A Fast Lap with Tiff Daniels

Today we would like to introduce you to Tiffany Daniels who drives in multiple racing circuits including the NASCAR Whelen-All American Series. Tiff's next race will be at1.What music have you recently put on your iPod?

I actually just updated my iPod with a variety of songs from top-20/pop to rock to country. Some of my favorite artists are Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, 3 Doors Down, and OAR.

2. What was the last movie you saw?

I honestly don't remember; I rarely go see movies in the theater, but some of my favorites are O Brother Where Art Thou, Steel Magnolias, A League of Their Own, and the Harry Potter movies.

3. What are your favorite TV shows?

This is a tough one - I don't watch too much TV but when I do, I am a total channel surfer. I like any of the NASCAR-related shows, of course, but I'll watch anything from HGTV to American Idol to House depending what I land on. However, I can never remember when any particular shows come on!

4. What other sporting teams/events do you follow?

I don't have too much time to follow anything closely, but my favorite teams/sports are Carolina Tarheels college basketball, Virginia Tech college football, the Carolina Panthers in the NFL, Atlanta Braves in the MLB, and Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL. I also love the Olympics and the X-Games!

5. What is one personal item you can not live without?

This one is easy - my racecar!

6. What are your favorite places to visit?

Other than the racetrack (my favorite that I've driven on might be Bristol, I also really like going to watch races at Lowe's), I love going to the beach, particularly the Caribbean or the Outer Banks of NC. I love the water, sand, and sun!

7. What is your favorite clothing brand?

A great pair of jeans is my favorite clothing item - it's easy to dress jeans up with a nice shirt and heels, or be completely comfortable in jeans and a T-shirt with flip-flops or tennis shoes. I shop in a variety of stores, mostly try to pick classic pieces that never go out of style, and try everything on before I buy it!

8. What is your favorite book or publication?

My favorite books are the GRITS Guide to Life, the Harry Potter series, and anything by Karen Kingsbury, who writes Christian fiction. I also read magazines varying from Circle Track and Speedway Illustrated to Shape and Cosmo.

9. What is your favorite activity to do in your off time?

I don't have a lot of down-time, but I make sure I fit in working out almost every day, and having some fun by go-karting with my brother or just going to dinner with friends. I also play a variety of sports, and right now I am on a volleyball team with a group of co-workers and friends.

10. What is your favorite cuisine?

I love traditional Southern food, which includes sweet tea (I don't think tea should even be made unsweetened). I also like eating fresh fruits and vegetables that are in-season, and I am generally not a very-picky eater when it comes to trying new things.

11. What advice would you give other females looking to get into the sporting world?

Stay true to yourself and stay focused on the things that you can control because nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it.

I also have a couple of quotes that I like to keep in mind:

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams." - Henry David Thoreau

"It's not the will to win, it's the will to prepare to win." - Coach Mike Smith

"It's not just a daydream if you decide to make it your life." - Train

Next weeks Fast Lap will feature....

A Fast Lap with Ashley Force Hood

This week's fast lap doesn't need much of an introduction as many of you have heard of her. Ashley Force Hood made history by becoming the first female funny car driver in history, beating her father (drag racing icon John Force) in the final round of the 28th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals. This won also denied him his 1,000 winning round in his 500th NHRA tour event. You can learn more about Ashley on her website.

photo credits of John Force Racing

1.What music have you recently put on your iPod?
I recently added ‘Use Somebody’ by Kings of Leon and ‘Poker Face’ by Lady GaGa.

2. What was the last movie you saw?
The Other Boleyn Girl

3. What are your favorite TV shows?
CSI Las Vegas and CSI New York

4. What other sporting teams/events do you follow?
My husband is a huge hockey fan so him and I are glued to the TV right now watching the NHL Stanley Cup since his Chicago Blackhawks are going to the finals and if the Ducks win tomorrow they go to the finals too!

5. What is one personal item you can not live without?
Post its! I am very forgetful so I have little reminder notes next to my bed, on the mirror and on the car dash (not the race car dash though!)

6. What are your favorite places to visit?
I love Lake Tahoe, Nevada in the summer and in the winter. It’s where we spend Christmas and where we got married too!

7. What is your favorite clothing brand?
I love blue jeans in any brand, heels from Cole Haan and tank tops from Oakley and Hollister!

8. What is your favorite book or publication?
‘The Shack’ by William P. Young

9. What is your favorite activity to do in your off time?
Work around the house and BBQ with my husband Dan and cat Simba

10. What is your favorite cuisine?
Chinese Food.

11. What advice would you give other females looking to get into the sporting world?
Spend time learning about the sport since there is always a lot to it than the glamorous side shown on TV. As with any sport, drag racing is a lot of hard work and time on the road but if you love it then it’s worth it!

Stay tuned for next weeks fast lap with Tiff Daniels

Sprint All-Star Line ups

Here are the line-ups for the Sprint All-Star Showdown and race. The Showdown will take place at 7:00pm and the race will take place at 9:00pm. More information can be found here.

The Showdown

1. #27 Kirk Shelmerdine Toyota, Temporary Resources Inc.

