Racing returning to Mansfield

It took Kevin Ruic five years, but the longtime motor sports showman will finally promote events at Mansfield Motorsports Park. Racing will return to the half-mile oval in 2015. The Avon Lake businessman said he reached a deal in principal with MMP owner Grant Milliron to bring up to six special events to track. Attempts to reach Milliron were unsuccessful. The nature of those events is still to be determined, but Ruic said a three-day tractor pull, a monster truck and thrill show, a supermodified and sprint car event, a July 4 fireworks show and a rodeo could be possible for 2015. Bringing in major events such as NASCAR or ARCA are not in the plans.(full story at theMansfield News Journal)

NSCS Recap: Gordon Makes A Statement In Final Challenger Round Race At Dover

Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag in Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway, but four other drivers got the axe in the first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup elimination race in the history of the sport.

AJ Allmendinger, 2004 series champion Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Aric Almirola missed the cut for the next round of the Chase, as the field was pared from 16 drivers to 12 following the third and final Challenger Round race.

After the dominant car of Coors Light Polesitter Kevin Harvick had a major issue with the left front wheel on Lap 254 of 400, Gordon took control of the event on Lap 305, passing runner-up Brad Keselowski for the lead on Lap 305.

After a cycle of green-flag pit stops, Gordon led the last 71 laps, pulling away to win by a comfortable 4.352 seconds.

Jimmie Johnson ran third, followed by Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth, as all of the top-five drivers advanced to the Contender Round, a three-race elimination with visits to Kansas Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Harvick (13th Sunday), Kyle Busch (10th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (17th), Ryan Newman (eighth), Carl Edwards (11th) and Denny Hamlin (12th) also advanced to the Contender Round.

The victory was Gordon’s fourth of the season, fifth at the Monster Mile and 92nd of his career, third most all-time behind Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105).

And victory No. 92 had special significance beyond an automatic ticket to the next round of the Chase—especially after a blown tire last week at New Hampshire produced a 26th-place finish and put the four-time champion one disaster away from elimination from NASCAR’s 10-race playoff.

"I think this is huge," Gordon said in Victory Lane. "We came in here with a little bit of extra pressure because we weren’t guaranteed to be in. If we hadn’t finished where we were running at New Hampshire last week (sixth when the tire blew), it would have been kind of an easy day for us.

"But all we did was focus on executing as a team and trying to win this race and nothing else. It wasn’t about the points; it wasn’t about just squeezing by to get to the next round. It was about making a statement. I don’t know how you make a bigger statement than what this team just did right there."(NASCAR Media)

Jamie Little to join NASCAR on Fox in 2015

FOX Sports announces the addition of veteran motorsports reporter Jamie Little to the NASCAR on FOX family beginning in January 2015.

Little will serve as a pit reporter for NASCAR on FOX's 15th season of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage and its first year televising the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Her assignments also include select additional races and special events throughout the year.

"Bringing Jamie into the NASCAR on FOX fold is a huge addition for FOX Sports," said John Entz, EVP, Production & Executive Producer, FOX Sports. "While her versatility is remarkable, her ability to think on her feet and report not only the news but also the sport's human-interest stories, with a down-to-earth presentation, makes her a perfect fit for FOX."

The move to FOX after multiple years with ABC and ESPN represents a "homecoming" of sorts for Little. She covered a variety of motorsports events for FOX Sports' SPEED in 2002 and 2003, including the network's live coverage of Daytona Supercross.

"Of all the racing events I've covered in my career, one of the most special was my first-ever live national broadcast in 2002 when I covered Daytona Supercross for SPEED," Little recalled. "At that time, most of the shows I worked were pre-packaged and tape-delayed, so being live on a national broadcast was a reporter's dream."

More than 12 years later, Little remains equally grateful for the opportunity with the FOX Sports family.

"Jumping over to FOX will be a big change for me, but this is the perfect time in my life and I welcome the challenge," Little said. "For some broadcasters, NASCAR often is a steppingstone to where they want to be in another sport or realm of entertainment. But NASCAR is my NFL, and the Daytona 500 is my Super Bowl. All I've ever wanted to do is cover racing, so the fact FOX approached me with the opportunity to continue covering the sport I love so much is a true honor. I've covered 11 Indy 500s and eight Brickyard 400s, and now I'll have the chance to cover my first Daytona 500 in February. That will be a huge feather in my cap."

The versatile broadcaster has covered the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series for ESPN since 2007, and the IZOD IndyCar Series since 2004, in addition to extensive work with the Summer and Winter X Games. She was the first female pit reporter for the television broadcast of the prestigious Indianapolis 500, the first female to cover a televised Supercross and Motorcross event, and was one of the first female reporters in X Games history. Little, who has worked for ABC, ESPN, SPEED, NBC and TNN, has hosted non-racing sporting events ranging from Paintball Championships to the Great Outdoor Games.

