Corvette? After all, she reportedly only learned to drive two years ago. If The Detroit Bureau sources are to be believed, the pop star will be given the keys to a 2014 Corvette during the Super Bowl halftime show.

The idea isn't too far-fetched despite General Motors vowing not to advertise during the upcoming game. The rumor is given more credibility after Chevrolet spokesman Mike Albano told The Bureau that, "We've got a history of being involved with the Super Bowl."

The plan is reportedly to place a hand-built, one-off C7 on the 50-yard line during the halftime show, then gift the car to the singer. It's a shrewd marketing move. GM gets its time in front of Super Bowl viewers without officially changing its plan to avoid buying expensive ad time during the game. Product placement during sporting events is old hat to GM. The company has parked its vehicles on the field during Olympic opening ceremonies at least once before.

Just remember Beyonce, take some precautions as a still-green driver with a powerful new car: Adjust your mirrors, re-position the seat and put on your seatbelt before putting keys in the ignition. Mostly though, watch out for jealous Corvette drivers.

Is Chevy giving Beyonce a C7 Corvette during Super Bowl halftime show? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/28/is-chevy-giving-beyonce-a-c7-corvette-during-super-bowl-halftime/

Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Georges Grignard Bobby Grim Romain Grosjean

The NBBL Files: Bike Lane Opponents Knew Their Lawsuit Lacked Merit

Editor’s note: With yesterday’s appellate ruling prolonging the Prospect Park West case, Streetsblog is running a refresher on the how the well-connected gang of bike lane opponents waged their assault against a popular and effective street safety project. This is the second installment from the six-part NBBL Files. It’s the one that revealed the bike lane opponents didn’t even believe their own legal arguments.

This piece originally ran on October 4, 2011.

This is the second installment in a series of posts examining the tactics employed by opponents of the Prospect Park West redesign. Read the first post.

When they filed their lawsuit this March, opponents of the Prospect Park West redesign had little chance of succeeding in court. As NYU Law Professor Roderick Hills, Jr. told Streetsblog in March, “I take this complaint to be largely public relations, with no more law behind it than is minimally necessary to avoid sanctions for frivolity.” It turns out that some of the most prominent members of the anti-bike lane group “Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes” were perfectly aware of the holes in their case too.

Bike Lane Opponents Knew PPW Was Not Landmarked But Argued Otherwise in Suit

One of the central legal arguments in the Prospect Park West lawsuit asserted that the redesign should have gone through the city’s landmarks and environmental review processes. “Because Prospect Park West touches not one but two sites that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, New York State and City law demands careful study of various environmental impacts,” stated the lawsuit, referring to the street’s location between the Park Slope historic district and Prospect Park itself.

The city’s lawyers pointed out that each side of the street is landmarked, but not the roadway itself.

Before they filed suit, NBBL president Louise Hainline and her fellow litigant, former deputy mayor Norman Steisel, explicitly acknowledged the merits of what would become the legal argument of their opponents. They knew the bike lane was not landmarked.

On August 2, 2010, Steisel wrote to Hainline with a suggestion [PDF]. If a distinguished architect or city planner could complain about the aesthetics of the lane to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Art Commission and City Planning Commission, Steisel suggested, First Deputy Mayor Patti Harris might be persuaded to turn against it.

“Unfortunately, the lane is not in the Landmark District,” Hainline conceded later that evening.

Steisel agreed, but he recommended that NBBL push the issue anyway. “Doesn’t matter that landmarks has no jurisdiction they are kindered spirits along with art comm and cpc types,” Steisel wrote. “Bottom line need authorstive voice to say bloomberg legacy will be besmirched by altering this historic street.”

The following month, Hainline again stated that the street itself wasn’t landmarked. In a September 10, 2010 email to NBBL members, she forwarded a news clip about the expansion of the Park Slope historic district. “I thought these were particularly interesting,” said Hainline [PDF], “and in the first one, especially ironic due to the street between the park and PPW not being apparently under Landmarks jurisdiction/protection.”

NBBL Members Knew Time Might Run Out to File Their Lawsuit, and They Waited Anyway

When Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Bert Bunyan threw out NBBL’s lawsuit, he cited a procedural issue. Article 78 lawsuits, the kind NBBL filed, carry a four month statute of limitations. Since the bike lane was installed in June 2010, opponents had until November to file suit, but they waited until March 2011 to do so. The bike lane opponents claimed that time had not run out because the project was a “trial,” and so the clock hadn’t started ticking in the summer.

“The city is trying to avoid litigation on a technicality, which is based on a lie,” NBBL attorney Jim Walden told the New York Post in typically bombastic fashion this July. “After having told the public and various elected officials the bike lane was a trial project, the city now makes the incredible claim the lane was permanent all along, and that our suit was filed too late.”

