RACE RECAP- CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Race Recap

Coca-Cola 600

Charlotte Motor Speedway – Charlotte, North Carolina

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Race Winner: Martin Truex Jr.

Age: 35

Team: No. 78 – Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota

Owner: Furniture Row Racing

Crew Chief: Cole Pearn

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER -- “It feels awesome. Coca-Cola 600, man, this is one everybody wants to win. I feel like we had this thing won last year when we gave it up and just I don’t know. There are so many emotions, I had to unplug my radio and just ride around and think for a few minutes, because I didn’t even know what I was going to say or what I was going to do. Just we’ve been through a lot as a group. I’ve been through a lot personally. I’ve been through a lot with Sherry (Pollex, girlfriend) and just it’s fun to have her here and have her celebrate and it’s just – happy for my guys, happy for Barney (Visser, team owner), Toyota, everybody that helps us do this. I mean, I’ve got the best team in the world and we’ve got these Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas flying, man. It’s just fun to drive them and I honestly thought we could have been better tonight and just kept digging and just kept making small adjustments and working on it and I don’t know, man. Here we are, so I was – it was 50 to go and then it was 40 to go and then 30 to go and I just kept praying for no cautions and driving away.”

- Martin Truex Jr.

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·         Martin Truex Jr. won the 57^th annual Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday night, his fourth win in 382 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.  It is his first victory and sixth top-10 finish of 2016.

·         This is Truex’s first win and seventh top-10 finish in 22 career races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

·         Truex led for 392 of the 400-lap race, a record for the Coca-Cola 600.  He also led for a total of 588 miles, the most-ever in any NASCAR race.

·         Truex became the first driver to win the Coca-Cola 600 from the pole since David Pearson in 1976.

·         Furniture Row Racing is the first single-car team to win the Coca-Cola 600 since Bobby Labonte won the race in 1995 driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.

·         The time of the race was the shortest in the history of the Coca-Cola 600 (3:44:08).

·         Kevin Harvick (second) posted his 14^th top-10 showing in 31 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  It was his ninth top-10 finish and sixth top-5 of 2016.

·         Jimmie Johnson (third) compiled his 18^th top-10 finish in 30 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  It was his seventh top-10 finish of 2016 and his sixth in the top-5.

·         Chase Elliott (8^th) was the highest finishing rookie tonight.

·         Kevin Harvick (457) leads the 2016 points standing by 36 points over Kurt Busch (421).  The following are the top six drivers in points through the first 13 races:

Driver                                           Wins               Points
Kevin Harvick                             1                      457
Kurt Busch                                  0                      421
Jimmie Johnson                        2                      409
Kyle Busch                                 3                      405
Carl Edwards                              2                      404
Brad Keselowski                        2                      404

·         With the win, Martin Truex Jr. becomes the eighth driver to qualify for the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a list which also includes Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth, all of who have taken checkered flags this year.  The Chase culminates with the Ford EcoBoost 400 Championship race on November 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

·         In 11 career Sprint Cup starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. has posted seven top-10 finishes and three top 5s.  He finished 12^th in the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400 when he was part of the Championship 4.

HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY AND TEN80 EDUCATION HOLD NATIONAL STEM LEAGUE FINALS FOR 400 STUDENT

Schools from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties

participated in championship event

Miami, Fla. – For the past 14 years, Homestead-Miami Speedway has been known for crowning NASCAR champions in November during Ford Championship Weekend. This weekend, the Speedway partnered with Ten80 Education to host another kind of championship event, the National STEM League Finals 2016. The event featured 400 middle and high school students from across the country, including students from six schools located in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Students convened at the Speedway’s remote control track to showcase their team’s skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Forty student teams from 18 different states were on hand for the event as the teams put their STEM knowledge to the test and faced each other in racing and robotics challenges, enterprise presentations, engineering projects and graphic design. The National STEM League Finals was a result of countless hours of hard work, determination and preparation from the students as they created projects that directly correlate with those of working professionals.

