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NASCAR star Jeff Gorvette will compete in CARS 2

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet, Toys/Games, Celebrities

Jeff Gorvette from Pixar’s CARS 2 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Our onslaught of CARS 2 character debuts continues this week with an exclusive reveal just for Autoblog readers. Pixar is letting us announce that NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon will make an appearance in the film as Jeff Gorvette, an up-and-coming Chevrolet Corvette C6.R that’s “turning hoods wherever he competes.”

More than just a cameo, Gordon’s character will compete as a “respected competitor – and legitimate threat – at the World Grand Prix.” Pixar makes no obvious connection to Gordon’s actual roots in NASCAR, but the character of Jeff Gorvette is a Chevrolet and will wear #24 like Gordon’s actual racecar, although obviously it isn’t an Impala. We’re not sure how the Corvette Racing team that just finished 3rd and 4th in this past weekend’s season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring feels about having an oval racer portray its beloved C6.R GT2 car on film, but Pixar needed an accomplished road-racing car and probably wasn’t interested in a character named Jeff Gimpala.

We’re also privileged to announce that Darrell Waltrip will be returning as a character in CARS 2, reprising his role as racing announcer Darrell Cartrip, the “Kentucky-born #17 Chevrolet Monte Carlo known for his wild color commentary.” He’s graduated from being a Piston Cup announcer and will be on-hand to call the World Grand Prix in the sequel.

Check out both characters after the jump, including a video turntable of Jeff Gorvette. You can also view all of the new CARS 2 characters in our high-res gallery below that we continually update as new characters are announced.

Gallery: CARS 2 Characters

Grem Acer Shu Todoroki Raoul ÇaRoule Carla Veloso

[Source: Pixar]

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NASCAR star Jeff Gorvette will compete in CARS 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charlotte NASCAR Nationwide race renamed Top Gear 300

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities

Top Gear USA

In an effort to gain some viewership, Top Gear America has teamed up with NASCAR to rename the May 28 Nationwide Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway the Top Gear 300. To tease season two of the American spinoff of the so-far superior English car show, clips from Top Gear America will be broadcast during the race.

Top Gear America clips will also air on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 200-foot high-definition jumbotron, the biggest high-def TV in the world. That’s gonna make Rutledge’s head look extra big, no? (Just kidding, Mr. Wood, your head’s just fine.)

Details are scant as to what TGUSA paid for all this, but we can’t imagine it came cheap. The green flag waves on the Top Gear 300 at 2:30 EST on May 28. Only time will tell if this move ends up boosting TGUSA’s ratings for season two.

[Source: UPI.com]

Charlotte NASCAR Nationwide race renamed Top Gear 300 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Travis Pastrana wrecks twice in second NASCAR race

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Toyota, Racing

Travis Pastrana Toyota Camry

Motocross, rally and extreme sports superstar Travis Pastrana recently made his NASCAR debut, taking the wheel in Irwindale, California in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series race. In his debut, the fountain-leaping X-Games champ finished a none-too-shabby sixth place overall.

His second race was Thursday, February 24th at Phoenix International Raceway, and this time, however, he didn’t fare so well. Pastrana was running in the top 10 when he crashed his number 99 Toyota Camry, falling back a few positions, but staying in the top 15.

Pastrana then wrecked again with three laps to go, and ended up finishing three laps down in 25th. Pastrana hopes to make his next-level Nationwide Series debut next season, but by the looks of things, he’s much closer to leaping the fountain at Caesar’s Palace than he is to Victory Lane.

[Source: Scene Daily | Image: Getty Images for NASCAR]

Travis Pastrana wrecks twice in second NASCAR race originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Army wins fight to keep spending money on NASCAR sponsorship [w/poll]

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising

Ryan Newman Army NASCAR

Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum is a Democrat looking at areas where the budget can be cut. Her current target is military spending. More specifically, she is focused on banning the military from spending money advertising in NASCAR. She introduced a measure to this effect, and it was shot down by a vote of 241-148.