Bunyan ruled against Walden, however, saying the project was in fact permanent and that the statute of limitations had passed. Again, prominent bike lane opponents knew about this weakness in their lawsuit ahead of time.

Jessica Schumer, a Yale Law School graduate studying for the bar exam at the time, advised NBBL in the summer of 2010, after which she moved to Washington D.C. to take a job with Larry Summers. Schumer sounded the alarm about the statute of limitations issue on July 1, 2010 [PDF]. “The NY court’s are very strict in their applicaiton of statute of limitations in Article 78 proceedings,” she wrote in an e-mail to her mother, Iris Weinshall, Louise Hainline, and a number of other NBBL members. “We need a lawyer to start drafting the motion ASAP.”

Schumer said she believed DOT was being ambiguous about calling the bike lane temporary or permanent. Filing the lawsuit immediately would clarify things, she argued. If the street redesign was permanent, NBBL wouldn’t miss their chance to sue; if it was not permanent, the Article 78 would trigger a response from DOT that would remove all doubt. (DOT’s Josh Benson had already set the record straight, however, when he publicly stated at a Community Board 6 hearing in April, 2010, that the bike lane was not a trial.) Schumer’s advice was sound and it seemed like NBBL had nothing to lose by suing the city right away. It was good legal advice, but for reasons that remain unclear, NBBL chose to wait until March to sue instead, and their suit was thrown out as a result.

In fact, Hainline herself expressed doubts about whether DOT had actually designated the bike lane a trial. On August 25, 2010, Hainline e-mailed Carlo Scissura [PDF], Borough President Marty Markowitz’s chief of staff, asking him for help with the matter. “Can you fill me in on what was said or not said by DOT about the matter of this installation being a trial? I’ve look at everything I can find Sadik-Khan or her people have said about this bike lane and can’t find anything that indicates they publically said the installation was only a trial.”

Hainline said she’d heard City Council members Brad Lander and Steve Levin refer to it as a trial, and wanted confirmation from Scissura. “Do you or Marty know what if DOT has actually said anything publically about the trial, what it would consist of and/or when it would be over? At this point, all we have is second or third hand accounts of the existence of some kind of trial.” Markowitz ultimately alleged in a sworn affidavit that Sadik-Khan told him the bike lane was a trial — testimony that earned a strong rebuke from Judge Bunyan for its lack of detail.

Other than Markowitz’s threadbare affidavit, neither Hainline nor her lawyers could cite any evidence that DOT had called the lane a temporary project.

The Public Relations Battle: Gibson Dunn Used NBBL to Drum Up Clients Who Would Maximize Suit’s PR Potential

Even though the NBBL lawsuit was destined to be dismissed if it wasn’t filed within four months of the PPW redesign’s installation, bike lane opponents and their lawyers put off the filing and instead focused on ways to enhance appearances. In a display of the importance of PR to the NBBL legal gambit, Gibson Dunn’s attorneys tried to recruit local businesses to sign on as plaintiffs along with NBBL and its spin-off, “Seniors for Safety.” “Our attorneys want to try to include some local businesses in any Article 78 they eventually file,” Hainline wrote to NBBL member Linda Brookoff on January 8, 2011 [PDF] — months after Gibson Dunn had allowed the deadline for filing to pass.

Hainline explained further in an e-mail to four other NBBL members [PDF]: ”To clarify what our attorneys asked, they feel that our action would be strengthened by showing that it’s not just a few NIMBY ‘old rich folks’ (my words, not theirs) who are opposed to the bike lane. They felt that support from others, particularly members of the business community negatively affected by the lane, would broaden our chances as an article 78 would need to go in front of a politically-connected/appointed judge, who might choose to dodge a decision unless it seemed to involve more than just our group’s dislike of the impact/aesthetics.”

Of course, adding business groups to the suit wouldn’t have in any way affected the actual legal questions at hand. The environmental impact laws NBBL tried to invoke against the redesign do not list local commercial impacts as a concern, and the city’s decision would have been no more “arbitrary or capricious” had business groups opposed it. A theoretical “Businesses For Better Bike Lanes” organization would, however, have added some political and rhetorical firepower to the opponents’ arsenal.

Given the fatal decision to delay the lawsuit while exploiting its PR potential, it appears that the Gibson Dunn strategy revolved around maximizing political, not legal, efficacy.

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/20/the-nbbl-files-bike-lane-opponents-knew-their-lawsuit-lacked-merit/

Olivier Gendebien Marc Gené Elmer George Bob Gerard Gerino Gerini

Russian GP firm hails track progress

Organisers of the first Russian Grand Prix have announced that the new Sochi track is firmly on target, with the race control complex in the “final stages” of construction.

Sochi will host its first Formula 1 race in 2014, with the circuit being created within the complex that will be used for that year’s Winter Olympics.

A statement from circuit operating company Formula Sochi said that the race control building was nearing completion, with “exterior and interior works and installation works” on the pit complex to get underway next spring.

