NHRA's Antron Brown to participate in NASCAR test

   Antron Brown has mastered straightaways.  

   Now, he’s ready to try turns.

   Brown, the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel Dragster champion, will test next week in a NASCAR K&N Series car at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., with Rev Racing.

   Brown, 37, will test at the track alongside Rev Racing drivers Bryan Ortiz, Daniel Suarez, Meckena Bell and Ryan Gifford. All are members of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program.

   “I have a passion for NHRA drag racing,” Brown said. “I’m very competitive at anything I do and I always love a new challenge. I’m excited to have this opportunity to turn left.”

   Both Rev Racing and Don Schumacher Racing, Brown’s home in the NHRA, partner with Toyota.

   “Toyota has been a supporter of diversity in the work place, within its organization and specifically with the Rev Racing program for many years,” said Keith Dahl, Toyota’s national manager of motorsports and engagement marketing.

   “Not only are DSR and Rev Racing committed to winning championships, but they are also committed to pioneering diversity efforts in motorsports.”

NASCAR slots invade Las Vegas

 

  Las Vegas may or may not get another NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, but one thing the city is getting this weekend is an infusion of NASCAR slot machines.

    Bally Technology’s new NASCAR slot machine will make its Las Vegas debut at several Boyd Gaming properties on Friday.

    Boyd’s NASCAR rollout includes the Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Sam’s Town, Fremont, California and Main Street Station casinos.

   Read more here.

The 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame class

-Tim Flock, two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion

-Jack Ingram, two-time NASCAR Busch (now Nationwide) Series champion and three-time Late Model Sportsman champion

-Dale Jarrett, 1999 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion and three-time Daytona 500 winner

-Maurice Petty, chief engine builder for Petty Enterprises

-Fireball Roberts, 33 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series wins, including 1962 Daytona 500

NASCAR drivers appearing at Food Lion Speed Street

Thursday, May 23

Driver/Guest

Appearance Time

Appearance Location

Ron Hornaday, Jr. Brennan Newberry Timothy Peters German Quiroga Ross Chastain Jennifer Jo Cobb Miguel Paludo Ross Chastain

1-3 p.m.

Creative Loafing display (autographs)

Jeb Burton

2-3 p.m.

Creative Loafing display (autographs)

German Quiroga

3:30 p.m.

Net 10 Wireless display

Sir Purr

5-6 p.m.

Panthers booth

Jeremy Clements Johanna Long Hal Martin Taylor Stricklin Max Papis Donnie Allison

7-9 p.m.

Creative Loafing display (autographs)

Friday, May 24

Driver/Guest			Appearance Time						Appearance Location
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.			12-2 p.m.						Kellogg's display: Wristbands ONLY*
Alex Bowman Joey Coulter Erik Jones Michael Annett Kyle Fowler Gray Gaulding			1-3 p.m.						Creative Loafing display
John Wes Townley			2-3 p.m.						Creative Loafing display
Richard Petty Dale Inman Aric Almirola			1:15 p.m.						Food Lion stage (Q&A)
German Quiroga			1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.						Net 10 Wireless display
Elliott Sadler			3 p.m.						One Main Financial display: Wristbands ONLY**
Jason Myers			3-4 p.m.						Creative Loafing display
Tim Dugger			4-5 p.m.						Creative Loafing display
Regan Smith			4:30-5:15 p.m.						Unilever display
Chad Knaus			5-5:45 p.m.						Creative Loafing display: Wristbands ONLY***
Regan Smith			5:15-5:30 p.m.						Food Lion stage
Sir Purr			5-6 p.m.						Panthers display
Tim Dugger			6-6:30 p.m.						Creative Loafing display
Joey Logano Ryan Newman			7-7:45 p.m.						Coca-Cola stage (Q&A)
Mark "Hollywood" Armstrong Michael Lingerfelt Dennis Terry Cory Baldwin Greg Donlin Greg Morin			7-9 p.m.						Creative Loafing display: "Tire Change Challenge presented by ENEOS"

Saturday, May 25

Driver/Guest

Appearance Time

Apperance Location

Ernie Irvan Jared Irvan Doug Herbert

11 a.m. - 1p.m.

Creative Loafing display

Sir Purr

1-2 p.m.

Panthers display

Casey Mears

4-4:30 p.m.

Geico display

Top Cats

6-7 p.m.

Panthers display

Tony Stewart Danica Patrick

7-7:45 p.m.

Coca-Cola Stage (Q&A)

Charlotte Roller Girls

8-9 p.m.

Creative Loafing display

Smith claims "done deal" report on track move is wrong

   The following is a statement from Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, O. Bruton Smith:

“The ‘done deal’ report by WBTV regarding moving a race is false. No final decision has been made regarding any race date move, and I have not discussed this with NASCAR. 

   “Instead of what ‘could’ happen, let’s set the facts straight about what has happened. We’ve invested $100 million in the Charlotte Motor Speedway complex in the past six years to make it even better for the fans. We’ve expanded our fan zone, added pit road suites and built the world’s largest HDTV for every fan to enjoy. We’ve put more people to work with these projects and we’ve added more events to the calendar to bring in more tourists and fans. And we’ve done this during the worst economy since the Great Depression. 

   “We’ve done this without asking for a handout from the government, like we’ve seen from so many other sports facilities, teams or franchises, and yet at the same time property values are falling during the recession, our Cabarrus County taxes have doubled since 2005. We absolutely love the fans that come to Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s frustrating to think about the future and consider that the local government doesn’t share the same excitement about Charlotte Motor Speedway that our fans do. The Cabarrus County politicians may say nice things to the media, but raising taxes does not support the tourism business, the area economy or companies trying to grow.”

Michael Annett finally cleared to race

 

   After being sidelined for eight races, Michael Annett will return to the driver's seat of the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford this weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway for Saturday's History 300 Nationwide Series event.

   Annett was medically cleared Tuesday after suffering a broken and dislocated sternum after an accident in the season-opening Nationwide Series event at Daytona International Speedway in February.

   The Nationwide series regular underwent surgery for his injuries after the accident and has been sidelined for three months to allow his injuries to heal. Annett has been preparing for his return by participating in physical therapy over the last three weeks. Doctors, along with NASCAR officials, determined he was cleared to drive following an MRI on Monday afternoon.

Greg Biffle: "I highly doubt" Charlotte will lose a NASCAR race

   NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle took part in a teleconference on Tuesday and was asked about track owner Bruton Smith's claim there was a 70 percent chance he would move Charlotte Motor Speedway's fall Cup series date to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the near future.

   Here was Biffle's response:

    "I highly doubt whether we see that race move to a different location. There's a lot of people that come to that race. Let's face it, it's a business decision a lot of times. You make business decisions on the amount of people or fans or people you can attract to a particular race," Biffle said. "If your race is well‑attended, I don't see any reason for moving it.  Obviously, if we're running all the races, we're not going to be going out and doing all the stuff to try to change our cars.

   "That's the way I perceive it. I'm an entrepreneur, business type of guy. I see the grandstands fairly full when it comes to our two Charlotte races, a lot of attendance. I don't know all the behind‑the‑scenes stuff.

   "Frankly, we'll race wherever the race is at. I like both of the race tracks. I would like to see it stay in Charlotte. If it goes to Vegas, then I suppose we have to race there."