Little embarked on her broadcasting career in 2002 as a motocross and motorcycle reporter, and credits her passion for the sport and affinity for dirt bikes as the springboard for her entry into television. The Las Vegas resident is well-rounded outside the four corners of a race track, as well. In 2013, she released her first book, entitled Essential Car Care for Women, and has worked the red carpet for the ESPYs, in addition to hosting numerous NASCAR events away from the track. Furthermore, the popular racing video game "MX World Tour Featuring Jamie Little" bears her name and likeness. She also held a cameo role in the 2005 feature film, Fantastic Four, which included an X Games-themed scene.

The San Diego State University graduate got her television start on ESPN2 reporting on various motorsports while interning at a local news station, in addition to live announce work for Supercross as a college student.

In 2013, FOX Sports extended its media rights agreement with NASCAR, ensuring the FOX family of networks' broadcast of the first 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races each season beginning in 2015, as well as the first 14 NASCAR Xfinity Series races of the season and all NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, through 2024.

Note: FOX Sports will announce its full 2015 NASCAR on FOX on-air lineup in the near future.(FOX Sports)

Stewart says crash was '100 percent' accident

There were days when NASCAR star Tony Stewart couldn't get out of bed. It was a chore to take a shower, to leave his room. The television was on, he would stare at it, and have no idea what he was watching. He didn't care about motor racing. He didn't want to talk to anyone, let alone face his family, friends or other drivers. Stewart's grief over the death of Kevin Ward Jr. was overwhelming, and he couldn't find his way out of the fog. Stewart spent three weeks in seclusion at his Indiana home after the car he was driving struck and killed Ward at a dirt track in upstate New York on Aug. 9. He describes those weeks as the darkest of his life. "I know 100 percent in my heart and in my mind that I did not do anything wrong. This was 100 percent an accident," Stewart told The Associated Press on Thursday in his first interview since a grand jury decided he would not be charged in Ward's death. On the advice of legal counsel, Stewart would not describe what he remembers about the crash at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. Sitting on the couch of his North Carolina home, a sprint car race in Arkansas on mute on the television, Stewart said not being able to talk about what happened is extending his anguish. "It keeps me from moving forward. It just stays there, hanging over my head," Stewart said. Ward and Stewart didn't know each other, and Stewart doesn't recall them ever talking. He laments that in the scrutiny that followed - some questioned if Stewart had tried to intimidate Ward for stepping on the track - that the loss of the 20-year-old driver and his promising career fell to the background. He said he can't imagine how the Ward family is feeling. "I guess the end result is I don't blame them for anything they say," he said. He said he needed professional help to cope with the situation, and asking for assistance wasn't easy. Stewart, 43, isn't married, has no children, and keeps a tight inner circle. He's a solitary figure of sorts, someone who broods and stews alone, and opening himself up for self-examination was a monumental task. "There hasn't been a day that's gone by that I haven't thought about it. And it will be like that all your life," he said. "You are never going to forget about it. You are never going to not see it happen all over again. It's going to be a part of me forever."(AP)

Penske extends Logano's contract

Team Penske announced that it has signed multiple-race winner and 2014 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup contender, Joey Logano, to a contract extension. Under the new multi-year agreement, Logano will continue behind the wheel of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the #22 Discount Tire / Hertz Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Team Penske. "Joey Logano has been everything we hoped he would be, both as a driver and as a representative of our organization and for our partners," said Roger Penske. "He continues to put points on the board for us and the continuity and chemistry he has developed within the team has been terrific. We believe he can be a leader and championship-level driver for Team Penske for years to come." Already a seven-year NASCAR veteran, the 24-year-old has proven to be an elite driver. Throughout the course of his career, Logano has produced seven NSCS wins and 21 NNS victories. Since joining Team Penske at the start of the 2013 NASCAR season, Logano has enjoyed the best two-year stretch of his young career, earning five NSCS wins and three NNS victories. "I am fortunate and excited to be a part of Team Penske for the foreseeable future," said Logano, currently ranked second in the Chase standings after his victory last weekend at New Hampshire. "Mr. Penske gives us everything we need to keep our eye on the prize and compete for wins and championships. I think that is clear by the number of wins we have across the board this year. I'm fortunate to represent great companies like Ford, Shell-Pennzoil, AAA, AutoTrader.com, Discount Tire, Hertz and all of the great partners we have here at Team Penske. I think our best years are in front of us for sure."(Team Penske)

Grand jury clears Tony Stewart in Canandaigua dirt track crash

NASCAR driver Tony Stewart has been cleared of all charges by a grand jury for his role in an August crash at a Canandaigua dirt track that killed another driver.

The Ontario County Grand Jury decided on Wednesday to not indict Stewart for his role in that crash which killed sprint car driver Kevin Ward Junior last month.

The case was presented to the grand jury this week after a month long investigation by the Ontario County Sheriff's Office. Ward was killed on August 9 when a car driven by the three-time NASCAR champion struck and killed him during a race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park.

Ward had climbed from his car to confront Stewart when he was struck. The 20-year-old died of blunt force trauma.