2. #46 Carl Long Dodge, Romeo Guest Construction

3. #12 David Stremme Dodge, Penske Racing

4. #66 Dave Blaney Toyota, Prism Motorsports

5. #36 Scott Riggs Toyota, Tommy Baldwin Racing

6. #1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet, Bass Pro Shops

7. #6 David Ragan Ford, UPS

8. #77 Sam Hornish Jr.Dodge, Mobil 1

9. #13 Max Papis Toyota, GEICO

10. #44 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge, Hunt Brothers Pizza

11. #42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet, Target

12. #37 Mike Wallace Chevrolet, Long John Silver's

13. #00 David Reutimann Toyota, Aaron's Dream Machine

14. #47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota, Kingsford / Clorox

15. #51 Dexter Bean Dodge, LiveWire Energy

16. #21 Bill Elliott Ford, Motorcraft

17. #75 Derrike Cope Dodge, FlipnBags.com

18. #57 Norm Benning Chevrolet, Norm Benning Racing

19. #20 Joey Logano Toyota, The Home Depot

20. #82 Scott Speed Toyota, Red Bull

21. #87 Joe Nemechek Toyota, NEMCO Motorsports

22. #71 David Gilliland Chevrolet, TRG Motorsports

23. #07 Casey Mears Chevrolet, Jack Daniel's

24. #98 Paul Menard Ford, Johns Manville / Menards

25. #73 Mike Garvey Dodge, Quality Concrete

26. #64 Todd Bodine Toyota, Gunselman Motorsports

27. #19 Elliott Sadler Dodge, Best Buy

28. #55 Michael Waltrip Toyota, NAPA

29. #06 David Starr Dodge, Canics.com

30. #26 Jamie McMurray Ford, Crown Royal

31. #83 Brian Vickers Toyota, Red Bull

32. #7 Robby Gordon Toyota, Jim Beam / Operation Homefront

33. #41 J.J. Yeley Toyota, SmallSponsor.com

34. #43 Reed Sorenson Dodge, McDonald's McCafe

35. #34 Tony Raines Chevrolet, Taco Bell

The Sprint All-Star Race

1. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet, Lowe's / Kobalt Tools

2. #2 Kurt Busch Dodge, Miller Lite "Taste Protector"

3. #17 Matt Kenseth Ford, Dewalt

4. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet, The Dale Jr. Foundation / Amp Energy / National Guard

5. #5 Mark Martin Chevrolet, Kellogg's / Carquest

6. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet, DuPont

7. #96 Bobby Labonte Ford, Ask.com

8. #9 Kasey Kahne Dodge, Budweiser

9. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet, Pennzoil

10. #09 Brad Keselowski Chevrolet, Miccosukee Resort & Gaming

11. #16 Greg Biffle Ford, 3M

12. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet, U.S. Army

13. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota, M&M's

14. #99 Carl Edwards Ford, Aflac

15. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet, Office Depot / Old Spice

16. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet, Caterpillar

17. #33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet, BB&T

18. #11Denny Hamlin Toyota, FedEx Express

Happy NASCAR Day!

If you have the pipes...

Daytona International Speedway is searching for area singers to participate in the fifth edition of its "Straightaway to Stardom" talent competition with the winner performing the national anthem before the NASCAR Nationwide Series 250-mile race July 3.

For entry forms, go by the Daytona 500 Experience, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., or go online to daytonainternationalspeedway.com/sts.

Round One of the "Straightaway to Stardom" competition will be May 30 at the ESPN Club, Disney's BoardWalk, 2101 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista.

A Fast Lap with Megan Reitenour

Today, we would like to introduce you to the 2009 NASCAR Drive for Diversity driver, Megan Reitenour. You can view Megan's 2009 schedule here.1.What music have you recently put on your iPod?
I know it is probably hard to believe but I don't have iPod. My preference in music is country music though.

2. What was the last movie you saw?
Most weeks we have girls night out and go to the movies on Tuesdays. The last movie I saw was "He is just not that into you". Not my type of movie but it wasn't my week to pick and I got through it some how. haha

3. What are your favorite TV shows?
I don't have a lot of time to watch TV but when I do, I would say some of my favorite TV shows are Nitro Circus, American Idol and CSI.

4. What other sporting teams/events do you follow?
I really love most sports in general and enjoy watching them when I have the time. NASCAR-Tony Stewart, Football-New England Patriots, Baseball-Cincinnati Reds, and MMA Star-Uriah Faber.

5. What is one personal item you can not live without?
The personal item I couldn't live with out would be my cell phone.

6. What are your favorite places to visit?
Florida, North and South Carolina, Nevada.

7. What is your favorite clothing brand?
My favorite clothing brand is Hollister.

8. What is your favorite book or publication?
Twilight (love it)!

9. What is your favorite activity to do in your off time?
I would say my favorite activity in my off time is to go to the races or watch the races on TV. I also enjoy volunteering for good causes.

10. What is your favorite cuisine?
My favorite cuisine is Italian.

11. What advice would you give other females looking to get into the sporting world?
The advice I would give another female looking to get into the sport of racing would be, don't take things lightly and always give your best. It is very important to have a good support system and never forget where you came from and the people who have helped you.

Next weeks Fast Lap will Feature Ashley Force Hood

Tune Up Tuesday-Lenny Kravitz Let Love Rule 20th Anniversary Edition

I apologize for this post in advance because it is PURELY self indulgent. First off, I am still trying to wrap my caffeine free head over the fact that Lenny Kravitz has been in our lives and ears for twenty years. Out on Virgin Records today is a remastered edition of his first album along with some fantastic bonus material, such as live versions and demos.If you havent had a chance to listen to what first made Lenny Kravitz a household name...I am begging you to grab this today, turn it up loud and thank me later. Im sure most of you know of "Let Love Rule" but the best songs of all time is Mr. Cab Driver, a song that will soon be one of your favorites. If you want to get a quick sample of what I am talking about, Amazon lets you listen to all samples before you buy off their site!
Dear Touring Gods, Please please let Mr. Kravitz tour with this album. You are reading the words of a girl who went to an Aerosmith just to see him open. Enjoy! Other Tune Ups of interest...Tori Amos, Dane Cook, Depeche Mode and some more found here.

Allright Tweeps, this one is for you!