The 3.7-mile circuit layout is also beginning to take shape.

“Many massive Olympic venues are already built, some sport facilities have been put in commission, while the motorsport venue is in the active phase of construction,” said the statement.

“Construction crews are making good progress with the preparing of groundworks and laying of the asphalt coat.

“The first layer of pavement has been laid in some areas.”

F1 circuit designer Hermann Tilke added: “Together with [track builder] Omega and Formula Sochi we are deeply involved in the Russian Grand Prix project and we are glad that all works are going according to schedule considering the large amount of coordination necessary with the Olympic construction.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/russian-gp-firm-hails-track-progress

Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Michael Edwards III William Clyde Elliott

GLOBAL iPRINT NAMED OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF NHRA

NHRA
GLENDORA, Calif. Jan. 4, 2012

Global iPrint, a premier printing and distribution company, has signed a three-year agreement to become the "Official Print Sponsor" of NHRA.

Based in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Global iPrint offers a number of printing services including offset printing, digital printing, large-format printing, mailing services, bindery, specialty finishing and distribution. As the preferred printer, Global iPrint will provide a wide array of services to the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body. "Given the enormous printing needs of NHRA throughout the year, Global iPrint will be able to provide professional and timely printing capabilities for all of our applications," said Tony Driscoll, vice president of sales and business development of NHRA.

As part of the multi-year agreement, Global iPrint will provide exclusive incentives and programs for NHRA sponsors, teams and members in hopes to fully integrate its capabilities into the NHRA Drag Racing community. Global iPrint will receive advertising in National DRAGSTER as well as introductions by NHRA to the entire racing community.

"We are excited to get involved with all aspects of NHRA's business," said Brian Rozansky, president of Global iPrint. "Our mission is to create an atmosphere to encourage teamwork and challenge our people to consistently meet and exceed the expectations of our clients. Our core team has been involved in all facets of the printing industry since the early 70s and we want to bring our expertise, technology and industry innovations and advances to bear on behalf of the NHRA community."

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 23 national events featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/01/global_iprint_named_offic.php

Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler David Carl Allison

Vettel insists he can still improve

Sebastian Vettel insists that there is still potential for him to improve as a grand prix driver despite winning his third consecutive world championship in 2012.

The Red bull driver became only the third driver to take a title triple alongside Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher this year, but is certain there is still more to come from both him and his Red Bull team.

At just 25, he is still younger than any other triple world champion in the history of F1 and is widely expected to add significantly to his tally of three crowns and 26 victories.

“In terms of results, the last three years and winning the constructors’ championship have been perfect but I still feel that there are little bits here and there we can improve on,” Vettel told AUTOSPORT.

“That’s the philosophy and the spirit that we share in the whole team. You can always do better.”

The German is now one of only nine drivers to have won more than two world championships.

But even after sealing his third crown in the Brazilian Grand Prix last month, he is refusing to rest on his laurels and is uninterested in comparing his achievements to those of others while there are still more titles to be won.

“At the moment, I don’t really reflect too much on what has happened over the last three years,” said Vettel.

“I am extremely happy and extremely proud of what we have achieved.

“If you put it into perspective, it sounds even crazier when you look at the people who have achieved the same or similar in the past.

“It’s better not to put it into perspective and to carry on focusing on what we do.

“We are having fun, we are very passionate and that makes the difference.

“We did it our way and that’s what made the year very special.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/vettel-insists-he-can-still-improve

Al Keller Joe Kelly Dave Kennedy Loris Kessel Bruce Kessler

Huff would consider BTCC return

World Touring Car champion Rob Huff has revealed he is open to a British Touring Car return for 2013 if he cannot defend his world title.

Briton Huff was left without a seat when Chevrolet announced in July that it was withdrawing its factory WTCC team.

He only competed in one season of his national touring car series, driving a works RML-run SEAT in 2004 after winning the firm’s ’03 one-make category, before moving straight into the WTCC with RML’s Chevrolet programme.

“I’d love to go out and defend my title,” Huff told AUTOSPORT, “but the WTCC is probably the most difficult one to come off. I am really struggling to see a way that I could get out there.

“DTM or Aussie V8s, I’d love to race in. BTCC is also something I’d love to come back and do.

“Some people are going, ‘Oh, BTCC is a step back.’ OK, on paper it is a step back, but I am a racing driver. If someone wants to pay me to race a car that I can win in, then I’m there.”

Click here for AUTOSPORT’s full 2012 WTCC season review

Huff admitted it had been tough to explain his blank 2013 diary during UK media commitments after his title success.

“It is difficult, I should be out celebrating all the time but I am not,” said Huff. “I am working flat out trying to get something together for next year.