Following Saturday’s competition, the best teams in each category were presented with awards recognizing them for their achievements. Team Alpha Horses from Shenandoah Community Schools in Iowa took first place in Middle School Race Events, while team The 304 from the Caperton Center for Applied Technology in West Virginia won the Robotic Racecar competition. Also, team Horsepower Motorsports from Bailey Middle School in North Carolina took home the first place prize in Middle School Enterprise.

“Homestead-Miami Speedway is very welcoming to our students and very supportive,” said Ten80 Education Director of Development Maria McCarthy. “Today, students are learning about engineering and business enterprise as a spring board for their future to help them find their passion.”

The following six schools from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties participated in the National STEM League Finals:

• Blanche Ely High School (Pompano Beach)

• TERRA/MDCPS (Miami)

• The Benjamin School (North Palm Beach)

• MAST Academy- Maritime & Science (Key Biscayne)

• Southwest Miami High School

• North Miami Beach Senior High School

Ten80 Education is a micro-publisher of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum that has been implemented in engineering, computer science and STEM classrooms and clubs in 41 states.  Students working with Ten80’s Student STEM Challenge curriculum are invited to own their own businesses specializing in racing, robotics, energy, or technologies/innovations that emerge through the combination of hardware and software. They are also invited to collaborate and compete in the National STEM League.  This focus on enterprise, innovation and team-oriented challenges inspires a diverse, non-traditional audience to engage in STEM learning.

For more information regarding Ten80’s events and its programs, please visit www.Ten80Education.com.

RACE RECAP - Dover International Speedway

AAA 400 Drive for Autism

Dover International Speedway  – Dover, Delaware

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Race Winner: Matt Kenseth

Age: 44

Team: No. 20 – Dollar General Toyota

Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing

Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER -- “It feels great to get this one for sure. A great racing organization obviously at Joe Gibbs Racing, everyone at Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development) have done a great job. These engines and power and designs we have – I’m thankful to be driving this thing. Thanks to Dollar General, DeWALT – they’re great sponsors – Citizen, Gatorade, WileyX, Interstate Batteries – we have great partners and couldn’t do it without them. We were tight all night on restarts and then finally on that last one we got so loose I thought Kyle (Larson) was going to get by me. Kept digging the best I could and tried to hold on.” - Matt Kenseth

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·         Matt Kenseth won the 47^th AAA 400 Drive for Autism at Dover International Speedway Sunday, his 37^th victory in 590 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. It is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in 2016.  

·         It is Kenseth’s third victory and 23^rd top-10 finish in 35 races at Dover International Speedway.

·         In Kenseth’s 19-year Sprint Cup career, it is the 13^th time where he has at least one victory in a season.

·         With the triumph, all four Joe Gibbs Racing teammates (Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin) have made their way to victory lane this year, securing their spot in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

·         Kyle Larson (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in five races at Dover International Speedway. It is his second top-5 and third top-10 finish in 2016.

·         Chase Elliott (third) posted his fourth top-5 finish and eighth top-10 finish through 12 races this season.

·         With Kasey Kahne’s fourth place finish in the AAA 400 Drive for Autism, he now has two top-5 and 4 top-10 finishes on the year.

·         Kurt Busch’s fifth place finish Sunday is his second top-5 finish in as many weeks and sixth-straight top-10.

·         Kevin Harvick (15^th) led for a race-high 117 laps at Dover International Speedway.

·         Kevin Harvick (418) leads the 2016 points standing by 21 points over Kyle Busch (397).  The following are the top five drivers in points through the first 12 races:

Driver                                           Wins               Points
Kevin Harvick                              1                      418
Kyle Busch                                  3                      397
Kurt Busch                                  0                      386
Carl Edwards                              2                      381
Jimmie Johnson                         2                      370

·         With Sunday’s win, Matt Kenseth joins Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick as the seven drivers to have qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. The Chase culminates with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race on November 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

·         In 16 Sprint Cup starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Matt Kenseth has posted four top-5 finishes and eight top 10s, including a win in the 2007 Ford 400. In 2003, Kenseth celebrated his first title at Homestead-Miami Speedway after being crowned the Winston Cup Series champion.