For those of you who care little that Ashton was the first to hit a million followers...for those of you who are enthralled to see what your favorite Tweeps are doing during the #NASCAR race...and for those of you who will be in Charlotte for the All Star Festivities, THIS IS FOR YOU! Oh and its held at this little bar that one certain driver owns..whats his name, Dennis, Dave...oh yeah, Dale!.

UltimateRaceDay is an event brand for the racing lifestyle that is a SmashUp of NASCAR fans, automotive enthusiasts and social media.

UltimateRaceDay (URD) unites fans trackside, on the streets, online and wherever you are. This global community transforms the racing experience into a new lifestyle phenomenon, introducing individuals to other enthusiasts, bound by their shared passion for racing and social media. This fusion of racing and technology illuminates not only the race, but also the shared content, the online fan community, and associated sponsors. Visible, viral and fun, URD is a dedicated press box for citizen journalists, bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, and all who are passionate race fans. Together we create a checkered flag experience for social media SmashUps!!!

You are cordially invited to join UltimateRaceDay on Saturday, May 22nd for our inaugural SmashUp at Whiskey River (owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. ) in Charlotte, NC. From 6-9 pm. The tweet-up starts at the Mechanical Bull bar (and who knows where it goes from there). Cash Bar.

About UltmateRaceDay
Founded by Stephanie Agresta (@stephagresta) and Chris McCaffrey (@chrismccaffrey) Ultimate Race Day creates a unique and highly visible networking and personal branding events by facilitating real world interaction and providing everything attendees need to blog and tweet the experience. Join the movement at http://www.ultimateraceday.com

About Whiskey River
With a unique blend of rock and country music, VIP tables and mechanical bull riding, live music and electrifying DJs, Whisky River is unlike any party you've seen before. Situated in the EpiCentre with breathtaking views of Uptown Charlotte and Bobcats Arena, Whisky River really is in the center of it all.

Kevin Costner makes another NASCAR appearance

photos rights of martintruexjr.com

This just in from Lowe's Motor Speedway, who announced today that actor and musician Kevin Costner and Modern West will perform a pre-race concert for the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Academy Award winner Costner and his band will perform a 45-minute afternoon concert prior to the Montgomery Gentry show presented by Jim Beam in the infield between Turns 1 and 2. Admission to the concert is free with the purchase of a ticket to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

"I have been a longtime NASCAR fan and to be able to perform at Lowe's Motor Speedway, what many consider to be NASCAR's home track, will be an incredible experience," said Kevin Costner. "With all the hype that surrounds the All-Star Race it is sure to be a spectacular night and I am excited to be a part of it."

In addition to the concert Costner will be invited to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers meeting and will serve as a celebrity judge in the Pennzoil Victory Challenge, the annual burnout contest, prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race.

Costner has been a regular presence in the NASCAR community of late as part of his year- long partnership with the sport. Amongst many NASCAR related endeavors, Costner is serving as the 2009 NASCAR Day spokesperson, which will be celebrated this year on May 15th. As part of his role, he is helping The NASCAR Foundation to raise funds for its Family of Charities in an effort to help thousands of children live better lives (for more information visit NASCAR.COM/NASCAR Day).

Tickets for the 25th running of the May 16th NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race start at just $25 and can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.

We were lucky enough to stare at Kevin's best ass-et while he was on the Bass Pro pit box during his honorary crew chief stint in Daytona for Martin Truex Jr last year. Its nice to see someone of his celebrity interested in the sport, and making a great effort to get involved on the charitable side!

Sprint All-Star Week Schedule

Below is the schedule of events for the 2009 Sprint All-Star Week in Charlotte, NC. If you find yourself in the Charlotte area, try to make time to visit Rendezvous Ridge, Benny Parsons Vineyard and Museum. Rendezvous Ridge is located between Boone and Wilkesboro in the foothills of both the Blue Ridge Mountains and Brushy Mountains.

For more information on the next two weeks, download the Official Fan Guide here.

Wednesday, May 13
"NASCAR Rev'd Up" leads off a four-day period heading into the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, featuring a concert by Everfine/Atlantic Artist O.A.R. (free admission). This six hour event will kick off activities for NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race week in Charlotte, N.C. The event, which is free to the public, will take place between 3rd and Mint Streets in uptown Charlotte from 4:00pm-10:00pm.

Thursday, May 14
7:00pm Time Warner Cable Arena: NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Presented by Craftsman.
For tickets go to www.pitcrewchallenge.com or www.ticketmaster.com. SPEED will televise beginning at 9:00pm.

Friday, May 15
NASCAR Day, an opportunity for fans, corporations, schools and organizations across the country to make donations to the NASCAR Foundation to raise funds for its Family of Charities in an effort to help thousands of children live better lives.
For more information go to foundation.nascar.com.

Friday, May 15
6:15pm Lowe's Motor Speedway: NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Qualifying
For tickets call (800) 455-FANS or go to www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. SPEED will televise beginning at 5:00pm.

Friday, May 15
8:00pm Lowe's Motor Speedway: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200
For tickets call (800) 455-FANS or go to www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. SPEED will televise beginning with pre-race coverage at 7:30pm.

Saturday, May 16
3:30pm-4:45pm Jim Beam Presents Montgomery Gentry, turns 1-2 in the infield
6:20pm-6:45pm Pennzoil Victory Challenge Burn Out Contest
7:30pm (green flag at 7:46pm) NASCAR Sprint Showdown (20 laps/20 laps).
9:00pm Green flag for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race (4 segments; 50 laps, 20 laps, 20 laps, 10 laps)
For tickets call (800) 455-FANS or go to www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. SPEED will televise beginning at 7:00pm.