The US Army spent $7 million in 2010 to sponsor a car in NASCAR and has a signed contract with Stewart-Haas racing to put its logo on a car for 2011. In contrast, the Marines, Navy and Coast Guard all ended NASCAR sponsorships back in 2006.

McCollum feels that spending money in this arena is an inappropriate use of military funds. Ramsey Poston, NASCAR’s Managing Director for Corporate Communications, sees things a little differently. According to 2009 data gathered by Experian, one in five NASCAR fans have served in the military, while one in three active service members are fans of the sport. Also, the Army states that it received 46,000 recruiting leads in 2010 thanks to the racing team.

And so, we ask you: Should the United States Army sponsor a NASCAR team?

View Poll

[Source: The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Inside Line | Image: John Harrelson/Getty]

Report: Army wins fight to keep spending money on NASCAR sponsorship [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR marks 10-year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death at Daytona 500

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Celebrities

Dale Earnhardt Senior

It was 10 years ago today that racing legend Dale Earnhardt Senior died while competing at the Daytona 500. It’s no secret that not every motorsports afficianado is a fan of the NASCAR scene, but there’s no denying the outright skill and presence that racers bring to the game both on and off the track. Nowhere was that more evident than with Earnhardt, who sprang from a long-line of circle track racers. Even if series fans rooted for a different driver, they respected Earnhardt for his down-to-earth nature and old-school approach to racing. When Earnhardt was behind the wheel, it was clear he wasn’t there to make friends or play nice. He was there to win.

While Earnhardt’s death was a tragedy on many levels, we can’t help but feel that NASCAR lost more than an icon when he passed. Today’s field is populated by overly polished, nameless media machines that lack the heart and human emotion that the old-timers brought to the table. Maybe that’s why we just can’t bring ourselves to flop down in front of the TV for 500 laps anymore.

For an excellent (and tear-jerking) retrospective on The Intimidator’s fatal accident, check out Dale Earnhardt’s Last Ride from ESPN.

[Sources: Yahoo Sports, Kansas City Star, USA Today | Image: Bruce Ackerman/AP]

NASCAR marks 10-year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death at Daytona 500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESPN: Ford submits Mustang for 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup approval

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ford, Racing

2010 Ford Mustang Nationwide series race car

Ford Mustang NASCAR Nationwide Race Car – Click above for high-res image gallery

Forget the Fusion, Ford is making a move to bring the Mustang to Nascar’s Sprint Cup Series. Ford has informed NASCAR decisionmakers that it wishes to begin racing the Mustang in the highest level of left-turning motorsports.

Replacing the Fusion is a process that could take all year, and Ford is required to show that the Mustang is a competitive equal to the cars it will race against. The reason behind the move is that Ford wants to show fans they can buy a car right off the showroom floor that mimics the one they watch every weekend on TV.

As fans of the roundy round are already aware, the Blue Oval already races a Mustang stock car in NASCAR – in the Nationwide Series. The pony car shown above made its competition debut last July during the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

We understand you can’t purchase the same exact Mustang that will be hunting down rival racers around the county. In fact, we already know that you won’t be able to purchase anything like a Sprint Cup Mustang for street use. But Ford knows that millions of people tune-in and show up to support their favorite drivers and brands. At least on some level, adding the Mustang to the mix makes more sense since the production car provides real driving thrills for its owners. Besides, unlike the Fusion, it’s actually available in a coupe bodystyle like those used in NASCAR.

Now… if we can get Chevrolet to bring in the Camaro and Dodge to show up with the Challenger, we could be on the cusp of something special. Thanks for the tip, JR!

Gallery: 2010 Ford Mustang NASCAR Nationwide Series race car

[Source: ESPN]

ESPN: Ford submits Mustang for 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup approval originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR to get fuel injection for 2012; McLaren wins supply contract

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Racing

NASCAR at Daytona

If it’s good enough for Formula 1, it’s good enough for NASCAR. Heck, if it’s good enough for every single automobile sold in the United States for the past several decades, it’s good enough for NASCAR. What’s this newfangled techno-wizardry we’re talking about? Fuel injection.

