Stay Tuned: NASCAR Announces TV Times

This week, NASCAR is announcing the full rundown of television starting times for races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

This year’s TV schedule is especially notable because of the fan-friendly, more uniform starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

For a full press release about the TV times, go to NASCARMedia.com

It’s Not TV, It’s HBO – With Jimmie Johnson

In a ground-breaking NASCAR television appearance, Jimmie Johnson and his team are being featured on HBO’s “24/7” reality series. Fans can get a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s preparation for the Daytona 500 and the upcoming season. The series started on Tuesday (Jan. 26).

Three more segments will follow weekly at the same time slot. In addition multiple re-airs of scheduled for each segment.

Budweiser Shootout Showcases Sport’s Best

The Budweiser Shootout, the annual preseason night-time (8:10 p.m.) spectacle for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has a new format that promises to be popular with the fans. Here’s the way the field will be compiled Saturday’s (Feb. 6) event:

• The 12 drivers who qualified for the previous year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup

• Past NASCAR Sprint Cup champions

• Past Budweiser Shootout champions

• Past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola champions

• The reigning Raybestos Rookie of the Year

The race distance will continue to be 75 laps (187.5 miles) on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The race will have two segments, of 25 and 50 laps. Both green- and yellow-flag laps will count.

Between segments, there will be a 10-minute pit stop at which time teams will pit and may elect to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments.

Starting positions will be determined by a draw at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Thursday night, Feb. 4, on the SPEED stage in the Midway at DIS, outside Turn 4.

Tickets for all Speedweeks 2010 events are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP and fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway).

Following is the way the field shapes up.

2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers

Jimmie Johnson

Mark Martin

Jeff Gordon

Kurt Busch

Denny Hamlin

Tony Stewart

Greg Biffle

Juan Pablo Montoya

Ryan Newman

Kasey Kahne

Carl Edwards

Brian Vickers

Others – criteria filled listed in parentheses

John Andretti (Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola)

Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout)

Jeff Burton (Coke Zero 400)

Kyle Busch (Coke Zero 400)

Derrike Cope (Daytona 500)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)

Bill Elliott (Series champion, Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)

Kevin Harvick (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout)

Matt Kenseth (Series champion, Daytona 500)

Bobby Labonte (Series champion)

Terry Labonte (Series champion, Budweiser Shootout)

Joey Logano (Reigning Raybestos Rookie of the Year)

Sterling Marlin (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)

Jamie McMurray (Coke Zero 400)

Ken Schrader (Budweiser Shootout)

Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)

• Eligibility based on a driver having competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series within the last two seasons.

Darby Still In Charge, While Search For Replacement Transpires

NASCAR is looking for a new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director to replace John Darby. Until that time, Darby will continue in his post.

When a replacement is named, Darby will move into his new position at managing director of competition, overseeing the management of not one NASCAR garage area, but ALL of them.

Changes In The Wind, At Daytona

NASCAR has announced two changes that should bode well for the Daytona 500’s excitement level.

· Bump-drafting restrictions of recent years have been eliminated.

· Restrictor plate openings have been increased to 63/64 inch – the largest plate since one-inch openings were used at the 1989 Daytona 500.

A quick primer on the plates: The restrictor plate is a thin, square aluminum piece with four holes that restrict airflow from the carburetor to the engine, resulting in less horsepower and a reduction in speed. It is located between the engine’s carburetor and intake manifold. Restrictor plates are used at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.