Dale Jr Foundation All Star Charity Lineup

From the Dale Jr Foundation Release

In a monthlong push to raise money and awareness for key charities dedicated to helping children, The Dale Jr. Foundation has created three initiatives as part of its All Star Charity Line Up. Through these events, The Dale Jr. Foundation will donate to Make-A-Wish, March of Dimes / Bikers for Babies, The NASCAR Foundation and Speedway Children’s Charities.

Beginning last Saturday at the Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com at Darlington Raceway, The Dale Jr. Foundation (TDJF) hosted 50 guests from the Victory Junction Gang Camp, Make-A-Wish and Kid’s Wish Network in a pre-race chalet. The chalet and 50 race tickets was donated to TDJF by GoDaddy.com and included an appearance by Brad Keselowski.

"The Dale Jr. Foundation is committed to helping underprivileged youth achieve their goals," said Kelley Earnhardt, vice president and general manager of JR Motorsports. "Last year, with the help of all of our fans and supporters, we were able to donate to over 250 charitable organizations. This year we want to continue setting the bar higher for our charitable goals. These events surrounding the All-Star race are a great way to start our fundraising efforts for 2009."

As part of the second Foundation initiative, Earnhardt Jr. will donate a custom motorcycle to March of Dimes / Bikers for Babies, a charity in partnership with Dee Snider of the legendary rock band Twisted Sister. The motorcycle, made for Dale Jr. by the team at Orange County Choppers, is currently on display at JR Motorsports. Fans can visit JR Motorsports on May 21st or go to The Foundation website to find out how they can win this one-of-a-kind chopper.

As its third event and complementing the special Foundation paint scheme that Earnhardt Jr. will run on track at the Sprint All Star race on May 16, TDJF is hosting a Dale Jr. All-Star suite to benefit Speedway Children’s Charities and TDJF. Fans who want to give to get closer to the racing action will receive a VIP experience, which includes a pre-race pit tour, an appearance by Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty, a seat in the suite to view the race, complimentary food and drinks, and souvenirs.

"This is going to be a really cool time during the All-Star week," said Earnhardt Jr. "In addition to a special Dale Jr. Foundation paint scheme on the hood of the 88, we have a number of charities we’re working with over the next couple of weeks. The Foundation has always been important to my sister, Kelley, and me. Because of that, I am making a matching gift of the donations received from fans through our website."

JR Motorsports has been selling NASCAR Day pins in its retail store in partnership with The NASCAR Foundation. JRM will donate a portion of the proceeds raised from the pins and the funds raised during the NASCAR Day Radio-thon to Make-A-Wish. Fans should call 1-877-515-GIVE and mention The Dale Jr. Foundation to take part in this special event.

The Dale Jr. Foundation has unique collectibles, including many autographed items, to be purchased through its partnership with EBay. All the proceeds from the auctions will benefit the Dale Jr. Foundation.

The Foundation’s website also offers six different selections of hard card memberships. Fans can attain memberships and not only get exclusive Dale Jr. items, but help TDJF further its mission.

Happy Mothers Day

What else could we post other than Mother Lovers from last night's Saturday Night Live featuring Justin Timberlake.


We hope all you Mother's out there have a fantastic day!

Taking Failed to Qualify to a New High-Track Funk Race Recap

As you shake the funk off and get ready for some All Star action here is what you missed at Darlington. No one really expected to have their pre-race activities interrupted by the Jeremy Mayfield announcement. Speed graciously provided coverage as Fox was in the middle of a Tampa/Boston shut out. This was one of my favorite tracks and it did not disappoint! Mark Martin took the checkered flag, breaking a few of more records and potentially wrecking my fantasy league. Congratulations to Mark Martin and Alan Gustafson, who both have Daytona Beach ties.

And word to the person who thought that glitter was a good time in Victory Lane...it isn't, knock it off.

Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

Darlington's Top Ten
1. #5 Mark Martin
2. #48 Jimmy Johnson
3. #14 Tony Stewart
4. #39 Ryan Newman
5. #24 Jeff Gordon
6. #1 Martin Truex Jr.
7. #25 Brad Keselowki
8. #16 Greg Biffle
9. #20 Joey Logano
10. #17 Matt Kenseth

There were 17 cautions (a new record at Darlington) and 23 lead changes among 13 leaders:

Lap Leaders

Matt Kenseth (1-16)
Jeff Gordon (17-22)
Jimmie Johnson (23-24)
Ryan Newman (25-71)
Kasey Kahne (72-82, 120, 162, 186)
Elliot Sadler (83-84)
Martin Truex Jr. (116-119, 217-249, 297-320)
Bobby Labonte (121-122)
Greg Biffle (123-161, 163-185, 187-215, 251-276)
Kyle Busch (216, 250)
Ryan Newman (277)
Joey Logano (278-296)
Tony Stewart (321)
Mark Martin (322-367)

Unofficial Standings, Results and a lap by lap recap are available at NASCAR.com. Stay tuned as NASCAR goes back to the boys home in Charlotte for two weeks! This week will bring some great All Star activities, kicking off Wednesday, May 13th with NASCAR Rev'd up featuring OAR.

If you haven't voted for the All Star race, might we suggest a couple for you? After last nights performance, to say Martin Truex Jr. is worthy of this race is an huge understatement. At the same time, Scott Riggs with Tommy Baldwin Racing need the money and the publicity that this race brings. So please vote and vote often! See you in Charlotte and Happy Mother's Day.

Havent we learned anything from baseball?

The 2009 season started with two people who are highly admired in NASCAR. Driver Jeremy Mayfield and Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin, both of whom started their own race team from scratch. Jeremy's team, Mayfield Motor Sports and Tommy's team, Tommy Baldwin Racing have both had their highs (making the Daytona 500) and their lows (struggling to make it into the following races and trying to get into the top 35 in points). I hold both teams with utmost respect.

