NASCAR Media Tour: Day 4

  by Pete McCole
The NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway wrapped up it’s 30th edition on Thursday to bring a close to the annual four-day media event as NASCAR’s top teams make preparations for the season opening Daytona 500 barely four weeks away. First up on the final day was an event hosted by Wal-Mart, who announced they will make their first foray into NASCAR Sprint Cup, serving a primary sponsors for 1988 Sprint Cup Champion Bill Elliott in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Speedway in July.

NASCAR 2012 Preview Q & A

  At NASCAR Hall of Fame
Good afternoon, and welcome to the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the annual NASCAR preseason press conference as part of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour.  My name is Kerry Tharp.  I'm senior director of communications for NASCAR competition.  We are excited about the 2012 NASCAR racing season.  Our thanks to the fine folks here at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for their outstanding hospitality and hosting us here today.

Brian France Says Sport Is In A Very Good Place

  NASCAR State of the Sport Report
In his State of NASCAR remarks delivered during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said, “The sport is in a very good place and we’re going to work even harder to achieve the very best things for the sport of NASCAR well into the future.”

NASCAR Media Tour: Day 3

  by Pete McCole
The 30th Annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway continued on Wednesday with day three of the four-day session as NASCAR teams continue their preparations for the upcoming 2012 NASCAR racing season. Starting off was an early-morning media event with JTG-Daugherty Racing and driver Bobby Labonte.

Dalziel puts Ford on pole for 50th Rolex 24

  Spoils Chevy Corvette DP Grand-Am debut
While already a Rolex 24 At Daytona champion, having won in 2010, today Ryan Dalziel (Orlando, Fla.), earned his first career pole in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series while driving the #8 Starworks Motorsports Ford Riley.  The 2011 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series DP Champion, Dalziel, who is a native of Scotland, was not surprised with the DP qualifying position – even though he was at the wheel of the last new Riley to be delivered, which was run for the first time during the second practice today.

Daytona 24H Q & A with A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti

  Grand-Am
Two of racing's most celebrated names -- A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti -- said some of their most memorable moments of their careers happened in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The race will commemorate its 50th anniversary this week. Several unique activities are planned to celebrate the history of the endurance race, recognized as one of the world's most significant motorsports events.

NASCAR Media Tour: Day 2

  by Pete McCole
The 30th Annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway moved onto day two on Tuesday, continuing the four-day media event covering the upcoming 2012 NASCAR racing season.  Kicking off the second day of the tour was an event hosted by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, including drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray. 

Ford unveils 2013 Cup car

  by Pete McCole
Looking to rebuild their brand identity in the sport of stock car racing, Ford Motor Company introduced their new 2013 Ford Fusion entry into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to the media at a press event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Tuesday. The new 2013 production model, featuring a prominent front grill and new Eco-Boost technology, is slated to make it’s debut in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the 2013 Daytona 500.

NASCAR Media Tour: Day 1

  by Pete McCole
Charlotte Motor Speedway played host to the 30th edition of the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour on Monday, kicking off the annual event that brings together journalists from around the world featuring a four days of interviews and press events with some of NASCAR’s top teams as the prepare for the upcoming 2012 racing season. Leading of the tour for 2012 was a visit from the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart and the Stewart-Haas Racing team.

50th Rolex 24 Coming Up

  Grand-Am
In less than a week, an event 50 years in the making is set to take place as the motorsports world celebrates the golden anniversary of one of the most famous endurance races in the world – the Rolex 24 At Daytona.  The historic endurance race is set for January 28-29, 2012, at Daytona International Speedway, and the excitement surrounding the race has never been greater. From a display of championship winning cars, to the participation of famous drivers, along with new GT entries from Ferrari and Audi and five new Corvette DPs, all indications are that the Rolex 24 At Daytona will deliver a high octane start as the season opener to the 2012 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Vettel F1's best current driver

  Alan Jones, 1980 F1 Champion
1980 world champion Alan Jones thinks Sebastian Vettel is the best driver on this year's F1 grid. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso triggered international headlines this week when his recent comments about Vettel, the back-to-back and reigning world champion at Red Bull. Vettel, 24, became the sport's youngest ever double champion last season when he dominated his rivals, thrashing runner-up Jenson Button's points tally and collecting handfuls of wins and poles.

Scenes from NASCAR Preview in Charlotte

  by Pete McCole
Thousands of fans showed up Saturday for the inaugural NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center. The fan-friendly event, part of NASCAR’s Acceleration Weekend, followed an overflow crowd for Friday evening’s NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony of Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough.  Photos by Pete McCole and Getty Images for NASCAR.