One of the biggest events on America’s sporting calendar and the most important of NASACAR’s racing series is the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Nextel took over sponsorship of the NASACAR Cup Series back in 2004. The series was previously called the Grand National and later, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. After taking over sponsorship, the Cup Series was changed to give new NASACAR drivers a better chance and also to make it more competitive. The NASCAR Nextel Cup “Race to the Chase” was established which added more excitement, much like a “playoff” system. After 26 races the top ten drivers in points are eligible to compete for the Cup in the last 10 races of the season. As with other NASCAR series, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series rewards drivers can for wins and for laps led. Five bonus points are awarded to drivers who lead a whole lap during a race.

A separate Chase for the Championship is operated by the Nextel Cup Owner’s Championship and the Nextel Cup Driver’s Championship. Over the course of a cup series it is quite common for driver’s points to differ from owner’s points. It is rare for drivers and owners to be the same people in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. This fact is due to the structure of the modern NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races tending to favour racing teams that own multiple cars.

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The NASCAR Cup Series began in 1950, when it was won by Bill Rexford, still the youngest person ever to have won it. The most successful driver ever in the NASCAR Cup Series was Richard Petty, who won twenty seven races back in 1967. He was the son of previous NASCAR Cup Series champion Lee Petty. The NASCAR Cup Series has been vital in promoting the sport of racing, which started out on dirt tracks with little reward. Richard Petty was the first driver to earn over 0,000 in a NASCAR Cup Series.

Winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series depends not only on the skills of the drivers but also on designers who work year round on improving cars for participation in the series, and on the dedicated crews who support cars as they race for the cup. These days, NASCAR crew chiefs use computer simulations, to help them judge how cars are likely to perform in the series. Most agree that the most important thing is a strong, durable engine, which can make all the difference when it comes to winning the NASCAR cup.

Nextel’s sponsorship of the NASCAR Cup Series has helped to revive corporate interest in the telecommunications company. Nextel was recently purchased by the Sprint corporation to become Sprint Nextel. It is expected that this will result in next year’s premiere racing competition being renamed from the NASCAR Cup Series to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. NASCAR continues to reinvent itself to appeal to the masses, to provide increased value to it’s sponsors and to provide more safety to the drivers.

Sources:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_Nextel_Corporation

http://www.nascar.com

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Being on the bubble is not a good thing when qualifying for a NASCAR race, and being on the bubble in this debate doesn’t seem very good, either, so it’s time to step down and make a difficult call. No, the NASCAR schedule is not too grueling. That said, I do still have some qualms about my choice.

Family life for drivers, crew chiefs, tire changers, and mechanics must be a real challenge, with life revolving around a schedule that is 38 weeks long. As someone who feels that family should be the center of our lives, I have great sympathy for the wives who are raising children on their own and for the children who see Daddy maybe three or four days a week. I also feel for the drivers, who must miss watching their children as they grow up.

Yet, is this really any worse than middle class America, where mothers and fathers commute to their jobs, arriving home after the children are already in bed or leaving for work long before their kids have awakened to start a new day? Add that to the fact that while 38 weeks may sound long, for most workers, jobs are all year, with maybe one or two weeks off per year. A very high ranking job might give an employee three or four weeks vacation a year. In NASCAR, drivers not only have two months to themselves, but they now have four weeks off during their racing season.

In addition, the racing season is inherent in the job. Drivers and their teams know what they are getting into, and they know this is part of the passion. Many drivers who have a need for speed race five days a week, not just in the big three NASCAR circuits. If they didn’t have a NASCAR race, they’d probably be racing on a dirt track somewhere anyway. In fact, one of these ‘grueling’ weeks is the annual All-Star race, and drivers die to make it into that race. If offered a week off or a chance to participate in this traditional event, most would probably choose the race.

Racing is a passion that drives these people, not an option, and that’s why they are in the elite circuits of NASCAR in the first place.