After tonight, Jeremy Mayfield will no longer be known as a 5 time winning, NSCS winner and current driver-owner. He will forever be known as the first Cup Series driver suspended under NASCAR's still-new random drug-testing policy. Basically, this means until the Armani suits of NASCAR gives the green light, he will not be allowed to be a car owner, a car driver or even be around the car during race weekend.

Mayfield is quoted by saying “As both a team owner and a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, I have immense respect for the enforcement policies NASCAR has in place. In my case, I believe that the combination of a prescribed medicine and an over the counter medicine reacted together and resulted in a positive drug test. My Doctor and I are working with both Dr. Black and NASCAR to resolve this matter.”

Not to mention, this years first NASCAR's substance abuse disappointment was made by Paul Chodora, one of Jeremy Mayfields's Pit crew members.

This weekend, NASCAR also nailed Tony Martin, a crewman for the #34 Sprint team for Front Row Motorsports, (driven by Tony Raines) and Ben Williams, a crew member for the #16 Nationwide Series team for Roush Fenway Racing (who won Friday night with Matt Kenseth).

NASCAR series Vice President Jim Hunter would not specify what substances were taken, but did say the violations were for more than merely alcohol use.

NASCAR has had a very rough week in regards of drug testing. It started on Wednesday with the sudden death of Kevin Grubb, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at a Richmond hotel. Grubb was suspended in 2004 after testing positive for a banned substance. When reinstated, one of his conditions to return was that he had to submit to a drug test, anywhere, anytime. In 2006 he declined to adhere and NASCAR suspended him indefinitely.

Last year Aaron Fike admitted that he raced while on heroin. That was probably the biggest wake up call in the sport which brought this new drug policy on which I agree is well needed.

Now, many are asking what is causing these guys to fail the drug tests? How can you possibly abuse with the jeopardy of being caught? Hello A-Rod, Roger Clemens and Manny Ramirez! According to NASCAR sources, it can be anything from NYQUIL, to fertility drugs, to mary jane or cocaine....basically whatever your drug of choice may be. If they decide that the drug you are taking (over the counter, prescribed or illegal) will impair your ability to perform, no matter how small or large, he or she has no business being there. Remember when Martin Truex Jr. had Kidney Stones in Atlanta this season? He went through the process without strong pain medication since he would've been in violation of NASCAR’s substance-abuse policy. That's smart (and painful) thinking people...

Mutt Muffs!

I was checking out our new followers on twitter this morning and came across @MuttMuffs.
According to their website, Mutt Muffs were inspired by pilots who know the noise level of the cockpit is unsafe for Man or beast. Mutt Muffs offer hearing protection for your four-legged family members. Your dog's keenest sense is smell and number two is hearing. If you think something is loud, your dog is probably in pain. After heredity, long exposure to loud noise is the biggest contributor to deafness.

This is such a great invention for people that are on the road with their animals, especially for the many drivers who bring their furballs to the track w/ them. I can see it now.....

Speaking of pups, I am the proud owner of the sweetest, cutest dachshund in this world. His name is Deezyl, weighs 8 lbs, hates loud noises and has a thing for my Burberry jacket (he's a fashionista by nature).

Deezyl @ his Grandmas on my jacket

There have been many times that I wanted to take Deezyl to the track with me. The only thing that holds me back is that Deezyl HATES loud noises. I know this since I live directly in-between 2 airports (Daytona International Airport and Spruce Creek Fly-In) and he feels the need to run outside, on the golf course and yell at the planes. Every. Single. Time. And Thunderstorms? Forget it! Maybe he will be making his first appearance to a race sometime soon! Regardless, I will still be picking up a pair since they also work for fireworks. This seals the deal for me. Just ask my Mom, who has to deal w/ Deezyl during the Pepsi (Firecracker, Coke, Coke Zero, whatever) 400 firework show....

Stuck in Race Traffic??

Going to Darlington this week? Ally and Darlynn know about being stuck in Race Traffic in South Carolina! We had the experience of a lifetime in this nightmare..which later spawned many different catch phrases that we still talk about and use to this very day.

Luckily, we kept each other entertained that evening but for those who would like to enjoy what's happening at "The Lady in Black" be sure to tune your dial to EAGLE 92.9 fm or The Light WEGX FM-both are MRN affiliates, located in Florence SC, just a few miles from Darlington. Note* Florence is also a great place to stay, and get a BBQ Sandwich...

What is on a BBQ Sandwich you ask?? Well, its BBQ....and its a Sandwich :)

Check the Eagle out at: www.eagle929online.com

Happy Happy Hour, Darlington Style

We are saying cheers to The Lady in Black with Firefly Vodka which was created in Wadmalaw Island, SC (outside of Charleston). I did a piece on my "favorite drink in the entire universe" last year, which you can read in detail here. Luckily for ya'll, Firefly is widely available throughout the US now. Coincidentally enough, I introduced this cocktail to many of your favorite NASCAR guys, whose names are being kept confidential!

Follow along with Happy Hour here and PLEASE BE CAREFUL. This drink tastes exactly like sweet tea. It is dangerous, it is lethal and I do not take any blame if you decide to drunk dial your ex while drinking this today. Note to self, do not take this as a shot.

You have been warned so here's the recipe....
Megan's "Favorite drink in the entire universe"
Fill a high ball with Ice
1/2 Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
1/2 water
Lots of lemon
I like to add a splash of sugar water to mine, I am sweet enough as it is but I am a southern chic!

Cheers Ya'll!

