NASCAR and Camping World Announce Landmark Extension

NASCAR announced today it has reached a seven-year agreement with Camping World to remain the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series through 2022. The new deal ensures that Camping World will own exclusive rights as title sponsor for a total of 14-consecutive years, equaling the longest entitlement sponsorship in the history of the national series, which is celebrating its 20th season.    

 

The renewed partnership aligns two brands in the midst of significant growth. Since originally becoming series entitlement sponsor in 2009, Camping World has expanded its number of stores by 35 percent, resulting in the company eclipsing $3 billion in annual revenue.

 

“The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has one of the most consistent and durable audiences in all of sports, averaging approximately 800,000 or more television viewers per event over the past six years,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR chief marketing officer. “Camping World’s seven-year continued commitment to our sport demonstrates its confidence in our on-track product and strength of our brand loyal fan base.”      

 

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series features some of the toughest and most competitive racing in the sport. The series has helped catapult the careers of many of the sport’s most popular and successful drivers, such as Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski. Currently, the series houses a young crop of stars that are talented, dynamic and diverse including Ben Kennedy, German Quiroga Jr. and Darrell Wallace Jr. 

 

“Camping World and NASCAR are mutually invested in the growth of a national series that is celebrated for its exciting brand of racing and the most loyal fan base in the country,” said Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis. “Six years ago we felt strongly that the sponsorship would dramatically increase our customer base and it’s delivered. We expect to see continued success in the coming years.”

 

NASCAR fans are outdoors enthusiasts who enjoy a variety of activities. According to Experian Consumer Research, NASCAR fans are 40 percent more likely than non-fans to go camping. When it comes to camping gear, NASCAR fans are at least 50 percent more likely than non-fans to have tents, lanterns, and other camping equipment.

 

The new deal provides Camping World exclusive rights to market its Good Sam Roadside Assistance program as the Official Roadside Assistance of NASCAR. With a network that includes 40,000 tow and service providers in North America, Good Sam Roadside Assistance has provided roadside services to more than two million stranded motorists in the past 30 years.

 

Additionally, the new agreement provides official NASCAR status to two growing automobile companies; CarCash as the Official Auto Buying Service of NASCAR, and AutoMatch USA, as the Official Pre-owned Automobile Retailer of NASCAR. CarCash, featured on Season 1 of CNBC’s The Profit, purchases used cars from individuals in return for immediate cash. AutoMatch USA, featured on Season 2 of CNBC’s The Profit, specializes in the sale of foreign and domestic pre-owned cars of all makes and models.

 

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will make its return to Kansas Speedway with the running of the SFP 250 on May 9 and will air on FOX Sports 1. (NASCAR Media)

Hamlin Wins at Talladega

Denny Hamlin won for the first time this season, holding off Greg Biffle to claim Sunday's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway under caution. Since placing second in the season-opening Daytona 500, Hamlin had just one other top-10 finish (sixth at Bristol) in the first nine Sprint Cup Series races of the year. Biffle finished second, while Clint Bowyer, Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger rounded out the top five. After starting 35th, Biffle forged his way to the front on Lap 57 and led a race-high 58 laps. Joey Logano, already a two-time winner this season, was also strong early, leading 25 of the first 52 laps. Logano was towed to the garage after being collected by a wreck on the 175th lap involving Jimmie Johnson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kurt Busch, David Ragan, Michael McDowell and Reed Sorenson were also involved. Early in the day, a three-wide battle for the lead resulted in Brad Keselowski wrecking onto the apron after a nudge from the No. 10 of Danica Patrick. Keselowski found a line in the middle and had just pulled ahead of Patrick past the start/finish line. He attempted to maneuver his No. 2 Ford into the low line heading into Turn 1 when the two cars made contact, sending Keselowski spinning wildly onto the oversized apron and bringing out the caution on Lap 14. Keselowski's car also touched off a 14-car wreck with 50 laps to go in the race. Frontrunners Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart and pole-winner Brian Scott were among the drivers collected. Caution also waved for an incident involving Justin Allgaier on Lap 187 of 188, but since Hamlin had crossed the start-finish line entering Lap 188, he was declared the winner.

The Sprint Cup Series returns to the track Saturday night for the 5-Hour Energy 400 at Kansas Speedway. (NASCAR)

Sadler Wins Wild One in Talladega

Elliott Sadler stormed to victory Saturday afternoon in the NASCAR Nationwide Series' Aaron's 312, fending off his challengers after a late-race restart atTalladega Superspeedway.

The win was Sadler's 10th in the series, first of the season and first on the 2.66-mile track. He led nine times for 40 laps in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota and was just 0.125 seconds ahead of runner-up Chris Buescherin a characteristically close-quarters finish that has become the track's trademark.

"We just got on the inside line there and we just had to make some good moves," Sadler said. "The sea kind of opened up for us. This means a lot to me to be able to get these guys to Victory Lane. To do it at Talladega -- everybody always asks me about flipping at Talladega. Now we won one at Talladega so it feels a lot better."