Another advantage a successful NASCAR driver has is that they earn a great salary, which allows many of them to purchase their own planes and helicopters. A large number of NASCAR drivers are pilots, giving them the ability to get home quick, and if they aren’t pilots themselves, there are several owners who provide their aircraft for the convenience of their drivers and team members.

While I regret the toll that separation makes on the families of the crews, the NASCAR schedule itself is not too grueling. This is a career of choice, and it comes with some awesome perks. Though it may seem unfair at times, when you look at the big picture and the dedicated time off that the drivers and their teams actually have, it’s not that bad.

Thus, my vote is no, the season is not too grueling. In fact, they have room to add a couple of more dates in the future, should they so desire; at least, that’s how this person sees it.

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If you know someone who has saved lives, put themselves in harm’s way, they are reaching their limits or to put it all on the line to help others – and that just might be a fan of NASCAR – then head to the computer and you determine that person for the program «Extenze Local hero!” If selected, he or she will become an honorary crew chief for No. 37 Extenze Ford on one of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race this season.

The launch of these local heroes, Extenze is paying tribute to those people who go to great lengths to make a difference in their homelands. Each honoree receives a check for $ 1,000 and will have the privilege of sitting in the pit box with Extenze Racing Crew Chief Peter Sospenzo, and the strengthening of Kevin Conway, who will lead the royal blue and red No. # 37 Extenze Ford.

“We at Extenze Racing I feel privileged to be able to spotlight each of these worthy people and share some of the excitement of the games with them as a way of saying thanks for their service to the community,” said Conway who will be vying to become the Raybestos Rookie of the Year. “We will continue to inspire to do my best every Sunday.”

The program began in Daytona, where Jimmy Johnson, twice Super Bowl winning coach and Fox Sports announcer sat in as the first Honorary Chief Extenze Racing crew. Johnson, who led the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl 93 in 1992 and is currently a commentator on Fox NFL Sunday and NFL Show Pre-game.

The original «Extenze Local Hero” was Ontario, CA, police officer Mike Gonzalez, who helped keep alive an 8-year-old girl after he was attacked and stabbed several times and then went on to support the recovery. Officer Gonzalez took his place on top of the pit box in the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California on Sunday.

When you thought the IndyCar finish from last night was hard to top, NASCAR somehow managed to do hit. Hard racing for the lead upfront as carnage breaks out behind the leaders. Everyone, especially David Reutimann and David Ragan were ok. Aussie Marcos Ambrose takes his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win
Video Rating: 4 / 5

The greatest NASCAR drivers of all time are pretty obvious if you look at the records book, so let me just give the courteous nod to the greats who have held many records for many years, like the great Richard Petty. I’m not going to name them all, but I will mention Dale Earnhardt. Now, Dale made his mark, but I don’t like him. He’s not my kind of racer, but he was the right kind for his day, when things were more rough and tumble, when the sport was still in the process of making a real name for itself.

I prefer the thinking driver, one who learns and presents himself with a bit more polish, and that would be the great Jeff Gordon. I realize that a lot of Dale fans seem to hate him, but the reality is that he and Dale were friends and business associates. Not only that, but Dale was a bit of a mentor for Jeff, and when Dale talked, Jeff listened. I don’t believe folks have given Jeff Gordon enough credit for those listening skills, and now they boo him because he’s doing what Dale taught him. It’s ironic.
What is going to be Jeff’s undoing, though, is the Chase. Were it not for the four-year-old program, he’d have two more titles under his belt. People need to think about that. Now, he’s not whining about it. In fact, he likes the Chase, but it does have to provide at least an asterisks in the record books. He is a six-time champion, were it not for this new program. One must wonder if Petty and Dale would be so highly ranked if they had a Chase to deal with.

Not only that, but the COT, the Car of Tomorrow that is now the Car of Today has also been a factor. The old time greats didn’t have to deal with that, any more than they did the Chase. It’s an impact that at least needs to be acknowledged.

