High School Students Take An Inside Look At NASCAR with Camp 95

Leavine Family Racing kicked off the start of summer by holding the debut session of Camp 95, a summer camp program designed to give high school students a behind-the-scenes look at the world of NASCAR. The camp, attended by 19 students, was held on Tuesday, June 16 at Roush Yates Engines and offered campers an in-depth exploration of the career options available in racing. "Giving back to the community is something that is embedded in our race team," said Bob Leavine, owner of Leavine Family Racing. "Creating the opportunity to open up these students' minds to all the different career possibilities in NASCAR is extremely rewarding for our team." Nineteen high school students from cities across the United States attended the camp, with some traveling from as far as New Mexico, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Florida and New Jersey. Cameron Hawkins, a senior from Louisville, Kentucky, traveled to Mooresville, N.C. for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Michael McDowell, driver of the #95 Ford Fusion, spoke to the campers about his path to NASCAR and provided encouragement as these students seek our their dreams.(LFR)

Earnhardt Jr. pops the question

It's official.

While vacationing in Germany learning about his ancestors during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series off-week, Dale Earnhardt Jr. proposed to long-time girlfriend Amy Reimann. And she said “yes.” (HMS)

NSCS Recap: Kurt Busch wins at Michigan when rain halts NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Starting 24th in a backup car, Kurt Busch fought his way to the front of the field through intermittent rain showers and won Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway when a deluge halted the race after 138 of a scheduled 200 laps.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was second when NASCAR red-flagged the event for the fourth time. Martin Truex Jr. was credited with third, followed by Matt Kenseth and Penske teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski.

The victory was Busch’s second of the season. He won for the third time at Michigan and for the 27th time in his career.

"It’s an unbelievable feeling to know what we went through, paced ourselves, and found the lead toward the latter part of the race when the rain came in," Busch said in Victory Lane.

"You know what’s more special about this? Winning in Chevrolet’s backyard. That’s what’s most important about winning in Michigan, so thanks to Chevrolet."

That his team had put in extra hours to ready a backup car after Busch hit the wall in Friday’s opening practice was not lost on the winning driver.

"Yeah, you have to get down and dirty," Busch said. "You have to really roll-up your sleeves, get your elbows dirty, and put the work into it. And (crew chief) Tony Gibson makes these guys work a little extra hard.

"I always say thanks. I’m always there early with them. And it’s a great team chemistry feel."

Busch grabbed the lead for the first time on Lap 133 when Kyle Larson’s gas-mileage gamble came up short and the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet was forced to pit road for fuel just as a storm cell was advancing toward the speedway.

Busch had pushed Larson to the lead after a restart on Lap 130, but Larson hadn’t gotten fuel since Lap 88, and crew chief Chris Heroy was gambling that the rain would arrive before Larson ran out of gas. As it turned out, the rain came three laps too late for Heroy’s strategy to bear fruit.

The heavy thunderstorm arrived on Lap 136, forcing NASCAR to throw a caution and then to red-flag the race for the fourth time two laps later, with Busch out.(Ried Spencer, NASCAR Media)

PIR to be renamed in honor of Jeff Gordon for fall race

Phoenix International Raceway is about to become Jeff Gordon Raceway. For one day. PIR will honor the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion by formally renaming the 1-mile oval in his name for the Nov. 15 Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500, azcentral sports has learned. Gordon, who has four career PIR wins, says he doesn't plan to drive after this season, which would make Phoenix his penultimate race. An official announcement is expected Friday. "We were thinking of it like an athlete getting the keys to the city," PIR President Bryan Sperber said. "It (the idea) took off from there. Starting with the quirky layout of our track, it seems like Phoenix always does things a little different.(Arizona Republic)

Quicken Loans 400 Weekend Schedule

Friday, June 12
11:30 AM, NSCS Michigan Practice, FS1
1:00 PM, NXS Michigan Practice, FS1
2:30 PM, NXS Michigan Final Practice, FS1
4:00 PM, NSCS Michigan Qualifying, FS2

Saturday, June 13

9:00 AM, NSCS Michigan Practice, FS1

10:00 AM, NXS Michigan Qualifying, FS1
12:00 PM, NSCS Michigan Final Practice, FS1
1:30 PM, NXS Michigan Race, FS1
5:30 PM, NCWTS Gateway Qualifying, FS2
8:30 PM, NCWTS Gateway Race, FS1

Sunday, June 14
1:00 PM, NSCS Michigan Race, FS1