“I did Sky Sport News and they wanted to know what the big plans are for next year. I said, ‘Well, there aren’t any.’ [Presenter] Alex Hammond replied ‘Surely, as a world champion that should all take care of itself?’

“Well it should do, but unfortunately that is the sorrowful state of motorsport at the moment.”

Despite his determination to land a drive, Huff is unwilling to accept any seat. His limited interaction with rival teams during his nine-year RML stint has made finding a new deal slightly harder, he feels.

“I am not just going to drive any old rubbish at the end of the day,” explained Huff. “We have to be careful and very picky about what we do.

“The biggest problem is that I have kind of lived in a bubble for the last 10 years. My path has been laid for me, in the sense that I won the SEAT Cupra championship, got the drive with RML and have been with RML ever since. I don’t know anyone outside of RML – literally!

I have been speaking to a lot of people, who have given me a lot of contacts, but it is very difficult and I have led a very sheltered life in the last nine years, in the sense of teams.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/btcc/huff-would-consider-btcc-return

James Hunt Jim Hurtubise Gus Hutchison Jacky Ickx Yuji Ide

2014 C7 Corvette, Declassified! All the Details on Chevy’s Halo Car, One Month Early

The Vatican elects a new pope about once every 10 years. Coincidentally, or not, reborn Corvettes follow the same cadence. Speculation about the next high priest of the Milford proving ground has consumed the faithful for the past few years, only intensifying in the lead-up to the car’s official reveal at this year’s North American International Auto Show. Now, a month before the silk comes off, we have sleuthed out all the important secrets of the seventh-generation Corvette, a.k.a. C7. READ MORE ››

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/tQG8T6Vn9Oo/2014-chevrolet-corvette-c7-secret-info-and-renderings-news

Masahiro Hasemi Naoki Hattori Paul Hawkins Mike Hawthorn Boy Hayje

The Dale Jr. Foundation Continues Fundraising Success in 2012

The Dale Jr Foundation

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 20, 2012) – The Dale Jr. Foundation (TDJF) announced today the successful conclusion to its year-long fundraising efforts, which raised more than $280,000 to benefit non-profit organizations and charities on a national scale. TDJF utilized a trio of major initiatives to raise the funds, including the “Driven to Give” event, the “Win Dale Jr.’s Ride” raffle and ride-along experiences with Earnhardt Jr.

“It was another great year,” said Earnhardt Jr. “The people who work for TDJF are some of the hardest-working people in my entire company, and I want to thank them first and foremost. I also want to thank anyone who contributed to the raising of funds this year, whether it was through in-kind donations, purchasing raffle tickets, or bidding on auction items. All of it contributed to helping us achieve our goals.”

Headlining the fundraising initiative was the second annual “Driven to Give” Dinner and silent auction. Hosted by Earnhardt Jr. and ESPN’s Marty Smith, the dinner brought more than 300 guests to the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville, N.C., where country music artist Kellie Pickler performed a special concert. In addition to the silent auction, attendees enjoyed raffle prizes and a Q&A session with Earnhardt Jr. A special raffle also allowed a handful of fans to attend the closed-door event.

Playing off its 2011 success, TDJF brought back the “Win Dale Jr.’s Ride” raffle, where more than 7,000 participants purchased tickets that offered the chance to take home Earnhardt Jr.’s own 2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertible. The winner was Debbi Atkins from Frisco, Texas. Atkins was a special guest at JR Motorsports on Oct. 30, where Earnhardt Jr. hand-delivered the keys.

“Each year we strive to further The Dale Jr. Foundation’s mission of providing resources to underprivileged youth to improve their confidence and education,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports and vice president of The Dale Jr. Foundation. “Each year we seem to exceed our expectations. It’s a tribute to all the great people involved. It takes a ton of hard work from many different people to make the fundraisers a success, and it goes a long way in making a difference in people’s lives. For us, that’s what it’s all about.”

Finally, ride-along experiences with Earnhardt Jr. at Charlotte Motor Speedway were offered to TDJF partners and donors. The 10 recipients of the experience and their guests visited the speedway on Nov. 13 for a three-lap ride with Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet. The group was also privy to a Q&A session with Earnhardt Jr. and Kerry Earnhardt, photos, autographs and individual DVDs documenting the experience.

The funds raised from the three events will be distributed through TDJF’s five categorical avenues of giving: hunger, education, empowerment, wellness and hope. All totaled, more than 20 non-profit charities will benefit from the funds, including Barium Springs Children’s Home, Blessings in a Backpack, Press on Fund to CURE Childhood Cancer, the Make a Wish Foundation, Mooresville Soup Kitchen and the Special Olympics.

ABOUT THE DALE JR FOUNDATION:

The Dale Jr. Foundation is a charity dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals with a focus on youth, the resources to improve their confidence and education, and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals. For more information, visit www.thedalejrfoundation.org.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:

Based in Mooresville, N.C., JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s 10-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races.  JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series where the team owns 10 victories.  To learn more about the organization and its stable of drivers visit www.jrmracing.com.  The JR Motorsports facility also houses the JR Nation retail store, Hammerhead Entertainment and JRM Licensing.