That said, there’s no denying that Jeff Gordon has his place in the record books and among the all time greats. He does have four official championships under his belt, and he’s the acknowledged leader by the other drivers, whether or not he wants to be. Dale Earnhardt Jr. said recently that the older drivers respect him, but he doesn’t really think the younger ones do, and the reason for that is that he doesn’t have anything to really say that he’s (Jr.) a good driver – the stats just aren’t there. Well, they are there for Jeff Gordon, and he still has a few years of driving ahead of him, too, before he retires from racing.

Greatness is more than stats in my book, too. Greatness is being a presence and representing your sport with class and graciousness. This is something Jeff Gordon excels at. He’s good for the sport, and he brought NASCAR out of the southls and into the mainstream due to his early success and popularity. He takes his role seriously. In these troubled financial times, he’s often flying on commercial planes instead of hiring a private plane. He feels it’s important to send a message.

Jeff Gordon is one of the all-time greatest NASCAR drivers and always will be. From the record books to being a class act, he’s earned his success. As an active driver, he’s a bit underrated, something Jeff Burton expressed not to long ago. In an interview, Burton said he didn’t really believe that Jeff was being given his due.

Time will prove my words. Jeff Gordon is an all-time great, both as a driver and as a human being.

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In many parts of the US, NASCAR is the most watched sport, even more so than NFL football. It is becoming popular in other countries, too. NASCAR has definitely developed quite a following over the past several years and has many ardent fans who fervently seek out NASCAR collectibles.

The popularity of NASCAR is staggering, but it’s definitely not surprising given the appeal of the sport.

Dicasts of both the Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr cars have been released to fans and collectors. These two racers are two of the most adored and respected among fans, and therefore make up a majority of the collectibles being licensed by NASCAR.

Dale Earnhardt has long been a media favorite in all NASCAR races and a recipient of countless awards before his death. The father and son duo Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr have been the heart and soul of NASCAR racing and have the most fans worldwide. The sudden passing of Earnhardt in 2001 combined with Dale Earnhardt Jr’s commitment to continuing the Earnhardt NASCAR legacy makes theirs a compelling story.

All NASCAR fans, children and adults alike, can enjoy a diecast replica of a Jeff Gordon car, or a diecast car from either of the Earnhardts.

Many fans collect the cars of all three popular NASCAR drivers.

NASCAR merchandise and memorabilia continues to be some of the best-selling souvenir items in the world, especially for fans who want to remember the legacy of the late Dale Earnhardt. His memory lives on through dale earnhardt jr diecast cars, bumper stickers, t-shirts, and many other licensed products that honor Earnhardt.

Fans can find diecast cars and many other NASCAR collectibles through online retailers, many of which offer exclusive items.

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Jeff Gordon is a famous American race car driver who was born in 1971 in Vallejo, California. He has won the Nascar Winston Cup four times, and he drives car #24 for Hendrick Motorsports. As of this writing, one of his most prominent sponsors is DuPont. Jeff Gordon began racing when he was only five years of age. He loved to race cars, and his family was supportive of him. His family actually relocated primarily because they wanted Jeff to be in a location where he could better harness his racing skills. While he was still a minor, Jeff had already won a number of races and was given the USAC Midget Car Racing Rookie of the Year award.

After this, Gordon went on to win the USAC Midget title, and by 1991, he had gained the USAC Silver Crown. He broke a record by being the youngest person to ever capture the title. He went to the Busch Series after this, and had a large number of victories. Gordon crashed his car during the the Hooters 500 race in Atlanta in 1992, and this caused him to be placed in the 31st position. Jeff Gordon was one of many young racers who would be placed on high quality teams early in their careers. The success of Jeff Gordon allowed a younger generation of racers to begin competing in Nascar.

Many critics felt that Gordon was not ready to compete at the professional level because of his habit of racing cars so hard that he crashed them. However, Gordon proved them all wrong during the 1994 season, were he emerged victorious in the Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which was a long and difficult race. Gordon would also go on to win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400. In 1995 he won what would become the first of four Winston Cup Championships. Jeff Gordon is also famous for rising up against the legendary Dale Earnhardt, and he has become a fan favorite.