On Tuesday, we reported that local driver Chuck Hebing was called to testify in front of the Grand Jury. Hebing was driving in front of Stewart just before the crash.(WHEC)

Man dies after crash at Kentucky Speedway

Rusty Wallace's racing organization is trying to determine what caused the death of an Indiana man at a fan driving event bearing the former NASCAR driver's name.

Stephen Cox of Decatur, Indiana, died Sunday at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center from injuries sustained in a Sept. 14 accident during the Rusty Wallace Driving Experience at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. Cox was 30.

RWRE spokesman Bill Coady did not provide details Tuesday about the accident or say whether Cox was the driver or passenger in the stock car during the event. Wallace was not at the track when the accident occurred.

Wallace's son and Rusty Wallace Inc. vice president, Greg, emailed a statement from the company to The Associated Press that said, ''Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr. Cox. We have been in contact with the management of RWRE - a licensee of RWI - to ascertain the facts and understand exactly what happened.''

Coady said Cox's death was the first fatality in the four-year existence of RWRE, which is based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and operates at 60 locations in the United States and Canada.

Cox's death was first reported by the Kentucky Enquirer.

RWRE is among several companies bearing names of famous drivers that offer one-day fantasy-type driving experiences to the public in ''condensed'' NASCAR vehicles featuring manual transmissions. An advanced package in a Nationwide Series car is available, as are ride-along options.

Coady said that Wallace, a Hall of Famer and an ESPN race analyst, shows up at the experience ''on occasion.''

RWRE's prices range from a $169, five-lap entry-level package on a short layout up to $1,099 for 20 laps on a superspeedway. Classroom and on-track instruction is provided depending on the package, and a driver's license is required.

Participants must have their own health insurance and are responsible for damage to the cars. RWRE offers a $60 optional plan that limits individual costs to $1,000 and says that ''due to the quality of the training and cars, damage is rare.'' (Y! Sports)

2014 AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway Weekend Schedule

Friday, September 26
11:00 AM - 12:20 PM AAA 400 PRACTICE (FS1)
3:40 PM AAA 400 QUALIFYING (ESPN2)

Saturday, September 27
11:00 - 11:50 AM AAA 400 PRACTICE (FS1)
12:15 PM Dover 200 QUALIFYING (FS2)
2:00 - 2:50 PM AAA 400 FINAL PRACTICE (FS2)
3:30 PM 2014 Dover 200 (ESPN2)
7:00 PM 2014 Rhino Linings 350 (FS1)

Sunday, September 28
2:00 PM 2014 AAA 400 (ESPN)

ALL POSTED TIMES LOCAL TO EACH TRACK

NASCAR Delivers 2015 Competition Package to Teams

Following more than a year of extensive collaboration with stakeholders throughout the industry, and with a keen eye towards the future, NASCAR has finalized and delivered to teams the 2015 racing package for all three national series. "This race package represents a lot of hard work by NASCAR, the race teams, the drivers, our manufacturer partners and Goodyear," said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR senior vice president of innovation and racing development. "We've remained committed to constantly looking at our racing, and the work that has been done has been aimed at getting a rules package delivered to the race teams as early as possible."
Highlighted in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series changes for 2015 are nearly 60 enhancements, including adjustments to the power train, aerodynamics and chassis that are designed to work in concert to deliver drivers more flexibility and teams more adjustability. Fans are expected to benefit from closer racing and more opportunities for drivers to pass on the track. "We have had fantastic racing so far in 2014," Stefanyshyn said. "We remain committed to constantly looking to improve it. Our fans deserve it and our industry is pushing for it. That will not stop with the 2015 package; the development will continue over many years to come."
NASCAR will institute a shorter rear spoiler in its 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series package, which also includes a reduction of engine power, lower rear differential gear ratios and an optional driver adjustable track bar.
Based on the success of group qualifying formats, which were introduced in 2014 for all national series, NASCAR also announced that group qualifying will be utilized for the first time for the Daytona 500.
Additional changes for the 2015 rules include the elimination of team-facilitated private testing, with race teams being instead invited to participate in NASCAR / Goodyear tests throughout the season. NASCAR also will work alongside Goodyear to introduce rain tires should conditions warrant during road course events in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2015.
"We're very pleased with the rules package and what it will do for our racing," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. "We're confident it will continue to generate great racing, along with continuous safety improvements. The work alongside our industry has been unprecedented. We've had great dialogue with our drivers and teams, our manufacturers and Goodyear, allowing us to build greater efficiencies into the 2015 rules package. We've met our goal of delivering rules to teams with time to prepare for next season and we're seeing the benefits of an updated process for developing our rules paying dividends. It will only continue to improve."(NASCAR)

NASCAR confiscated tires

NASCAR confiscated tires from the Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Martin Truex Jr.- teams last week at Chicagoland Speedway. Although there was speculation that teams were attempting to bleed air from the tires to gain grip, Sprint Cup Series Richard Buck said it was "just for normal due diligence". The tires were taken to NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. "That's just part of expanding the R & D Center," Buck said. "We bring the stuff back, keep it under our custody like we do with all the parts that are there and keep them for further evaluation. It's just part of the process. Some were taken during the race, some after. It's just a nice sampling of what's out there." Buck would not confirm whether he found anything unusual with the tires, other than to say, "We're already here at New Hampshire." Generally any infractions stemming from improprieties would be announced prior to the next event. NASCAR also took tires from the teams of Mears, Logano, Larson and Johnson after the New Hampshire race.(Motorsport/MRN)

