Tony Stewart to Race in Tulsa Chili Bowl

This week some of the best racing of the year will happen in Tulsa, Oklahoma with the 26th annual Chili Bowl Nationals. The indoor event, featuring midget sprint cars, started in 1987 as a way for drivers to be able to race in the off-season. Since then, the Chili Bowl has grown to such prestige, that Tony Stewart has said “Of all the sanctioning bodies out there, all the divisions, thatʼs the coolest races of the year.” Drivers from 32 states, as well as Autralia, Canada, New Zealand, and Finland will make up the field of nearly 275 cars. The entry list includes 2011 Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Sprint Car legend - and five-time Chili Bowl winner - Sammy Swindell, and 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart. The event starts this Tuesday, and runs through Saturday at the Tulsa Expo Center.

Daytona Pre-Season Testing Begins This Week

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is back on track for the first official activity of 2011. The three-day test session, in preparation for the Feb. 26 Daytona 500, will run this Thursday through Saturday. This will be the first test for the many driver/crew chief changes that have happened during the off-season. Of the top 15 drivers from 2011, seven of them have changed either teams or crew chiefs. This test is also important because of the amount of changes NASCAR has made to the race car. In addition to electronic fuel injection, which is being introduced for the first time this year, NASCAR has also made changes in an effort to break up the twocar tandem drafting at Daytona. The Daytona rules package see a shorter rear spoiler, smaller radiator openings, and the end of driver to driver radio communication. Afternoon test sessions will air on SPEED.

2011 Final Chase Standings

1 TONY STEWART
2 Carl Edwards 0
3 Kevin Harvick -58
4 Matt Kenseth -73
5 Brad Keselowski -84
6 Jimmie Johnson -99
7 Dale Earnhardt Jr. -113
8 Jeff Gordon -116
9 Denny Hamlin -119
10 Ryan Newman -119
11 Kurt Busch -141
12 Kyle Busch -157

Night Racing in April at Texas Motor Speedway

The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will race under the lights April 12 - 14. For a limited time, fans can get two front-stretch tickets to the Saturday night, April 14 Samsung Mobile 500 for only $99! 2012 Season Tickets are also on sale now at www.texasmotorspeedway.com

Tony Stewart Reunited With Greg Zipadelli

Greg Zipadelli, winner of two championships and 34 victories as a crew chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been named competition director at Stewart-Haas Racing. He will work with Vice President of Competition Matt Borland and oversee the Nos. 14 and 39 teams, while also building the No. 10 team for which Danica Patrick will run a 10-race Sprint Cup schedule with in 2012. Zipadelli comes to SHR from Joe Gibbs Racing where he served as crew chief for the No. 20 team since 1999. From 1999 through 2008, Zipadelli was Stewart’s crew chief, with the duo winning Sprint Cup titles in 2002 and 2005 while claiming 33 victories and 10 poles. When Stewart left JGR following the 2008 season to form SHR, Zipadelli stayed and spent three years as the crew chief for Joey Logano, where he helped deliver Logano’s first career Sprint Cup victory on June 28, 2009 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.

Just a Few Days Left To Win In Texas Motor Speedway’s No Limits Christmas

Race fans have just a few days left to win with Texas Motor Speedway’s No Limits Christmas. For every ticket purchased between now and December 23rd for the April 14th Samsung Mobile 500, fans will receive a No Limits Christmas scratch-off ticket that is a guaranteed winner! One lucky person will win a trip for two to the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony. Other prizes include ticket upgrades, pit passes, driver’s meeting passes, most pit passes for the Samsung Mobile 500 pre-race show with Foreigner, and more. Every scratch-off ticket is a winner. Official rules can be found at www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

2011 Final Chase Standings

1 TONY STEWART
2 Carl Edwards -0
3 Kevin Harvick -58
4 Matt Kenseth -73
5 Brad Keselowski -84
6 Jimmie Johnson -99
7 Dale Earnhardt Jr. -113
8 Jeff Gordon -116
9 Denny Hamlin -119
10 Ryan Newman -119
11 Kurt Busch -141
12 Kyle Busch -157

Up Next at Texas Motor Speedway - Night Racing in April

April 12 - 14: The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will race under the lights once again in Texas.
The Samsung Mobile 500 is Saturday night, April 14. The OʼReilly Auto Parts 300 is on Friday night, April 13
2011 Season Tickets are on sale now. Samsung Mobile 500 individual tickets go on sale Friday, Decembe

Denny Hamlin gets Darian Grubb as Crew Chief

With several crew chief and driver changes happening early into NASCAR’s offseason, some pieces are starting to fall into place. This past Tuesday, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that after more than 6 years together, Mike Ford would no longer be the crew chief for the No. 11 cars driven by Denny Hamlin. Then on Friday, JGR announced that Darian Grubb, who helped guide Tony Stewart to this year’s Sprint Cup Championship, will now make the calls for Hamlin.

There are a handful of options for Mike Ford to look into. The biggest opportunity might be at Penske Racing, who’s No. 22 car is without both a driver and crew chief. David Ragan is among several drivers that have talked to Penske about taking over that ride, which was vacated last week when Kurt Busch took a release from the team.

Celebrate Christmas with the Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway

The Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway is celebrating its first holiday season lighting up the speedway now through January 1. Families and visitors can drive the 1.7-mile route and experience sparkling holiday displays made with over 1 million energy-efficient LED lights, all within the comfort of their own cars. There is even a Santa’s Village at the end of the display with hot chocolate and pictures with Santa. The park will be open to visitors every night, including Christmas. Hours of operation are Sunday – Thursday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The cost is $15 per vehicle from Monday through Thursday, and $20 per vehicle Friday through Sunday.

2011 Final Chase Standings

1 TONY STEWART
2 Carl Edwards -0
3 Kevin Harvick -58
4 Matt Kenseth -73
5 Brad Keselowski -84
6 Jimmie Johnson -99
7 Dale Earnhardt Jr. -113
8 Jeff Gordon -116
9 Denny Hamlin -119
10 Ryan Newman -119
11 Kurt Busch -141
12 Kyle Busch -157

Up Next at Texas Motor Speedway - Night Racing in April
April 12 - 14: The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will race under the lights once again in Texas.
The Samsung Mobile 500 is Saturday night, April 14. The OʼReilly Auto Parts 300 is on Friday night, April 13
2011 Season Tickets are on sale now. Samsung Mobile 500 individual tickets go on sale Friday, December 2