Source: JR Motorsports, Press Release

The post The Dale Jr. Foundation Continues Fundraising Success in 2012 appeared first on Catchfence.

Related Stories:

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Chevrolet To Feature The Dale Jr. Foundation For Sprint All-Star Weekend
2. The Dale Jr. Foundation Ends 2011 Fundraising Efforts with a Bang
3. Foundation Donors To Ride With Dale Jr. Monday At Charlotte Motor Speedway

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/catchfence/~3/qw4RFq8Hprc/

Lucas di Grassi Cecil Green Keith Greene Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith

iSCS 2012 S4 W4 – Thompson

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/sprint-cars/iscs-2012-s4-w4-thompson

Casey James Mears Juan Pablo Montoya Joseph Francis Nemechek III Ryan Joseph Newman Kyle Eugene Petty

Pirelli: Teams ready for aggressive tyres

Pirelli is confident that Formula 1 teams are now much better prepared for a move to more aggressive tyre compounds in 2013 than they were at the start of this season.

The Italian tyre manufacturer is going to switch to new constructions and even softer compounds next year in a bid to improve the spectacle and ensure teams are still challenged.

The tyre plan has prompted talk that the new season could reproduce the unpredictability that was witnessed at the start of the last campaign, when there were seven different winners from the first seven races.

However, Pirelli’s chief technical officer Maurizio Boicchi thinks that teams will not face such difficulties in dealing with the new rubber, as he is adamant that they have learned enough this year about how best to cope.

He thinks the fact that the final races of 2012 became straightforward one-stop events shows how much progress the teams made in understanding how to get the best performance from tricky products.

“During 2012, more or less all the teams learned much better how to use our tyres,” Boicchi told AUTOSPORT.

“One of the key criteria that improved their consistency was the fact that we have seen and measured much less [wheel] spinning from them – which means they have learned how to manage this phenomenon.

“It [wheel spin] is terrible, as you wear the tyres fast, heat them up and they degrade very, very rapidly.

“This was something more and more taken into consideration by the teams. You could see cars during free practice with infra red measurements on the tyres in order to have a point-by-point reference on the circuit for the temperature on the surface of the tyres.

“It was one of the most important pieces of information on the tyres that relates to wheel spin – and it made all the difference.

“We believe a lot of things have moved in this direction, and what we would like to do in 2013 is to come back to be a little bit more aggressive in our compound choice in order to introduce more pitstops and strategy for the teams.”

Boicchi, who believes the 2013 tyres will be faster, says another factor that will help the teams is the fact that they got to try out the future rubber during practice in Brazil.

“They got their first feedback which was important, as normally at the first tests in February we have such awful temperatures that it is more or less impossible to have clear information,” he said.

“It is also hard to get a clear perception from the teams then too, because often they are focused 100 per cent on car development – they worry more about the aerodynamics than the tyres.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/pirelli-teams-ready-for-aggressive-tyres

Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr

Lorenzo: Ducati masked Rossi’s pace

Jorge Lorenzo feels Ducati’s struggles over the past two MotoGP seasons have masked 2013 Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi’s true pace.

The seven-time champion won twice and claimed 10 podiums during his final year with Yamaha in 2010, finishing third in the championship.

Following his switch to Ducati he has experienced the first two winless seasons of his MotoGP career, with just three podiums – only one of them in the dry – to boast.

Rossi said in November that he had learned nothing during his barren two-year spell with the Italian marque.

Lorenzo believes Ducati’s ‘complicated’ bikes have been key to Rossi’s recent struggles, predicting that the Italian could once again become a frontrunner with Yamaha.

“Its true, the Ducati bike seems to be very complicated,” Lorenzo admitted earlier this month at the Race of Champions.

“Only Casey [Stoner] won a championship and races with it, so for sure it’s not easy.

“Vale is a strong rider, and really complete, but he couldn’t [win] with it.

“Maybe with Yamaha he returns again to a high level.”

Lorenzo reiterated his initial reaction that Rossi’s return to Yamaha was a boost for both himself and the team.

“Vale coming again to Yamaha is good for the brand because we [will be an] even more competitive team than last year,” he said.

“He has a very high motivation to keep fighting for wins, so I’m really looking forward to his performance on the Yamaha.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/motorcycles/motogp/lorenzo-ducati-masked-rossis-pace

Peter de Klerk Christian Klien Karl Kling Ernst Klodwig Kamui Kobayashi

Volvo’s “Little Red” Commercial: Good Example of the Tail Wagging the Wolf [The Ad Section]

Award-winning ad man-cum-auto journalist Don Klein knows a good (or bad) car commercial when he sees one; the Ad Section is his space to tell you what he thinks of the latest spots. The ad’s rating is depicted via the shift pattern at the bottom, but everyone has an opinion when it comes to advertising, so hit Backfires below and tell us what you think, too.