NSCS Recap: Logano wins at New Hampshire as chaotic race scrambles Chase standings

LOUDON, N.H.—Out of the maelstrom that was New Hampshire Motor Speedway sped Joey Logano, who took control of Sunday’s Sylvania 300 on a restart with 27 laps left and held on to win the second race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

But the crux of Sunday’s race wasn’t about Logano’s fourth victory of the season and the second straight for Team Penske in the Chase. It wasn’t about Logano winning for the seventh time in his career and punching his ticket into the second elimination round under NASCAR’s new playoff format.

It wasn’t about Sunoco rookie Kyle Larson posting his second straight top-three finish. Yes, Larson ran second, passing third-place finisher Kevin Harvick on a green-white-checkered flag restart that took the race three laps past its scheduled distance, but Larson was almost an afterthought amid the chaos that scrambled the Chase standings.

It wasn’t about another strong run for Jamie McMurray, who finished fourth, or about a top-five for six-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who came home fifth.

It wasn’t about the crazy afternoon of polesitter Brad Keselowski, who ran back and forth through the field like a yo-yo, spun on Lap 194 of a scheduled 300 and nevertheless had a chance to win the race at the end before falling back to seventh on the restart that took the race to overtime.

No, the crux of the race wasn’t about the winner. It was about those who survived the crucible of pressure the Chase creates—and those who didn’t.

It was about uncharacteristic mistakes on pit road. It was about the aggression and desperation on the track that left the cars of six of 16 Chase drivers in relative states of damage and disrepair.

It was about Aric Almirola’s heroic drive to a sixth-place finish after the heartbreak of a late engine failure last week at Chicagoland Speedway. It was about the a 13th-place finish for AJ Allmendinger, who reentered the Chase conversation, as did Almirola, by avoiding the calamities that placed some of their more potent peers on the cusp of elimination.

But first, credit to Logano, who survived a succession of restarts in a race littered with cautions—13 of a total 15 in the last 134 laps—and prevailed on tires that, thanks to crew chief Todd Gordon’s astute call with 53 laps left in regulation, were superior to those of the drivers in contention on the final restart.

Logano won Sunday’s race at a track that gave him his first victory in NASCAR’s premier series—but a win that will always have an asterisk in Logano’s mind because it resulted from a fortunate pit call in a rain-shortened race.

The call for four tires on Lap 247 helped Logano on Sunday, but he had to earn the win, and he did so with a bold charge past Harvick and Keselowski on the Lap 274 restart.

"I thought we gave it away at that point," said Logano, who traded track position for the new rubber and restarted 16th on Lap 251. "But four tires were good, and we had some good restarts and were able to get ourselves back up there. We worked hard.

"This is my home race track, the coolest place to win for me. I could never pick a better race track to win. I watched my first Cup race here when I was five, and I won that other Cup race here, but I just felt like I had to win one the right way here, and this means so much.

"I’ve got to thank all the boys at Team Penske. We’re doing what we’ve got to do to win this thing right now – both teams are – and I’m proud of that. This is my home track, so it means so much to me."(Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire)

Bank may take possession of Rockingham Speedway

A Richmond County Superior Court judge will hear a motion next week which, if granted, will allow The Finley Group - a managing agent for Farmers and Merchants Bank - to "take immediate and exclusive custody" of Rockingham Speedway. The Salisbury, N.C.-based bank is also seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the track's current co-owners Andy Hillenburg and Bill Silas from accessing the property located on U.S. 1 in Richmond County. The bank claims Rockingham Racing Park LLC, co-owned by Hillenburg and Silas, owes more then $4.5 million as of Aug. 8. The motion is set to be heard at 2:00pm Sept. 25.(Charlotte Observer)

Sylvania 300 at NHMS Weekend Schedule

Friday, September 19
12:00 - 1:20 PM Sylvania 300 PRACTICE (FS1)
4:40 PM Sylvania 300 QUALIFYING (FS1)

Saturday, September 20
9:00 - 9:50 AM Sylvania 300 PRACTICE (FS1)
10:10 AM UNOH 175 QUALIFYING (FS1)
11:30 AM - 12:20 PM Sylvania 300 FINAL PRACTICE (FS1)
1:00 PM 2014 UNOH 175 (FS1)
7:30 PM 2014 VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 (ESPNEWS & TSN2)

Sunday, September 21
2:00 PM 2014 Sylvania 300 (ESPN)