The 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will culminate at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Ford Championship Weekend, November 18-20 where the Championship 4 in each series will compete for their respective division title amongst a full field of drivers. Tickets to the 2016 Ford Championship Weekend are now available and can be purchased by calling (866) 409-RACE (7223) or visiting HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com.

RACE RECAP - Kansas Speedway

Go Bowling 400

Kansas Speedway – Kansas City, Kansas

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Race Winner: Kyle Busch

Age: 31

Team: No. 18 – M&M’s Red Nose Toyota

Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing

Crew Chief: Adam Stevens

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER -- “This is pretty big – man, there’s been a lot of rough days here at Kansas, that’s for sure. A lot of good ones too, but I just can’t say enough about this team and everyone on this M&M’s Camry. This thing was awesome tonight. At the beginning and middle part of the race we weren’t great, but Adam Stevens (crew chief) and the guys, they just kept working on it. The 78 (Martin Truex Jr.) was probably the fastest car, but we kept ourselves in the game. It was pretty impressive. Can’t say enough about Interstate Batteries, NOS Energy Drink, Toyota of course, Sprint and what they’ve done for our sport and what they do for our sport. Everybody can help celebrate with us with Red Nose Day and have some fun. We appreciate everyone supporting Red Nose Day.” - Kyle Busch 

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• Kyle Busch won the 6^th Annual Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway Saturday, his 37^th victory in 401 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. It is his third victory and ninth top-10 finish in 2016.
  
  
• The win marks the first Sprint Cup Series victory for Busch at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, leaving two current Sprint Cup circuit tracks where he has yet to visit victory lane – Charlotte Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway.
  
  
• It is Busch’s third top-5 and fifth top-10 finish in 17 races at Kansas Speedway.
  
  
• With the triumph, Busch becomes the first Sprint Cup driver to reach three victories on the season through 11 races.
  
  
• In Busch’s 14-year Sprint Cup career, it is the 7^th time where he has amassed at least three wins in a season.
  
  
• Kevin Harvick (second) posted his 10^th top-10 finish in 21 races at Kansas Speedway. It is his fifth top-5 and ninth top-10 finish in 2016.
  
  
• Kurt Busch (third) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 21 races at Kansas Speedway. It is his third top-5 and ninth top-10 finish this year.
  
  
• Matt Kenseth had his best showing of the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season as he finished in 4^th place at Kansas Speedway. In 21 starts at Kansas Speedway, Kenseth has seven top-5 and 12 top-10 finishes.
  
  
• Ryan Blaney (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie as he put together his first top-5 finish of his Sprint Cup career. It is his fourth top-10 of 2016 and his second in-a-row.
  
  
• Martin Truex Jr. (14^th) led for a race-high 172 laps at Kansas Speedway on Saturday.
  
  
• Kevin Harvick (390) leads the 2016 points standing by four points over Kyle Busch (386).  The following are the top five drivers in points through the first 11 races:

Driver                                           Wins               Points

Kevin Harvick                              1                      390

Kyle Busch                                  3                      386

Carl Edwards                               2                      367

Jimmie Johnson                         2                      353

Kurt Busch                                   0                      350

• Six drivers have currently qualified for the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a list which consists of Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick, all of who have taken checkered flags this year.  The Chase culminates with the Ford EcoBoost 400 Championship race on November 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
  
  
• In 11 Sprint Cup starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kyle Busch has posted four  top-10 finishes and two top 5s, including a win in the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400, giving him to the 2015 Sprint Cup championship.

The 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will culminate at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Ford Championship Weekend, November 18-20 where the Championship 4 in each series will compete for their respective division title amongst a full field of drivers. Tickets to the 2016 Ford Championship Weekend are now available and can be purchased by calling (866) 409-RACE (7223) or visiting HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com.