Buescher, who crossed under the white flag in a near dead-heat alongside Sadler, was a career-best second place in just his 17th Nationwide start. Regan Smith, David Raganand Sam Hornish Jr. completed the top five.

A late flurry of crashes whittled the field of contenders, including a wreck involving six cars at the front that triggered a red flag with 112 of the 117 laps complete. Ryan Blaneycollided with leader Sadler and smacked the outside wall in Turn 3. Kasey Kahne andJeremy Clements absorbed the most damage, with rookie Chase Elliott -- the Nationwide Series points leader -- and Ryan Sieg also involved.

That caution period forced a restart with three laps left, setting up the dramatic finish.

"It was wild, that's for sure," Buescher said. "It was just a matter of holding on to what we had at that point. I didn't want to do anything crazy. Regan Smith pushed me great right there at the end. That's about all you can ask for because I'm still very new to this speedway racing, so to be able to pull off a second is really cool to me."

The first one-third of the race ran relatively cleanly until a four-car wreck brought out the second caution flag to slow the pace. James Buescher spun in Turn 3 off the front bumper of Blaney in the 42nd lap, collecting rookiesDarrell Wallace Jr., Ryan Reed and Dylan Kwasniewski in the aftermath. Reed had led the first 29 laps before the first caution period -- for debris -- flew to jumble the field.

A 10-car wreck in the 60th lap knocked out more contending drivers, including Brian Scott, who led six times for 10 laps. Scott's No. 2 Chevrolet was turned sideways after a bump from Trevor Bayne, and the ensuing melee snared all the Richard Childress Racing cars -- Scott, Ty Dillon and Brendan Gaughan -- plus Kyle Larson, Reed, Chad Boat, Robert Richardson Jr., Joey Gaseand Mike Harmon.

"Anybody that's done superspeedway racing knows you can't do that," Scott said of Bayne's contact with his car's bumper entering the turn. "Stupid move halfway through the race. There's no need for it. ... It's unfortunate when you're a victim of stupidity."

Elliott finished 19th -- the next-to-last driver on the lead lap -- and retained the lead in Nationwide standings by just one point over Sadler.

Nine race fans settle over Speedway accident

Nine fans injured when a race car flew into a safety fence and sprayed debris in the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway last year have reached a settlement with the track. International Speedway Corp. will not release the amount of the settlement with the nine claimants represented by the Morgan & Morgan law firm, said Lenny Santiago, ISC senior director of public relations. Santiago declined to reveal details in the interest of the privacy of the fans involved. "I can say that we have reached settlements with several claimants related to the incident, but, as has been our practice throughout, we are not going to discuss any of the details," Santiago said. At least 28 spectators were injured including 14 who were taken to local hospitals when Kyle Larson's car crashed into the fence and sprayed a tire and other debris into the grandstands during the Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 on Feb. 23, 2013. Andrew Felix, an attorney with Morgan & Morgan, said the settlement covered all of the people represented by the personal injury firm, but he also declined to reveal the amount or any other details.(Daytona Beach News Journal)

Talladega Superspeedway honors the legendary 'Alabama Gang'

The Alabama Gang and Talladega Superspeedway have always been linked together. Now, it’s official – The Gang’s All Here!

NASCAR’s Biggest, Baddest and Most Competitive track on the planet announced today that the back straightaway will forever be known as “The Alabama Gang Superstretch”, paying tribute to the original members – racing legends Bobby and Donnie Allison, and Red Farmer, all of whom have played a significant role in the track’s history and are today huge supporters of the 2.66-mile venue.

For this weekend’s Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega, The Alabama Gang Superstretch name will be displayed in huge, block lettering midway down the outside retaining wall of the backstretch, which measures over 4,000 feet. The monumental, new addition to the track will “stretch” more than 200 feet. 

The trio will serve in “official” capacities during what will be a busy and exciting Saturday at the track. The Allisons will serve as the Grand Marshal’s for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 200 ARCA race, while Farmer will be the Honorary Starter from atop the flag stand. The ARCA race kicks off a full day of activity which also includes the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series all-new Coors Light “Knockout” group qualifying for the Aaron’s 499, plus the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series event.

“No honor is too big for The Alabama Gang,” says Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch. “What we are doing in naming The Alabama Gang Superstretch is unprecedented in our sport. During our events, from TV cameras and still photography, fans will be able to see this accolade for some of our favorite people in the world. The gang has meant so much to NASCAR, Talladega Superspeedway and the state of Alabama, and this is just a small token of our appreciation.”

“This place is special,” said Bobby of the speedway. “We (The Alabama Gang) have always felt like we were a part of it.”

“When you won Talladega, there was something extra special about it,” added Donnie. “It was a huge deal to us, our family and friends.”

“We made each other the best we could be since we raced against each other in the early years,” quipped Farmer of he and the Allisons. “We liked racing against each other, and Talladega was the ultimate place to race.” (Talladega Superspeedway)