Upon casual viewing, Volvo’s S60 commercial appears simply to be a modern take on an old fairy tale wherein good triumphs over evil. The commercial opens in a dark, spooky forest. Cut to distant headlights piercing the misty fog. A series of beauty shots reveals they’re coming from a blood red S60 being driven by a handsome young father. While all this is taking place, we hear Sam the Sham and the Pharaoh’s iconic ’60s hit “Li’l Red Riding Hood,” freshly (and excellently) covered by Laura Gibson.

Suddenly the Volvo screeches to a halt as it encounters a wolf roadblock. Well, it consists of just one wolf, but this particular critter (a professional stunt animal whose name in real life is Kane) is pretty big and has a nasty, toothy snarl, so he gets the job done on his own. He holds the Volvo at bay by baying until the S60 revs up and lets loose a snarl of its own, at which point Kane turns into a sniveling puddle of wolf pudding and sulks off.

Triumphant, Volvo Dad drives on, turning as he does to ask his adorable little daughter (who is art directed to the teeth in a red hooded jacket), “What does the wolf say?” Safely ensconced in her Volvo OEM child seat, she leans back, closes her eyes, and reels off her best Sam the Sham “Ahooooo!” (Although, based on what she just witnessed, shouldn’t she have made little whimpering noises?)

Thanks to top-notch cinematography and directing, the spot is eye-catching and fun to watch. And its implied message that Volvos are safe havens in an unsafe world is totally in keeping with the brand’s DNA. But the commercial commits the ultimate sin of hanging its hat on something that’s not specific to the product: Any car will trump a wolf. It doesn’t need to be a Volvo, it doesn’t need to have a turbocharged engine, and it certainly doesn’t need to be red. Even wolf pups know that sheetmetal of any make or model wreaks havoc on the fangs, not to mention the digestive system. Besides, people don’t need much “protecting from” wolves anyway: The number of fatal attacks by wolves in the past 100 years is minuscule. So even if you’re wearing Lady Gaga’s meat dress and driving a Miata with the top down, you’re probably going to live to tell the tale.

---

• Comparison Test: 2012 BMW 328i vs. Audi A4, Infiniti G25, Mercedes C250, Volvo S60
• Comparison Test: Buick Regal GS vs. Volvo S60 R-Design
• Instrumented Test: Volvo S60 T6 AWD

---

But of course, this commercial isn’t really about Little Red Riding Hood. It’s about Volvo’s massive product placement investment in the Twilight movie franchise. That handsome Volvo Dad? He’s supposed to evoke Edward, Twilight’s leading vampire, who’s really a decent and nurturing chap despite the fact that he wants to suck your blood. Apparently, women find him irresistible. Or at least the kind of women who buy Volvos.

If you’re not a “Twifan,” this might not make a whole lot of sense. But millions of people—often young, often female—have paid big cash to see the Twilight films. In its first two weeks alone, Breaking Dawn: Part 2 grossed $237 million in total domestic ticket sales. And guess what Edward drives in the flick? (Hint: it’s Swedish and begins with V).

So in fact, this commercial is designed more to reinforce the product-placement deal and its extensive social-media effort than meets your big eyes. And given the franchise’s phenomenal success with a big chunk of Volvo’s target audience, that’s not a dumb thing. Yes, the spot sort of stands on its own, but in the absence of a Twilight deal, do you really think this is the way Volvo would pitch the ostensibly male-oriented S60 sports sedan? Neither do I.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/Ony7OCbx4DA/

Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Fred Gamble Howden Ganley Frank Gardner Billy Garrett

Give to Streetsblog and This Tough-Yet-Breathable Jacket Could Be Yours

Hello Streetsblog readers, here’s the latest word on our end-of-year pledge drive. With the contributions pouring in, we’re rounding the home stretch more than three-quarters of the way to our goal of raising $60,000 by the end of the year. Can you help put us over the top?

If you value what we do, please keep the momentum going and pitch in with a tax-deductible contribution today. We need to meet our fundraising goals so we can keep the lights on and continue to produce the reporting, commentary, and videos that keep you coming back each day. Your contribution to Streetsblog and Streetfilms gives us the resources to deliver news about safe streets, transit, and urbanism you won’t find anywhere else.

Of course, for that extra bit of motivation, there’s also the bike we’ll be giving away to one lucky donor at the end of the pledge drive, courtesy of Bicycle Habitat. And, if you give $50 or more before midnight on Wednesday, December 26, you’ll also be entered to win this Patagonia Exosphere jacket, in the color and size of your choice, which we’ll ship anywhere in the United States or Canada. It’s an exceptional garment and great for winter biking:

I’m pleased to announce that reader Adam Mansky of Brooklyn will be taking home last week’s giveaway, the “Our Community Wanted This Plaza” street sign. I hope you mount it somewhere prominently, Adam.

