Halfway Through 2009

NASCAR MOST POPULAR DRIVER VOTING:

Online voting is under way for the Most Popular Driver of the Year Award in the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series, as well as the regional touring series. Fans can visit www.nascar.com and vote for their favorite driver for the 2009 Most Popular Driver of the Year Award for the Nationwide Series. This year, fans also may write in their favorite driver if he / she is not among the nominees for a specific series. Fans can send an e-mail to fanfeedback@nascar.com and submit their write-in vote. Fans may vote or submit a write-in candidate once per day and are encouraged to vote throughout the season. Voting for the Nationwide Series continues until October 31st. Submit your vote now for the driver of the No. 11 America’s Incredible Pizza Company Toyota, Scott Lagasse Jr.

ARCA RE/MAX REGULAR JUSTIN LOFTON JOINS CJM RACING:

ARCA RE/MAX regular Justin Lofton will join the CJM Racing family as the team will field a second car for four races later this season. Lofton is slated to run NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Michigan, Lowe’s, Texas and Homestead. For the past two seasons, Lofton has raced in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Eddie Sharp Racing. In his debut season with the series, he garnered one win, three top-five and five top-10 finishes in 20 starts. This season the momentum has continued as this up-and-coming driver has already posted one win, seven top-five, seven top-10 finishes and five poles in just nine starts. More details regarding sponsorship and specific details about the second team will be announced at a later time.

 NEW PIZZA COMPANY STORE OPENINGS:

The America’s Incredible Pizza Company has been busy this summer opening up new locations in Urbandale, IA and Indianapolis, IN. Scott Lagasse Jr. was able to see a grand opening first hand this week as he traveled to Des Moines, IA for the first of two new openings this month. The Urbandale location is 35,000+ square feet of family entertainment located on the west side of Des Moines. The grand opening included a ribbon cutting ceremony, food, games and an autograph session with Lagasse Jr. Prior to the race at O’Reilly Raceway Park, the new Indianapolis, IN location will host their grand opening. Lagasse Jr. will be present Wednesday, July 22nd from 4-7 pm. For more information please visit www.incrediblepizza.com.

DOUBLE-FILE RESTARTS A HIT AMOUNGST DRIVERS:

The NASCAR Nationwide Series got their first taste of the new double-file restart rule at Daytona International Speedway last week. The response was overwhelming as the majority of the drivers proclaimed it was a success. It allows drivers the opportunity to race for position, instead of spending time trying to get by lap-down cars. It also provides some exciting side-by-side race action for the fans. The new rule will continue throughout the 2009 race season.

In Other Words . . .

Funny and interesting stories from NASCAR’s past …..

In 1953 a driver named Jim Flock raced with a monkey on board his car. The monkey sat in a safety harness next to him. During one race while he was running second, the monkey got loose and began to run around inside the car. The animal became frightened and forced the driver to make a green flag pit stop to remove the monkey.

During one race Lee Petty came in for a regular pit stop. Young Richard Petty worked as a member of the pit crew. His job was to clean the windshield. Richard leaned over the hood to perform his job. The rest of the crew finished the work before Richard was finished and Lee Petty's car left the stall with Richard still on the hood. Richard hung on through a full speed green lap until Lee was black flagged and made a pit stop so Richard could get off.

In the first qualifier race for the 1960 Daytona 500, a crash involving Tommy Irwin sent his car into the large lake known today as Lake Loyd. At that time there was no inside retaining wall. He was able to escape from his sinking car and swim to safety.

During a practice session for the 1959 race at the no longer used Wilson Speedway, the grandstands caught on fire. The fans were moved to another set of stands while the main stands burned down. The race went on as scheduled.

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