MOORESVILLE, N.C. - Jan. 25, 2011 - Martin Truex Jr. announces his support for KeepAmericaFishing. KeepAmericaFishing? is leading the fight to preserve anglers' rights to sustainably fish on our nation's waterways. As the voice of the American fisherman, KeepAmericaFishing? works to keep our public resources - our oceans, lakes, rivers and streams - open, clean and abundant with fish.
"When I'm not racing the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota, I enjoy being out on the water. I fully support KeepAmericaFishing? and their efforts to preserve our rights to fish. As an avid fisherman, I help manage our fish populations by practicing sustainable methods of preserving our fisheries." said Martin Truex Jr.
Across the country, preventing or limiting recreational anglers' access to public waters fisheries is being touted as a new way to manage fish populations. This unprecedented shift undermines the achievements of proven fisheries management methods that focus on conservation and promote sustainable fishing. As a result, the past 10 years have seen a dramatic increase in bans on recreational fishing from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 25, 2011) - Construction crews have nearly completed the first phase of work on the site where the world's largest high-definition video board will rise 110 feet above the track for its debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway's 2011 May race events.
Using heavy earth-moving equipment, crews from Granite Contracting, of Concord, N.C., have removed 18,000 cubic yards of dirt and 3,000 cubic yards of concrete behind the backstretch where the gigantic, nearly 16,000-square-foot screen will be located. The concrete bleachers that were removed were part of the speedway's original construction in 1960.
The next phase of site work will include removing another 900 cubic yards of dirt by drilling 12 holes, each 54 inches in diameter, more than 50 feet deep to bedrock level. Concrete piers will then be installed in the holes to support the massive 500,000-pound steel frame that will hold the 165,000-pound video board. When completed, the total structure will weigh 332-and-a-half tons or 665,000 pounds.
Designed and created by Panasonic, the approximately 200-foot-wide and 80-foot-tall screen will be centered along the backstretch between turns 2 and 3, across from the start/finish line. Fans seated throughout the frontstretch from Turn 4 to Turn 1 will have clear viewing angles of instant replays, leaderboard updates and interactive entertainment displayed in 720P high-definition visuals. The screen will be illuminated by more than nine million LED lamps during each NASCAR race event at Charlotte Motor Speedway this spring, including the May 21 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the May 29 Coca-Cola 600.
CORNELIUS, N.C. (Jan. 25, 2011) ? Michael Waltrip Racing and NAPA AUTO PARTS announced today that two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip will drive the No. 15 NAPA Toyota in his 25th consecutive Daytona 500 on Feb. 20.
?This is a very special day,? said Waltrip who unveiled the No. 15 NAPA paint scheme Tuesday morning during the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway media tour.
?Ten years ago I won the 500 in my first race with NAPA and we know February 18, 2001 is a day that NASCAR fans will never forget. What looked to be a storybook ending turned to tragedy seconds later. To mark the 10th anniversary of that race and my 25th consecutive 500 will be quite emotional for me and fans alike.?
Waltrip broke a 0 for 462 streak when he won the 2001 Daytona 500 driving for car owner Dale Earnhardt who died in a turn four accident on the final lap. Waltrip chronicles the events of that weekend as well as his life and the challenges building a Sprint Cup organization in his book ?In the Blink of an Eye? that goes on sale Feb. 1.
?I?ve spent much of last year writing the book. It forced me to put into words a lot of emotions from that weekend and how we and the whole NASCAR world dealt with the loss of Dale,? said Waltrip. ?When I got my first copy the other day I told people that I felt like I had given birth. The book has become a part of me and I know fans are going to love it.?
?Hard to believe 10 years have passed since that fateful day in 2001 when we celebrated Michael?s Daytona 500 win and unfortunately mourned the loss of our friend, Dale Earnhardt,? commented Bob Susor, NAPA President. ?We could not think of a better way to honor our friend, Dale as well as mark this milestone in Michael?s career than to bring the NAPA No. 15 back to the Daytona 500 with a special paint scheme. We are hopeful fans, family and friends enjoy the tribute to both Michael and Dale.?
While Waltrip will certainly relive events of a decade past, this year?s time on the track and Daytona will be all about winning. While he has competed in just a handful of races in 2010, Waltrip finished 18th in last year?s race and lead laps at both Talladega Superspeedway races.
Waltrip won?t be alone in the draft at Daytona. MWR will also field cars for No. 56 NAPA Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 00 Aaron?s Toyota for David Reutimann.
Waltrip and brother Darrell are the only brother combination to win the Daytona 500 and Michael?s 2001 and 2003 victories made him one of only eight drivers with multiple wins in NASCAR most prestigious race. The 2011 Daytona 500 marks Waltrip?s 764th Sprint Cup start and 1,049th NASCAR start. Waltrip, Richard Petty and Mark Martin are the only drivers with more than 1,000 starts.
While he?s reduced his NASCAR schedule he hasn?t slowed down. Waltrip raced in Dubai earlier this month and took the ?Michael Waltrip Comedy Garage? to appearances in Kansas and Canada. He plans a handful of superspeedway races in 2011 and more international racing.
Source: http://the-auto-racing-journal.blogspot.com/2011/01/speed-shifts-12511.html
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