ALL POSTED TIMES LOCAL TO EACH TRACK

Official Statement from Ontario Co. NY District Attorney

"Over the past several weeks I have reviewed with members of the Ontario County Sheriff's Department their investigation, as it progressed, in the Tony Stewart matter. Recently that office concluded its work and forwarded the complete case file to me. Upon my review of all of the information contained in the entire investigation, I have made the determination that it would be appropriate to submit the evidence to a grand jury, for their determination as to what action should be taken in this matter. Accordingly, the evidence developed in the investigation will be presented to an Ontario County grand jury in the near future. As grand jury proceedings in New York State are strictly confidential by law, I am unable to state when the matter will be scheduled, other than to state that I intend to present the matter in the near future. Similarly, because of the confidential nature of these proceedings, I cannot state who will be called as witnesses, or what any witness's expected testimony will be. When the presentation has been completed and a determination has been made, I will advise the public and the media at that time of the results. Michael Tantillo, Ontario County District Attorney

FanVision merges with PrePlay

FanVision, the in-venue technology and content provider used at professional sporting events across the world, announced a merger with PrePlay Inc., a developer of mobile games in sports entertainment. FanVision is operated by RSE Ventures, the firm co-founded by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross and Dolphins Vice-Chairman Matt Higgins. Among other services, FanVision currently offers live video and real-time statistics on a dedicated handheld device in venues worldwide. FanVision is used at NASCAR races and professional golf events around the world. PrePlay also develops live mobile games that enable fans to predict events in real time. Clients include MLB.com, the NHL, and the US Open Tennis Tournament. The merger will allow FanVision to augment its current product with additional mobile applications to bring its content to additional fans. The new company will operate under the FanVision name, with current PrePlay CEO Andrew Daines serving as CEO. Current partners and fans will see no change or interruption in services from either FanVision or PrePlay.(PR)

NSCS Recap: Bold Late-Race Move Sets Up Keselowski's Win In First Chase Event

JOLIET, Ill. — For Brad Keselowski, this year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup started the same way it did in 2012—with a victory at Chicagoland Speedway.

Clearly, Keselowski would love to see the Chase end the same way it did two years ago—with a series championship.

Needing an extra pit stop to tighten a loose wheel under caution on Lap 183 of 267 in Sunday’s MyAFibStory.com 400 at the 1.5-mile track, Keselowski restarted 16th on Lap 187, mired in traffic behind a gaggle of lapped cars.

But with a determined charge through the field and a couple of opportune cautions in the final 35 laps, Keselowski regained lost track position and put himself in position to make a dramatic race-winning move after a restart on Lap 250.

With third-place finisher Kyle Larson battling Kevin Harvick for the lead on Lap 252, Keselowski powered between the two cars off Turn 2 and grabbed the lead.

"I just saw a hole, and I went for it," Keselowski said.

He held the top spot for a restart on Lap 262, after an accident involving the cars of Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and pulled away to win his fifth race of the year and the 15th of his career by 1.759 seconds over Jeff Gordon, who passed Larson for the second spot in the closing laps.

Joey Logano ran fourth and Harvick fifth, as Chase drivers took eight of the top 10 finishing positions.

With his second victory at Chicagoland, Keselowski ensured he would advance to the next round of the Chase under a new format that features a trio of three-race elimination rounds and a final race at Homestead to settle the championship between the last four eligible drivers.

With the starting order set according to speeds in opening Sprint Cup practice because of a qualifying rainout, Keselowski started 25th and worked his way to the front, only to fall back again when he brought the No. 2 Team Penske Ford to pit road to have the loose wheel tightened.

"I’m not really sure what to say," said Keselowski, who can race for the next two weeks without fear of falling out of the Chase. "I don’t really know what happened. I just know we got to the lead. There was traffic and I was just digging and in the zone. The recorder was turned off, so I don’t remember what happened.

"I had my head down doing all I could do. We had a great Miller Lite Ford Fusion that I knew from the start would be good, but, man, it was really awesome the last few runs. We really dialed it in and the 2 crew did an excellent job. What a day! Man, I am still pumped!"(NASCAR Media)

Statement from Ontario Co. Sheriff's Office. Investigation complete

"The Ontario County Office of Sheriff has completed its investigation into the death of Kevin A. Ward, Jr., which occurred August 9, 2014, at the Canandaigua, New York, Motorsports Park. The entire thorough investigation, including a forensic video enhancement recently received from the New York State Police Laboratory in Albany, has been submitted to the Office of the Ontario County District for review. The District Attorney's Office, which has been meeting throughout the investigative process with members of the Sheriff's Office, will make a statement late next week advising what action will be taken regarding the investigation. (Philip C. Povero, Sheriff ,Ontario County, New York)

9/11 Anniversar, We Remember

2014 MyAFibStory.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway Weekend Schedule

Friday, September 12
12:00 - 1:30 PM MyAFibStory.com 400 PRACTICE (FS1)
2:10 PM (3:10 PM) Lucas Oil 225 QUALIFYING (FS1)
5:45 PM MyAFibStory.com 400 QUALIFYING (ESPN2)
7:30 PM 2014 Lucas Oil 225 (FS1)

Saturday, September 13
10:00 - 10:50 AM MyAFibStory.com 400 PRACTICE (FS1)
11:10 AM (12:10 PM/ET) Jimmy John's Freaky Fast 300 QUALIFYING (FS2)
1:00 - 1:50 PM MyAFibStory.com 400 FINAL PRACTICE (FS2)
2:30 PM 2014 Jimmy John's Freaky Fast 300 (ESPN2 & TSN2)

Sunday, September 14
1:00 PM 2014 MyAFibStory.com 400 (ESPN)

ALL POSTED TIMES LOCAL TO TRACK

Haas says Kurt Busch can test F1 car if...