Thanks to all our supporters who’ve contributed so far, and if you haven’t gotten around to it yet, please give today.

–Ben

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/20/give-to-streetsblog-and-this-tough-yet-breathable-jacket-could-be-yours/

Yves Giraud Cabantous Ignazio Giunti Timo Glock Helm Glöckler Paco Godia

Tony Stewart is Ready to Rumble in Fort Wayne

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/12/tony-stewart-is-ready-to-rumble-in-fort.html

Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray Casey James Mears Juan Pablo Montoya

KBM Continues Youth Movement with Addition of Kligerman

Parker Kligerman - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 18, 2012)- Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced today that the team has signed 22-year-old Parker Kligerman to compete for the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series driver’s championship. Kligerman will pilot the No. 77 Toyota Camry for the entirety of the 33-race schedule.

Kligerman comes to KBM’s Nationwide Series program on the heels of a breakout season in 2012. In his second full-time Camping World Truck Series campaign, the talented youngster earned his first career NASCAR victory at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October, captured two pole awards and collected eight top-five and 15 top-10 finishes en route to a fifth-place finish in the final Truck Series driver’s point standings.  His Talladega victory, both poles and five of his eight top-five finishes came after joining the Toyota Racing family at the halfway point of the season.

The Connecticut native has registered five top-10 finishes in 18 career Nationwide Series starts. He posted two top-10 finishes in three starts this season, including a career-best seventh-place finish in the July race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

In October of 2009, at the age of 19, Kligerman captured the pole in his first-ever Nationwide Series start at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, becoming the 10^th driver in series history to accomplish the feat. That same year, he earned the 2009 Rookie of the Year award in the ARCA Racing Series after winning a series-high nine races and finishing second in the final point standings.

“When you think of Kyle Busch and Kyle Busch Motorsports, you think of an owner and a team that have established a tradition of winning and pride themselves on it, so I feel honored to be given the chance to come in and continue in that tradition,” Kligerman said. “I feel that running full-time in the Truck Series the last two seasons and coming close to a championship last season has prepared me to be able to do the same in the Nationwide Series next year. With the personnel that KBM has in place and what they were able to accomplish in their first year in the Nationwide Series combined with all the support they have from Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development), I see no reason why we can’t compete for wins on a weekly basis and be a top-five team in the final point standings at the end of the season.”

“Once Parker got behind the wheel of a Toyota halfway through the season, he proved that he was capable of running up front week in and week out in the Truck Series and comes to us with a lot of confidence,” owner Kyle Busch said. “Since I started my Truck Series team in 2010, I’ve wanted the focus of our efforts to be on developing young talent and being able to create an identity for KBM without having to be behind the wheel myself. With the addition of Parker to our Nationwide Series program and Joey Coulter to our Truck Series program, we now have two of the sport’s most talented young drivers in our building.”

“Everyone at Toyota and TRD speaks very highly of Parker and they were a big part of why were able to bring him onboard here at KBM,” KBM General Manager Rick Ren said. “Although he has only driven a handful of races with these new Nationwide Series cars, he has participated in a lot of testing the last few years and we feel like he will be able to come in and be able to use that knowledge to help us to continue to make improvements to our program.”

In its inaugural Nationwide Series campaign, KBM registered one win, three poles, 15 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes en route to an eighth-place finish in the owner’s point standings. The team recorded eight top-five and 12 top-10 finishes over the last 13 races of the season. 

“Our Nationwide Series program really seemed to hit its stride the last 10 races of the season — won a couple of poles, led a bunch of laps and were in contention for the win almost every week,” said Busch, who was behind the wheel for eight of the final 10 races. “We feel like we’ll be able to carry that momentum into next year and come out of the gates stronger than we did in our first season.” 

Further details regarding sponsorship for Kligerman’s No. 77 Camry will be announced at a later date. 

About Kyle Busch Motorsports

Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) has quickly established itself as one of the most successful teams in all of NASCAR, capturing the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Owner’s Championship in its inaugural season and 18 Truck Series victories over its first three seasons. 2012 marked the team’s debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with team owner and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Kyle Busch sharing the driving duties behind the wheel of the No. 54 Monster Energy Camry with his brother Kurt, the 2004 Sprint Cup Series champion. The duo produced one win, three poles, 15 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes in their debut campaign.

KBM prepares a fleet of race-winning Toyotas out of its 77,000-square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C. Pending LEED certification, the facility’s state-of-the art equipment and innovative green initiatives make it unmatched among its peers. Fans can stay up-to-date with all the latest KBM news online at www.KyleBuschMotorsports.com, by liking the team on Facebook (KyleBuschMS) and following the team on Twitter (@KBMteam).