A Fast Lap with Leilani Munter

Today's fast lap is on Indy and Arca driver Leilani Munter. We were introduced to Leilani on Twitter (@LeilaniMunter). Not only is she an amazing driver but also an Environmentalist, an Ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation, Glamor Magazines Eco Hero and she's a model! We urge you to check out her website at Leilanimunter.com. Leilani is truly an insperation. Her next race is on May 22nd at Indianapolis Motor Speedway which will be aired on VERSUS.1.What music have you recently put on your iPod?
Jack Johnson's Sleep Through the Static, Eddie Vedder's soundtrack for the movie Into the Wild, and some live recordings from my brother in law's band The Grateful Dead (they are on tour right now as The Dead).

2. What was the last movie you saw?
11th Hour, Leonardo DiCaprio's environmental movie.

3. What are your favorite TV shows?
Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Colbert Report, and House.

4. What other sporting teams/events do you follow?
Other than racing, the only sport I follow is World Cup Rugby. My husband is from New Zealand so we cheer for the New Zealand All Blacks!

5. What is one personal item you can not live without?
My husband and my laptop computer - both are essential to my life!

6. What are your favorite places to visit?
Anywhere I can scuba dive! Hawaii and Fiji are the best places I have been diving so far. I also love spending time in New Zealand but the ocean is too cold for me to dive there. Hawaii has spoiled me with warm water so I won't dive in cold water anymore!

7. What is your favorite clothing brand?
Lucky Brand Jeans of course! I did an ad campaign for Lucky in fall 2008, and was honored to do it because I love their clothes.

8. What is your favorite book or publication?
I can't really name a favorite book, I have so many favorites over the years! A few years ago I was into Dan Brown books. Recently, I finished "Kite Runner" and Into the Wild" and now I am reading "Shantaram."

9. What is your favorite activity to do in your off time?
Scuba diving, snowboarding, horseback riding, surfing (even though I haven't been since I moved to North Carolina to race), skydiving (I have jumped tandem 3 times now - it is a blast), and hanging out by the ocean! My mother was born and raised in Hawaii so I am a displaced island girl!

10. What is your favorite cuisine?
I have been a vegetarian for many years. If it doesn't have meat in it, I like it!

11. What advice would you give other females looking to get into the sporting world?
Believe in yourself and do not listen to detractors. There are going to be challenges - you will have ups and downs - but if you stay true to yourself and passionate about your sport, you will get there. Patience, determination and dedication are your greatest friends.

Next Weeks Fast Lap will feature Megan Reitenour

NASCAR, Tyler Florence and a Cookout! Could it get any better?

I am a self proclaimed foodie and I am obsessed with the Food Network almost as much as I am with NASCAR. I just found out that Food Network cutie Tyler Florence is going to be at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, teaming up to man the nations longest grill at the Coca-Cola Quarter-Mile Cookout. That's going to be one HOT BBQ! (I must mention that if it were Bobby Flay, I would be front and center completely geeking out)

Here are tidbits from the press release:
Requiring more than 7,000 pounds of Kingsford Charcoal, the monster-sized ring of fire will measure an astonishing 1,320 feet -- spanning more than four football fields in length if stretched end to end. The colossal grill will be used to cook up a feast for fans attending the "Coca-Cola Quarter-Mile Cookout" on May 22.

The oval-shaped quarter-mile grill -- assembled on part of the race track's frontstretch and pit road -- will be manned by celebrity chef and Food Network star Tyler Florence, host of Tyler's Ultimate and author of Dinner at My Place and Stirring the Pot. Joining Florence will be some of NASCAR's most popular drivers including Clint Bowyer, Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty and racing legend Bobby Allison, all of whom will trade their fire suits for "track aprons" as they help grill up lunch for thousands of fans.

The event is free and open to all ticket and annual credential holders for the historic 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600. The action will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the race track near the speedway's start/finish line. The menu will feature hamburgers and hot dogs, along with Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad pasta salads and Betty Crocker Original Supreme brownies.

Darlington Drivers Appearances

South Carolina's phrase "Smiling faces. Beautiful places" couldn't be more fitting for this weekend in Darlington. Below are the drivers appearances for this week. If you know of any other appearances in South Cackalacky, please email us and we will add them to the list. Thanks Ya'll!

Thursday, May 7th
Brendan Gaughan is scheduled to sign autographs on behalf of 5-Hour Energy from 6:00-7:00pm at the BI-LO location in Darlington, SC located at 508 Lamar Highway.

Friday, May 8th
Justin Allgaier is scheduled to appear at the Penske Racing souvenir trailer from 1:00 - 1:30pm.

Saturday, May 9th
Brian Vickers is scheduled to sign autographs at the Red Bull souvenir trailer. The time will be posted on the trailer. A limited number of tickets will be available for autographs on a first come, first served basis due to time constraints.
David Ragan is scheduled to sign autographs at the UPS souvenir trailer at 3:00pm - 3:20pm.
Clint Bowyer is scheduled to sign autographs at his merchandise trailer at 3:30pm. Tickets will be distributed Saturday morning and will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Reed Sorenson is scheduled to sign autographs at the Richard Petty Motorsports hauler at 3:30pm.
David Stremme is scheduled to sign autographs at the Darlington Dodge display at 3:30pm.
Casey Mears is scheduled to sign autographs at the Jack Daniel's souvenir trailer at 3:45pm. A limited number of tickets will be available for autographs on a first come, first served basis due to time constraints.
AJ Allmendinger is scheduled to sign autographs at the Petty souvenir hauler at 4:00pm.
Sam Hornish Jr is scheduled to sign autographs at the Penske souvenir trailer from 4:00pm - 4:30pm.

Tune Up Tuesday!

This is a rerun as they moved the release down a week...my apologies :-)

Woohoo! Get Ready Kids, a long awaited release from rockers Green Day is in store today! 21st Century Breakdown will feature 18 tracks and is being released on Reprise Records. The title track from the album is its first single. Its been 5 long years since we have heard anything from these guys and we are excited!