NASCAR Unveils 2017 Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series Schedules

2017 Ford Championship Weekend to be held November 17-19, 2017

at Homestead-Miami Speedway

Since 2002, NASCAR fans have converged on Homestead-Miami Speedway to witness history being made, as champions have been crowned here each of the past 14 years (2002-15). And in 2017, for the 16^th consecutive year, Homestead-Miami Speedway will treat fans to one of the longest-standing championship traditions in all of sports, as it hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series championship races, November 17-19, 2017. NASCAR today announced the 2017 season schedule which includes dates for all tracks including the season-ending races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The Cup Series championship, Ford EcoBoost 400, will take place on Sunday, November 19, 2017. The XFINITY Series championship, Ford EcoBoost 300 will be held on November 18, and the Camping World Truck Series championship, Ford EcoBoost 200, is slotted for November 17.Champions will be determined in each of these series on their respective days.

“We are honored to host the championship races for NASCAR’s three premier series for an unprecedented 16^th consecutive year,” Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer said. “It is extremely exciting to have the opportunity to continue the tradition of bringing NASCAR’s championship event to South Florida, as fans are treated to unparalleled drama during Ford Championship Weekend. The revamped Chase formats across NASCAR’s three premiere series allows for an experience that is unique in sports. Having Ford Championship Weekend right here in South Florida has had a profound impact on our community and it continues to grow each year.”

The 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will culminate at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Ford Championship Weekend, November 18-20 where the Championship 4 in each series will compete for their respective division title amongst a full field of drivers. Tickets to the 2016 Ford Championship Weekend are now available and can be purchased by visiting HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com or by calling (866) 409-RACE (7223).

HMS Staff Serves as Panelists at UM Sport Industry Conference

Leading sports industry experts convened on Friday, April 15 in Coral Gables as part of the inaugural University of Miami Sports Industry Conference.  The event was held at the BankUnited Center on the UM campus.

The day-long conference consisted of six different panels with up to four panelists apiece, with each panel focusing on a pertinent topic affecting the sports world today.  Panelists included representatives from each of the four major South Florida sports teams – Dolphins, Marlins, Heat and Panthers – in addition to other sports entities including the NFL, NFLPA, Major League Baseball, PGA Tour and ESPN, among others.  Some of the top sports agencies took part as well, consisting of IMG, Octagon and CAA.

Homestead-Miami Speedway was quite prominent in the dialogue as Vice President of Sales & Marketing Shawn McGee and Senior Director of Marketing & Communications Kevin Gregory both served as panelists.  McGee was part of “The Next Generation: Marketing and Fan Engagement Strategies to Attract Millennials,” while Gregory was featured on “Untapped Resources:  Monetizing Digital Media to Mine the Greatest Return.”

“We have to find that next generation of fans.  It is very important,” McGee stated as part of his panel discussion.  “We need to educate and connect with all people and show them that it’s more than just a race.  Millennials love experiences and we have to let them know all of the cool things to do once they are here, such as the opportunity to be on the track up to a half-hour before the start of the race.”   “Being a three-day weekend event, it’s imperative that we have a prominent year-round presence on digital media,” Gregory said on his panel.  “It’s all about our followers and keeping them engaged on a regular basis.  We need to have an ongoing dialogue, while developing real and meaningful relationships.”

Other panels on the docket included “Not Broke: A Practical Conversation on Protecting and Promoting the Professional Athlete,” “The New Data Frontier:  Finding Competitive Advantages in Analytics,” “Smartphone Sales: Reaching New Audiences and Retaining Season Ticket Holders Through App-Based Partnerships,” and “Beyond Networking: Strategies to Make it Big in The Sports Industry.”

In addition to the six panels, NFL Director of Football Development Matt Birk, a veteran of 15 NFL seasons as a player (1998-2012) and a Harvard graduate, served as the keynote speaker during the lunchtime session.