Gene Haas did reveal that he has told NASCAR driver #41-Kurt Busch, who races for Stewart-Haas Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, that he can test the F1 car if he wins the championship this year. "Everybody I talk to is interested," Haas said. "I was talking to Kurt Busch last week. He was interested. He said if he wins the NASCAR championship, if could he have a ride in one. I said "for sure!" if he wins the championship." Busch has expressed his excitement for Haas' project in the past, and although his chances of winning the championship do look slim, he could enjoy a brief test in the car at some point. "I said he can get in the car!" Haas said, laughing. "I tell you, an American driver in a Formula 1 car in Europe, that would just knock it out of the ball park. I'll give it to you: Kurt Busch could drive one of these cars."(NBC Sports)

No Timetable for Stewart investigation to finish

Tuesday will mark one month since the death of Kevin Ward Jr. in a sprint car race in New York state, but a spokesperson for the Ontario County (N.Y.) Police Department told FOXSports.com Monday that there is still no timetable for when the investigation into Ward's death will be completed. Ward, 20, died Aug. 9 after apparently being struck by Tony Stewart's sprint car at a Empire Super Sprints Series race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in Upstate New York. Ward was racing Stewart when he crashed into an outside wall. Ward got out of his car and onto the track, gesturing at Stewart as he came around under caution. Stewart's right-rear tire appeared to strike Ward, who died en route to the hospital. The Ontario County coroner ruled that the cause of death was blunt-force trauma. The investigation will determine whether Stewart will be exonerated in Ward's death or whether he will face charges.(FoxSports)

Richmond fence climber arrested, charged

An unidentified fan made it all the way to the top of the catchfence in Turn 4, bringing out a caution during Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400. Richmond International Raceway spokeswoman Aimee Turner said the unidentified fan was arrested by Henrico County Police and charged with disorderly conduct and being drunk in public. The fan sat atop the fence while the 42-car field zoomed underneath him at speeds upward of 120 mph. Asked how the fan got past security to climb the fence, Turner said the track will "review safety measures with Henrico Police and NASCAR." She said officers were stationed along the fence in front of the grandstands. One of those officers can be seen in photos on social media looking the opposite direction as the fan sits atop the fence. A video shows the fan getting past a cordoned area and climbing. The caution lights did not come on until after the climber had begun his descent, after sitting atop the fencing for several minutes. Police officers surrounded him at that point.(USA Today)

NSCS Recap: Keselowski dominates Richmond, as Newman and Biffle claim last Chase spots

RICHMOND, Va.—The car and driver to beat in the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup identified themselves emphatically on Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway.

Brad Keselowski led all but 17 of 400 laps in winning the Federated Auto Parts 400, the final race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season. In the process, he won his fourth race of the season and secured top seeding for the 10-race Chase, which starts Sunday, Sept. 14 at Chicagoland Speedway (2 p.m. ET on ESPN).

Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle secured the final two of 16 Chase spots on points, Newman with a solid ninth-place run, Biffle with a much shakier 19th-place finish, two laps down.

But it was Keselowski who made the statement in securing the 400th victory across all racing series for team owner Roger Penske.

"What a night!" Keselowski said. "Part of me, I pulled into victory lane and I pinched myself once to make sure I wasn't dreaming. These are nights you don't forget as a driver—and you live for. The Miller Lite Ford Fusion was just flying, and this is— I couldn't ask for a better way to enter the Chase than to win and take the first seed.

"We're ready. We want to run for another Cup. We really feel like this team has it. Team Penske is really clicking… 400th win for Team Penske, and this feels so lucky, man, to have such an incredible team and a car like we did tonight and be able to execute it and not have any bad luck. We've had plenty of bad luck over the last few weeks, but, wow, what a night!"

Keselowski, the Coors Light pole winner, took the lead for the final time on Lap 127 when he beat race runner-up Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick, the race’s only other leader, off pit road. From that point on, Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford was untouchable.

Gordon made it interesting in the closing laps, finishing .797 seconds behind the Keselowski, who won for the first time at the .75-mile short track and the 14th time in his career. Clint Bowyer ran third but failed to make the Chase.

Jamie McMurray came home fourth, one spot ahead of Harvick, whose car faded in the final 110 laps.

For the first three quarters of the race, Keselowski was totally dominant, leading 283 of the first 300 laps. Harvick provided the only competition for the No. 2 Team Penske Ford in the early stages of the race, running a high line in the corners and taking the point twice for a total of 17 laps before Keselowski regained control after a restart on Lap 132.