For the first time since the series kicked off in 1947, the so-called stock cars that travel full-throttle around tracks all across America will abandon their carburetors in favor of an Enging Control Unit sourced from McLaren and a computer processor from Freescale. That tandem reportedly beat out eight rival bids.

According to NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton, “This is a positive step that will provide greater fuel efficiency and a greener footprint while maintaining the same great competition that we have seen on the race track.”

Fuel efficiency ought to go up, as will horsepower. Interestingly, NASCAR competitors like Ford and Toyota happy about the switch. “We think it’s very important that both the cars and the technology in NASCAR are more closely related to production cars. The move to fuel injection is another important step in that process,” said Jamie Allison, Director, Ford North America Motorsports.

NASCAR expects to have its fuel injection technology all sorted in time for the 2012 season opener, the Daytona 500.

[Source: National Speed Sport News, Fox Sports | Image: Reinhold Matay/AP]

NASCAR to get fuel injection for 2012; McLaren wins supply contract originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR simplifies points system for 2011

Filed under: Motorsports

NASCAR racers

NASCAR is a simple sport to follow. The guy who finishes first wins and everyone else loses. The points competition that is used to determine the Sprint Cup champion is another matter altogether. We won’t even bother explaining how the old system worked (because we have no idea), but The Detroit Free Press reports that the new points system for 2011 will be a whole lot easier to comprehend.

The new points system goes like this: If you win the race you receive 43 points. If you finish in 43rd place you receive one point. Every driver in between receives points based on their order of finish. The system will still allow for bonuses, with the winner of the race receiving three points and any driver who leads an entire lap receives a point for each lap they’re out in front. A point will also be given to the driver who leads the most laps in any given race.

To keep race winners from walking away with massive point totals for one good race, NASCAR is capping points at 48 for any given race. Sounds easy enough to us, though it won’t necessarily make us any more likely to watch.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

NASCAR simplifies points system for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Volkswagen joining NASCAR rumors begin to swirl again

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Volkswagen, Rumormill, Racing

First Toyota, now Volkswagen? According to the boys from Motor Trend, VeeDub is seriously considering entering into the bastion of American motorsport. That’s right, NASCAR. While rumors of VW fielding a Formula 1 team have swirled for quite some time, this is the second time we’ve heard that the German automaker is considering American stock cars and oval tracks.

What may be prompting this apparent interest in NASCAR? As we all know, Volkswagen has its sights set on becoming a much larger player in the American market, going so far as to create a New Midsize Sedan specifically for the States that will be built by U.S. workers in Tennessee. Not exactly Carolina, the hub of NASCAR development, but close enough.

And it’s this upcoming New Midsize Sedan (unnamed as of yet) that would be doing oval duty against the likes of Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and the previously mentioned Toyota. If the rumors are to be believed, VW will begin talks with NASCAR officials and Roger Penske, who fields one of the more successful teams in the sport, in November after the current season concludes.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Report: Volkswagen joining NASCAR rumors begin to swirl again originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1957 Chevrolet NASCAR Black Widow to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson live tonight

Filed under: Car Buying, Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Chevrolet, Specialty, Racing

1957 Chevy Black Widow

1957 Chevrolet NASCAR Black Widow tribute – Click above for high-res image gallery

For most all of its 62-year history, NASCAR has been a battleground for U.S. automakers, each of whom sought superiority on the race track as a way to sell more of their cars.

In 1957, Chevrolet decided to create a race car that would dominate NASCAR and establish Chevrolet as the car to beat in the minds of buyers across the country. Known as the “Black Widow,” the 1957 Chevrolet was one of the most feared race cars of the decade.

Live on SPEED Thursday at 8:30 PM ET, a professionally restored “Black Widow” tribute car will be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Collector Car Event. Like all cars at Barrett-Jackson, it will be auctioned at no reserve, meaning the highest bid takes it.

The story behind the Black Widow is an interesting insight into how NASCAR and the automobile manufacturers functioned back in the day. Bone up on your history after the jump.

Gallery: 1957 Chevrolet Black Widow

Continue reading 1957 Chevrolet NASCAR Black Widow to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson live tonight

1957 Chevrolet NASCAR Black Widow to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson live tonight originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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