Source: Kyle Busch Motorsports Press Release

The post KBM Continues Youth Movement with Addition of Kligerman appeared first on Catchfence.

Related Stories:

1. Raikkonen Completes Two-Day Test with KBM
2. Parker Kligerman in truck for 10 races
3. With Continued Support from Toyota KBM Sets Lofty Goals for 2011

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/catchfence/~3/m3zCvNowJCE/

Bob Gerard Gerino Gerini Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli

Laughton Builds Momentum at Dover

Laughton heads to his fourth win NiPS win in seven starts as Brown exits stage left . . .

Sometimes everything just seems to go your way, much like the 2012 NASCAR iRacing.com Pro Series has gone thus far for Chad Laughton. Last night saw Laughton hold-off Dustin Montgomery and Jared Crawford in a one lap shootout at Dover International Speedway to win for the fourth time in seven races.

Laughton took the lead for the first time during a round of yellow flag pit stops on Lap 166 and led the remaining 35 laps on his way to the win. Crawford looked to have the dominant car, leading a race high 112 laps, but could not get back around Laughton once he was passed on pit road.

Montgomery edged Crawford for second in the one lap shootout. Jake Stergios finished fourth and Philipp Geiss had an impressive drive from his thirty-fourth starting spot to grab fifth.

Joey Brown looked to have the car to beat early on after he grabbed the pole. He quickly built a comfortable lead but was overtaken by Crawford on pit road when the leaders made their first stops of the race under the first yellow on Lap 44.

The first caution flag of the race marked the end of a 273 lap stretch dating back to Kentucky without a yellow.

In contrast to Richmond’s green to checkered flag run, last night’s race featured eight cautions. Here Carson Downs (97) embarks on a wild ride.

When the green flag flew again, Brown settled into second and began to pursue Crawford for the lead with Laughton holding steady in fourth. Brown was unable to run Crawford down, but another caution on Lap 79 erased Crawford’s lead and saw the leaders come down pit road for the second time.

This time it was Brown who won the battle off pit road, but his lead would be short-lived. The third caution of the race flew just seven laps after the restart and while most of the front runners stayed out, Brown chose to pit; this would prove to be a mistake.

The race restarted with Crawford and Laughton running one-two and Brown back in eighth, albeit on fresh tires. Brown started to slowly work his way back through the field and on Lap 133 he was battling Joshua Laughton for fourth place when everything went wrong. Brown got loose off of Turn 2, overcorrected and crashed into the wall. Joshua Laughton and Benjamin Burmeister had nowhere to go and were caught up in the mess, ending both of their chances at a good finish.

Brown’s car was damaged but he got it repaired under the yellow flag; meanwhile at the front of the pack Crawford and Chad Laughton had taken control of the race. Brown tried to regain his lost track position by taking two tires during a late caution, but his car just was not the same after the damage and his day ended in another crash, this time on the last lap. Brown finished eighth.

Eight cautions slowed the field for 31 laps in a race that had far more carnage than the caution-free race last week at Richmond. The most spectacular crash occurred on Lap 194 when Landon Huffman and Carson Downs got together coming off Turn 4. Downs was hooked into the outside wall and was sent for a wild ride, flipping down the front straightaway before coming to stop upside down on the pit lane. It was the second time this season Downs ended-up on his top.

The one lap shootout was also wild, as one could imagine. There were several incidents in Turns 3 and 4 coming to the checkers, leaving many more drivers with broken cars and disappointing finishes. The biggest loser was Josh Berry, who was running fourth before the last lap melee and wound up nineteenth.

Dover saw Crawford notch his sixth podium finish in seven starts.

After the dust settled at Dover, Chad Laughton increased his point lead to 13 over Crawford, despite Crawford not finishing outside the top three since the season opener at Daytona. Montgomery remains third, but is now 36 points behind, almost a full race. Stergios and last week’s winner Adam Gilliland round-out the top five, but are too far back to battle for the title unless something dramatic happens to Laughton.

After a two week hiatus for the holidays, the NiPS will be back in action at Homestead-Miami Speedway. You might remember that Homestead was slated to be the fourth event of the season, but technical difficulties led to the cancelation of the online race. After some discussion with the drivers, the series director decided to replace New Hampshire Motor Speedway with Homestead, since drivers had worked hard on setups for a race that ended-up not counting.

Back during the Week 4 visit to Homestead, Crawford had the pole and a quick car, but Laughton was not far behind and looked to have a solid top five car. It would be no surprise to see either in victory lane, but the pressure is on Crawford to close the gap on Laughton with only two races remaining in the season. We will see you after the holidays!

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/laughton-builds-momentum-at-dover

Bill Holland Jackie Holmes Bill Homeier Kazuyoshi Hoshino Jerry Hoyt