21st Century Breakdown is divided into three acts: "Heroes and Cons," "Charlatans and Saints," and "Horseshoes and Handgrenades," and follows a young couple, Christian and Gloria, through the mess and promise of the century so far. Songs include "Know Your Enemy", "21 Guns", "East Jesus Nowhere", "Before the Lobotomy", and "Restless Heart Syndrome." In a recent feature, Rolling Stone called the album "even more ambitious than American Idiot" and "a record of die-hard punk ideals.tightly scripted, continually ascending classic-rock excitement."

Butch Vig, in my opinion a producing God has his hands on this album...making this Tune Up just a little more exciting. Butch Vig has helped Smashing Pumpkins, that little band Nirvana and his own endeavor Garbage achieve their success over the years.

Other releases for Tune Up Tuesday can be found here. Ben Harper, Hatebreed and Ludacris with DTP are of interest.

First Logano, then Digger, now a NASCAR full length animated feature...hmmm

Its gonna be really hard to compete against Cars!

From Hollywood Reporter

Threshold Animation Studios' Tinseltown Toons has embarked on the first full-length animated feature based on the NASCAR brand for the kids market.

"NASCAR: The Secret Life of Cars," made exclusively for DVD, is scheduled for a 2011 release through Universal Studios Home Entertainment. It will center on a NASCAR garage after humans have left and the cars come to life. Tom Rogers ("Tinker Bell," "The Lion King 1 1/2") will draft the screenplay.

Tinseltown's Kristy Scanlan and NASCAR Media Group's Sarah Nettinga will oversee the project.

USHE has a deal with Tinseltown to distribute two or three movies a year.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

The Biff gets braces

All I have to say is....I feel your pain Greg Biffle. Greg got braces a few weeks ago and I am sure he was in for a rude awakening after his first day. I can say this since I too had braces as an adult. I made the decision in September 2007 and had to wear them for 14 months. I even threw myself a party the day the devils came off.

I am sure a lot of people (myself included) wonder why Greg didn't get invisalign or veneers but the answer lies in this video. He mentioned that he is getting 3M braces (a perk of driving for 3M??). According to their website they are "self-ligating" and do not require your orthodontist to use elastic bands. Why wasn't this an option when I got braces?!

What my made my situation so awful was that I had the upper and lower rubber bands which kept my jaws in line. I lived off of soup, mashed potatoes and french fries for 6 months. I was completely insecure over having braces as an adult and to make matters worse, I got ridiculed at the race track. For instance, Sterling Marlin teased me for weeks that I was 27 and had a face full of metal. I was in pain, I was teased and it felt like middle school all over again. Here's hoping that The Biff has a more pleasant experience than I had.

Getting to know Joey Logano

Photo courtesey of auto stock

Instead of a Fast Lap this week, we opted to do a little feature called getting to know Joey Logano. For the past 3 weeks, we have been bombarded with emails asking random questions about Joey. "What is Joey Loganos favorite food" "What is Joey Loganos favorite vacation spot" "Is Joey Logano afraid of heights?". We were like....OKAY, what is the deal with the 1001 questions about Joey Logano? We don't even get this amount in regards to Dale Earnhardt Jr!

Then like a lightning bolt, we came across Home Depots contest, Get to know Joey. They ask random questions about Joey with various prizes up for grabs. It is a pretty smart idea to ask non NASCAR related questions to a driver :)

We have learned the following facts about Mr. Logano:
Joey's favorite vacation site is St. Martin
Joey is in fact afraid of heights
Joey was 18 years, 21 days when he won his first Nationwide race at Kentucky Speedway
Joey's middle name is Thomas
Joey likes to race Bobsleds when not racing a stock car
Joey's favorite subject in school was recess
Joey's favorite food is Chicken Parmesan
Joey is 6'1" and wears a 11 1/2 size shoe
Joey's sister competed in figure skating

Now, we aren't cheating for you by giving away all of the answers but thought this would be a fun get to know you feature.

Darlington Walls go retro thanks to Go Daddy

In honor of the tracks 60th year of racing, Darlington Raceway brings some nostalgia back this weekend thanks to Go Daddy.
Go Daddy, who is the race's presenting sponsor is a great match because they have spent a lot of marketing dollars in the NASCAR nation. Fairly, aside from the half naked Danica Patrick, it wasn't till Dale Jr did his testimonials that I even know who Go Daddy was. Dale Jr actually does a blog for Go Daddy on a regular basis. As far as the Fashionistas go, we love Go Daddy! They are English speaking and they are patient and they have sat with us on the phone for hours with technical support!

From the Darlington Raceway press release:

When spectators and competitors arrive at Darlington Raceway for the May 9th Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com everyone will notice one distinct difference – red and white retaining walls surrounding the track “Too Tough to Tame.”

“Giving the most famous walls on the NASCAR circuit a retro facelift seemed very fitting as part of our 60th celebration,” said track President, Chris Browning. “This is the first time since 1989 that the walls have been painted anything but white and it certainly reminds me of the early days of NASCAR racing.”

The walls are painted in 40-foot sections alternating red and white and took nearly 50 hours and 315 gallons of paint to complete. In addition to the red and white paint scheme, a retro font was used for the Darlington Raceway signage at the start/finish line.

Asked if he thought the new red and white paint scheme would make for a kinder, gentler wall Browning responded: “Ask Pearson or Yarborough how forgiving the walls were when they were racing here, but I know we will still see plenty of Darlington stripes in 2009.”