Many people consider Jeff Gordon to be one of the greatest drivers in Nascar because he achieved so much at a very young age. Even at 35 years of age, Jeff Gordon has successfully won 75 races, which is just one victory behind Dale Earnhardt. Jeff Gordon is also notable for making Nascar a popular sport with mainstream audiences. For a long time, the sport was only regulated to the south, but Jeff Gordon has allowed it to reach a high level of popularity due to advertising and his skills with the media.

Auto racing games are the most latest phenomenon in the online gaming industry. It is in a position to draw curiosity of a lot of men and women due to exciting characteristics of these games, which make players spellbound with the large spirited adventure in these kinds of games. With the assist of internet, people enjoy these games a lot more than ever before and are found to be engaged in car auto games which speak of pace and thrill at the identical time.

Video games with the thrilling taste has reached its pinnacle in car racing games, which teenagers really like to get concerned throughout their leisure period or on holidays. Players are keen to attempt various games that are accessible online from different web sites. There are loads of internet sites that provide attractive auto games and you have to choose the finest one, which delivers free games for enjoyment.

Parents have the duty to pick suitable auto racing games for the youngsters so that they are in a position to find it actually exciting and matching to their age.

If you want to compare one distinct game with an additional, you could fail to draw a line of comparison simply because every single game has its individual stage of pleasure which the other does not have. Most of the games are equally entertaining and offer exceptional entertainment worth to all kinds of gamers. Dirt bike, Drag racer and Chevy racer are some of the most played games in this sector of video gaming entertainment.

Online car racing games are obtainable in 2D and 3D format for creating it superbly amusing. It enables players to observe the motion of the car in clear dimensions so that the feeling of thrill is much more evident.

The gamer is capable to see the track of the race vividly and in every dimension, which makes the racing game a lot more adventurous and thrilling. Due to the incorporation of dimensional approach, street lights, auto lights and signal lights are witnessed by the players in the tactic of auto racing activity to make it actually convincing.

The player is able to tackle various obstacles quickly due to the 3D system, which tends to make the backdrop clearer. You will absolutely enjoy to get concerned in a great racing game and have a good and entertaining time, which is fantastic experience for you. Car chasing is the most thrilling part of the wholecar games. You find it really absorbing and enjoyable when you participate in an online car games to get pleasure from an amazing time.

There are a lot of free Free Online Games that you can find on the internet. Click here to know more about Physics Games.

Here’s the top ten finishes in auto racing history from sportscentre.

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Article by PJ Germain

Gambling comes in many forms and just when you thought that betting on horse races went out of style; there comes a new fad that many people consider just as fun. Indeed, betting on people who are involved in the auto racing sport has become just as popular, if not more popular, than individuals betting on their horse races. But is there any benefit to betting on the drivers of the cars in the auto racing industry? What’s even more interesting is the fact that many similarities and differences lie between the activity of betting on horse races and auto races. But see for yourself whether you should bet on someone involved in auto racing, and the benefit just may fall your way.

Similarities with Horse Race Bets

Just as horse race betting was very popular just ten to twenty years ago, the betting of horse races has now turned into auto racing betting, which is no better than simply gambling. The main similarity that auto racing bets have with those who bet on horse races is the fact that there is no simple way to know who’s going to win the race. Just as horses are too unpredictable to bet on, so are humans who have auto-raced for a long time. The driver of the car may be having an “off” day, just as any horse can as well.

Another way, though, that auto racing betting is similar to horse race betting is the fact that there is a whole market out for it. Indeed, there are many people who consider auto racing to be even more important than horse racing, and many people in the same circles that bet on horse racing are now betting on the drivers that engage in auto racing.

Main Difference with Auto Racing

One of the best things about betting on auto racing, though, is that humans are more predictable than horses ever could be. Just think about the NASCAR situation: when someone comes in first place it’s rare that the spot is ever moved. Unless the car and driver of auto racing change in some significant way, the same drivers of the auto racing industry continue to keep their important status over time. This whole situation makes betting on auto racing not just more predictable, but also easier to win.