Bowyer grabbed the second position from Harvick with an aggressive move on a Lap 271 restart. Keselowski continued to lead, but Bowyer stayed close for the first 50 laps of the subsequent green-flag run.

Gordon charged past Harvick for the third spot on Lap 290 and took off in pursuit of Bowyer, who surrendered the second position on Lap 319, 10 circuits before a fan caused a caution with an ill-advised, albeit successful attempt to scale the catchfence in Turn 4.

But if that caution gave the drivers behind him a glimmer of hope, Keselowski quickly snuffed it out, pulling away from Gordon, Bowyer and Harvick after a restart on Lap 337 and opening a two-second advantage by Lap 355.

Though Gordon got closer as the run continued, Keselowski had built too big a lead in the early stages for Gordon to challenge for the win.

The four-time series champion acknowledged he couldn’t compete with Keselowski on the short runs, but Gordon wasn’t about to concede the title to his Team Penske rival.

"I didn't feel like we had a car that could compete with Brad at certain portions of the night, but we just never gave up on it… great pit stops, great adjustments, and there at the end, we were closing on him," Gordon said. "It wasn't a win, but still great momentum to carry into the Chase.

"This team is on fire, and we just can't wait to get it all started. It's been a heck of a year. Our fans and the way that they've embraced this season has been extremely motivating, and I know how proud they are. And we're proud of the effort and the results that we're getting this year. Ten more weeks that we've got to get it done, and this team is ready to do that."

Though Bowyer finished just seven points behind Biffle in the battle for the final Chase position, realistically, the driver of the No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota had to win the race to make the postseason.

And Bowyer left nothing on the table.

"That was our best effort," he said. "That's all I had. That's all we had as a race team. We put it all out there, and still, we were just third best."

Note: Keselowski eclipsed Denny Hamlin for most laps led in a scheduled 400-lap Richmond race. Hamlin led 381 laps in May 2008.(NASCAR Media)

NASCAR Revises National Series Qualifying Format At Talladega

NASCAR revised its national series qualifying format for Talladega Superspeedway which, in turn, should elevate the on-track competition for fans at the high speed 2.66-mile track. For the Oct. 17-19 events at Talladega featuring both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, national series qualifying will take on a more rapid pace that should bring out the best in the competitors and provide fans with an extra element of excitement.
Keystone Light Pole Qualifying for the Fred's 250 powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17 at 5:30pm/et and will air live on FOX Sports 1. Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4:30pm/et and will air live on ESPNEWS, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.


National series qualifying at Talladega will now consist of the following:
- Three rounds with the first round divided into two groups amongst the competitors. The first qualifying round is five minutes in length for each group.
- Competitors will be assigned to a first qualifying round group based on the random draw held earlier in the event.
- The 24 eligible competitors that post the fastest single lap speed from either of the first qualifying round groups will advance to the second round. The remaining competitors will be sorted based on their speed posted in the first round of qualifying in descending order.
- There will be a 10-minute break after the completion of the first qualifying round and the 24 remaining competitors that advance to the second round will have their times reset.
- The second qualifying round is five minutes in length and the 12 eligible competitors that post the fastest single lap speed will advance to the third and final round.
- The fastest remaining competitors will earn positions 13-24 based on their fastest single lap speed posted in qualifying in descending order.
- Following a five minute break, the 12 eligible competitors that advance to the final round will have their posted speeds reset.
- The final qualifying round is five minutes in length and the fastest single lap speed will determine positions 1-12 in descending order.


"This revision in national series qualifying at Talladega should be more exciting for our fans," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR senior vice president of competition and racing development. "It will feature a more accelerated pace, provide greater opportunity for team strategy to come into play and it should more closely resemble actual racing conditions."(NASCAR)

Haas F1 confirms Ferrari technical partnership

Haas F1 Team has confirmed Ferrari as a technical partner for when the American team makes its debut on the Formula One grid in 2016. It’s a multiyear deal.

Such a move was always likely being Haas Automation was announced as a sponsor for Ferrari earlier this year, and the two have been inextricably linked given Ferrari’s smaller customer base (only Sauber and Marussia of 2014 teams) compared to Mercedes and Renault.

“There is no team in Formula One more accomplished than Scuderia Ferrari, and no team with more history. They’ve been a part of Formula One from the beginning, and now they’ll be a part of Haas F1 Team’s beginning,” Haas F1 Team Chairman Gene Haas said in a release.

“Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsports. It showcases the latest technology and is the most competitive form of racing in the world. Aligning Haas F1 Team with such a tenured and successful company in Scuderia Ferrari provides our team with the greatest opportunity for success in 2016 and beyond.”

Added Scuderia Ferrari team principal Marco Mattiacci, “We’re delighted to announce this important strategic partnership with Haas F1 Team and to welcome an American player as a new entrant in Formula 1. A few months ago we joined forces with Gene Haas on a commercial level and this is the natural next step of our growing relationship.”(Tony DiZinno, NBC Sports)

NASCAR and COMCAST Reach 10 Year Deal

NASCAR and Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) announced today a historic agreement that will make Comcast’s XFINITY brand the title sponsor of what is now known as the NASCAR Nationwide Series through 2024. The 10-year term matches the longest single agreement around title sponsorship of any NASCAR national series in history, and is the longest entitlement sponsorship agreement in this series’ history.