Darlington Raceway or the track “Too Tough to Tame” as it is known to many, is where the purest of NASCAR competition meets true southern hospitality. A NASCAR staple since 1950, Darlington Raceway has seen some of motorsports most talented drivers thunder to Victory Lane. In 2009, a NASCAR tradition, the Southern 500® presented by GoDaddy.com, will return as Darlington Raceway celebrates 60 Seasons of Racing.

Be a part of history when Darlington Raceway celebrates 60 years of racing in 2009. Tickets to the 2009 Southern 500® presented by GoDaddy.com, as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 are on-sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 866-459-RACE or online at http://www.darlingtonraceway.com/tickets/.

Runway Monday

This weeks Runway Monday is in honor of Mothers Day.

What to drool over comes from Tiffany and Co. There is nothing like giving and receiving that little blue box.Tiffany Heart Locket and Chain $325


Being Cost Conscious
Sterling Silver Mother-of-Peral Mom heart locket from Amazon.com $29.99

Whats the Big Deal about Darlington?

photo courtesy of opg.com

As I gather information for our site for the week, I found this wonderful passionate article written by Cathy Elliot over at Paddock Talk. It gives you an in depth perspective of the history of how Darlington came to be. As we start heading over towards one of my favorite race tracks....yes, partly because of the name-I thought you would enjoy it as much as I did!

Track Funk Race Recap

As you shake off the track funk from Richmond and head to Darlington (Darlynn-ton!), here is what you missed if you chose to drink one too many Mint Juleps at the Kentucky Derby before watching the race.

Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

It's getting hard for even the most cynical fan to hate Kyle Busch as he wins the 2009 Crown Royal Presents The Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway. This is his 3rd win of 2009 and the 15th of his career. He makes the records book as the youngest driver ever to reach 15 Cup wins, claiming this honor on his 24th birthday. Kyle also swept the weekend by winning the Nationwide Series Race on Friday Night.The rest of the top 10 shakes out like this:

#14 - Tony Stewart
#31 - Jeff Burton
#39 - Ryan Newman
#5 - Mark Martin
#77 - Sam Hornish Jr.
#26 - Jamie McMurray
#24 - Jeff Gordon
#07 - Casey Mears
#42 - Juan Pablo Montoya

There were 15 cautions, tying the caution record at Richmond. There were 21 lead changes among 8 leaders:

Lap Leaders
Brian Vickers (1-16, 8-22)
Jeff Gordon (7, 23-72, 97-98, 309-351)
Denny Hamlin (73-95, 101-116, 124-144,152-213, 249-274)
Kurt Busch (96, 145-151)
Ryan Newman (99-100, 236-248, 275-299,303-307)
Clint Bowyer (117-123)
Martin Truex Jr. (214-235)
Kyle Busch (300-302, 308, 352-400)

Unofficial Standings, Results and a lap by lap recap are available at NASCAR.com. Stay tuned next week as Kyle Busch will try to make two-fer by defending his trophy at the Southern 500 presented by Go Daddy in Darlington. The race takes place Saturday, May 9th and will be broadcasted on Fox going green at 7:35pm.

Richmond Cheat Sheet / Lineup

Congratulations to Brian Vickers, who got the pole for the Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway.Photo Courtesy of NASCAR.com

Below is the line-up
1. #83 Brian Vickers Toyota, Red Bull
2. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet, DuPont
3. #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota, FedEx Ground
4. #1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet, Bass Pro Shops / Tracker
5. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet, Prilosec OTC / Wal-Mart
6. #09 Mike Bliss Dodge, Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
7. #5 Mark Martin Chevrolet, Cheez-It / Carquest
8. #82 Scott Speed Toyota, Red Bull
9. #00 David Reutimann Toyota, Aaron's Dream Machine
10. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet, U.S. Army
11. #12 David Stremme Dodge, Star Trek
12. #33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet BB&T
13. #20 Joey Logano Toyota, The Home Depot
14. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota, Combos
15. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet, Lowe's
16. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet, Office Depot / Old Spice
17. #2 Kurt Busch Dodge, Miller Lite
18. #9 Kasey Kahne Dodge, Budweiser
19. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet, Shell / Pennzoil
20. #16 Greg Biffle Ford, 3M
21. #47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota, Bush's Best Baked Beans / Kingsford / Clorox
22. #6 David Ragan Ford, UPS Freight
23. #43 Reed Sorenson Dodge, McDonald's McCafe
24. #87 Joe Nemechek Toyota, NEMCO Motorsports
25. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet, National Guard - Drive the Guard / Amp Energy
26. #66 Dave Blaney Toyota, Prism Motorsports
27. #26 Jamie McMurray Ford, Crown Royal
28. #77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge, Mobil 1
29. #42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet, Target
30. #55 Michael Waltrip Toyota, NAPA Adaptive One
31. #44 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge, Paralyzed Veterans of America / King's Cup
32. #19 Elliott Sadler Dodge, Stanley Tools
33. #98 Paul Menard Ford, NIBCO / Menards
34. #71 David Gilliland Chevrolet, TRG Motorsports
35. #17 Matt Kenseth Ford, Dewalt
36. #7 Robby Gordon Toyota, Energizer
37. #99 Carl Edwards Ford, Aflac
38. #41 Jeremy Mayfield Toyota, SmallSponsor.com
39. #36 Scott Riggs Toyota, Tommy Baldwin Racing
40. #96 Bobby Labonte Ford, Ask.com
41. #07 Casey Mears Chevrolet, Jack Daniel's
42. #34 John Andretti Chevrolet, Window World
43. #37 Tony Raines Chevrolet, Long John Silver's

Failed to Qualify on time:
# 64 Todd Bodine Toyota, Gunselman Motorsports
#06 Trevor Boys Dodge, Boys Will Be Boys Racing Co.