But consider the situation of auto racing bets when a bet is placed on a car and driver who has come in first place consistently for the past half of a year. Even though it is very likely that the person who has come in first place will do so again for many times over, it is also very likely that a new car and driver will easily beat out and win over the regular winner of the auto race.

In the end, is it ever really beneficial to bet on any of the auto racing that goes on, or is it ever beneficial to bet on any of the horse races that go on? Even though there are people who do find those times that they win a jackpot with the races that they bet on, more often than not they are sorely disappointed when their auto racing driver has lost to their colleagues. For this reason, the odds of winning bets on auto racing, even though they seem likely, can actually be slim to none!

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Full Auto Achievement List:

Circuit Master – Won a Circuit set to Master AI Difficulty

Point-to-Point Master – Won a Point-to-Point set to Master AI Difficulty

Down-and-Back Master – Won a Down-and-Back set to Master AI Difficulty

Lap Knockout Master – Won a Lap Knockout set to Master AI Difficulty

Tough Guys series – Survived every event in this series

Fine Balance series – Survived every event in this series

All Semi Auto Medals – Won every Semi Auto Medal in Campaigns

All Full Auto Medals – Won every Full Auto Medal in Campaigns

10 Wins – Finished in 1st place in 10 Races

25 Wins – Finished in 1st place in 25 Races

50 Wins – Finished in 1st place in 50 Races

100 Wins – Finished in 1st place in 100 Races

100 Kills – Killed 100 Opponents

250 Kills – Killed 250 Opponents

500 Kills – Killed 500 Opponents

1,000 Kills – Killed 1,000 Opponents

10,000 Wreck Points – Accumulated 10,000 Wreck Points

50,000 Wreck Points – Accumulated 50,000 Wreck Points

100,000 Wreck Points – Accumulated 100,000 Wreck Points

500,000 Wreck Points – Accumulated 500,000 Wreck Points

1,000,000 Wreck Points – Accumulated 1,000,000 Wreck Points

Xbox Live Rank Level 1 – Achieved Rank Level 1 in Xbox Live play

Xbox Live Rank Level 2 – Achieved Rank Level 2 in Xbox Live play

Xbox Live Rank Level 3 – Achieved Rank Level 3 in Xbox Live play

Xbox Live Rank Level 4 – Achieved Rank Level 4 in Xbox Live play

Xbox Live Rank Level 5 – Achieved Rank Level 5 in Xbox Live play

Xbox Live Rank Level 6 – Achieved Rank Level 6 in Xbox Live play

Xbox Live Rank Level 7 – Achieved Rank Level 7 in Xbox Live play

Xbox Live Rank Level 8 – Achieved Rank Level 8 in Xbox Live play

Xbox Live Rank Level 9 – Achieved Rank Level 9 in Xbox Live play

Xbox Live Rank Level 10 – Achieved Rank Level 10 in Xbox Live play

Impossible Series – Survived every event in this series

Enduro series – Survived every event in this series

Street Races series – Survived every event in the Street Races series in Career Mode

Warlord series – Survived every event in this series

Gang Wars series – Survived every event in this series

Sudden Death series – Survived every event in this series

Overtake series – Survived every event in this series

Dominator series – Survived every event in this series

Ambush series – Survived every event in this series

Underdogs series – Survived every event in this series

Speed Kills series – Survived every event in this series

Rampage series – Survived every event in this series

Hunter series – Survived every event in this series

Time Trials series – Survived every event in this series

Three in a Row – Killed three Opponents in rapid succession

Five in a Row – Killed five Opponents in rapid succession

Rampage – Killed eight Opponents in rapid succession

Full Auto Medal – Finished a Race and won a Full Auto Medal

Semi Auto Medal – Finished a Race and won a Semi Auto Medal

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Article by RJ Bell

Handicapping Theory for NASCAR

By Michael CashPregame Pro Handicapper

Over the last 10 years NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) has been the fastest growing spectator sport in the world. It now boasts over 75 million fans worldwide and can be seen on television each week in over 150 countries. NASCAR holds 17 of the top 20 attended sporting events in the U.S. each year. Not surprisingly, is the growing number of NASCAR fans who have turned to betting on this popular pastime.