Beginning January 1, 2015, the property will be known as the NASCAR XFINITY Series. XFINITY will become only the third title sponsor in series history following Anheuser-Busch (26 years) and Nationwide Insurance (seven years). The agreement also makes XFINITY an Official NASCAR Partner in the multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) and broadband ISP categories.

The announcement was made during an event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame – where the sport’s history is celebrated every day – and was the first series entitlement sponsorship ever announced at the venue.

XFINITY is Comcast’s residential service brand and is the nation’s largest video and high-speed Internet provider. The company has increased Internet speeds for existing customers 13 times in 12 years and recently introduced XFINITY on the X1 Entertainment Operating System. The company also offers XFINITY On Demand, the most robust video on demand platform in the world. Comcast serves business and residential customers in 39 states and Washington, D.C.

“We’re proud to welcome XFINITY to the NASCAR community as title sponsor of the NASCAR XFINITY Series for the next decade,” said Brian France, NASCAR Chairman & CEO. “NASCAR and XFINITY are each leader brands with much in common. Both are focused on innovation and have products built for speed. Together, we will work to take this series to new heights and elevate one of the most unique and powerful partnerships in all of sports.”

What will soon be known as the NASCAR XFINITY Series is the property where names are made and is like nothing else in major pro sports. It features the most talented young drivers regularly competing side-by-side against NASCAR’s biggest and brightest stars.

“Technology lives at the heart of NASCAR, just as it does for XFINITY,” said Dave Watson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Comcast Cable. “NASCAR provides an exciting environment in which to showcase our video and Internet products and we look forward to further enhancing the fan experience at home, at the track and on the go for years to come.”

The series also has a large, highly engaged and technology-connected television audience. It races in some of the nation’s largest markets – from Chicago to Los Angeles to Miami – and at the sport’s biggest and most iconic tracks – from Daytona International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway, to Talladega Superspeedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

According to NASCAR Fan Engagement Tracker 2013 (commissioned by NASCAR and conducted by Toluna), NASCAR fans spend an average of four-and-a-half hours each week watching NASCAR on television and an additional two-and-a-half-hours each week following the sport on digital platforms.

XFINITY is among the premier sponsors in sports today and a robust sponsorship activation program is part of the new agreement with NASCAR, with aggressive planning already underway.

Comcast’s involvement with NASCAR is expanding rapidly. In addition to the NASCAR XFINITY Series announced today, Comcast’s NBC Sports unit will begin broadcasting NASCAR race events in July 2015.

After a successful seven-year run as series entitlement sponsor, Nationwide Insurance pivoted its marketing programs to become a NASCAR team sponsor next season. Nationwide also is the official auto, home, life and business insurance partner of NASCAR.(NASCAR Media)

2014 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway Weekend Schedule

Friday, September 5
1:00 PM 2:20 PM Federated Auto Parts 400 FINAL PRACTICE (ESPN2)
3:45 PM Virginia 529 College Savings 250 QUALIFYING (ESPN2)
5:45 PM Federated Auto Parts 400 QUALIFYING (ESPN2)
7:30 PM 2014 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 (ESPN2 & TSN2)

Saturday, September 6
7:30 PM 2014 Federated Auto Parts 400 (ABC)

ALL POSTED TIMES LOCAL TO TRACK

2014 Chase Grid Outlook

Pos. Drivers Wins Points Chase Bonus Pts 1 Jeff Gordon 3 872 9 2 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3 851 9 3 Joey Logano 3 791 9 4 Brad Keselowski 3 782 9 5 Jimmie Johnson 3 766 9 6 Carl Edwards 2 755 6 7 Kevin Harvick 2 748 6 8 Kasey Kahne 1 708 3 9 Kyle Busch 1 657 3 10 Denny Hamlin 1 636 3 11 Kurt Busch 1 614 3 12 Aric Almirola 1 594 3 13 AJ Allmendinger 1 590 3 14 Matt Kenseth 0 794 0 15 Ryan Newman 0 747 0 16 Greg Biffle 0 728 0 Outside Looking In 17 Clint Bowyer 0 705 0 18 Kyle Larson 0 704 0 19 Paul Menard 0 675 0 20 Austin Dillon 0 674 0 21 Jamie McMurray 0 666 0 22 Brian Vickers 0 650 0 23 Marcos Ambrose 0 628 0 24 Casey Mears 0 583 0 25 Martin Truex Jr. 0 561 0 26 Tony Stewart 0 540 0 27 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 0 538 0 28 Danica Patrick 0 500 0 29 Justin Allgaier 0 443 0 30 Michael Annett 0 393 0   Green = Locked into the Chase, provided they attempt to qualify at Richmond   Orange = No wins, Inside the current Chase Grid's top 16 - Currently in the Chase, not locked in   Red = Inside the current top 30 in points, outside of the Chase cutoff