How to Handicap NASCAR:

When handicapping a NASCAR race there are a number of things to keep in mind:

Trends: NASCAR can be very streaky, much more so than other sports. When drivers get hot, they tend to stay hot, and when drivers are running cold it tends to take them a number of races to get things turned around. You will want to look at not only recent performances but historical performances, as well. Given that a NASCAR driver’s career can last 30+ years in some cases, knowing how to analyze information is crucial to long term profits

Drivers: Just like any other sport, NASCAR has its superstars. It is important to review driver statistics such as number of races run, top 5 finishes, and top 10 finishes – for each track. Some drivers who only have average talent can still perform well on certain tracks just as some top drivers struggle at the same tracks every year. It is important know your driver’s history so you will know if betting on him will offer you value or not.

Tracks: NASCAR has 4 distinct types of tracks, Short, Intermediate, Superspeedway and Road Course. Not all drivers do well on all track types. It is important to research a driver’s history on a specific type of track before placing your bets. You want to be especially careful when handicapping NASCAR’s road races because there are very few drivers who consistently perform well on road courses.

Crews: This is often an overlooked aspect of NASCAR handicapping. Some of NASCAR’s races can last in excess of 5 hours. Knowing who has a strong Crew Chief and pit crew is imperative to betting successfully.

Many outsiders believe that NASCAR is just Full Throttle and left hand turns. However, the experts know that it’s a combination of many little things that get a car to victory lane.

Financial Benefits to Betting on NASCAR

Yes, it’s true! Compared to other sports, there are many financial benefits to wagering on NASCAR.

NASCAR betting is quite favorable and attractive to bettors due to the large payouts one can receive by simply picking the Race Winner. Odds on the most popular drivers start at 4/1, which means that a single winning NASCAR bet can pay for your next four, or more, bets. This is much better and potentially more lucrative compared to the regular 1/1 payout that bettors of NFL, NBA, MLB, etc. typically experience. Here are a few more reasons:

There are No “Favorites”: NASCAR odds to win bets are always underdog (+) bets and even the drivers who oddsmakers feel are the strongest competitors for a particular race will start at least at 3/1 or 4/1 underdogs.

There is Time to Build a Bankroll: NASCAR wagering has a very high break-even point compared to other sports. This means that you can make several weeks worth of losing wagers without fear of getting buried because, in most cases, it will only take 1 race win to cover your losses in 5 or more races, depending on the line of the winner you select.

Same Competitors, Same Tracks: Because a NASCAR career can span decades, it’s relatively easy to get a handle on the competition in a short period of time. Also aiding in your handicapping is the fact that, with a few exceptions, NASCAR visits the same tracks year after year so you can use this historical information to make very accurate race predictions from season to season.

Types of NASCAR Bets

There are several different types of NASCAR bets available for each race including:

Odds to Win: This particular bet is the most simple and most popular. Simply pick the driver you think will win the race.

Matchups: This bet is offered for the Qualifying run and the actual race. It pairs two drivers together with one being the favorite (-) and one being the underdog (+). To win this bet you need to select the driver you believe will either qualify higher or finish the race higher.

Top Finishing Driver: This wager is similar to a Match Up bet but offers higher odds by setting a pool of drivers to pick from. To win this bet, the driver you select must finish higher than all the other drivers in the pool.

Manufacturer to Win: This is another very simple wager. Place a bet on which car maker (Ford, Dodge, Chevy or Toyota) will finish first in a particular race.

Manufacturer exacta: Those who have ever bet a horse race will recognize this term. To win this bet, you must pick the manufacturer of the first AND second place finishing cars in the correct order of a particular race.

> Learn the Betting Basics for NASCAR!

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