Spraker Racing Enterprises To Lead Randy Hill Racing

MOORESVILLE, North Carolina (July 8, 2011) – - Officials from Randy Hill Racing (RHR) proudly announced today that Mooresville, North Carolina-based Spraker Racing Enterprises (SRE) will lead the team’s inception in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011.

Jeff Spraker, a former NASCAR and ARCA driver, will guide the rookie team as crew chief beginning next weekend at Iowa Speedway during their ARCA Racing Series debut in the Prairie Meadows 200. Spraker, a native of Latham, New York, has more than 30 years of experience in the Motorsports industry and has had the privilege to work with some of the sport’s most talented drivers in both divisions.

Spraker, also a car owner himself in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, will serve as a mentor for team owner Randy Hill, a Texas entrepreneur with experience in agribusiness and real estate who is making the leap to stock car ownership from the Lone Star State.

“I’m pleased to join forces with Spraker Racing Enterprises,” said Hill. “Jeff and his team have been an absolute pleasure to work with and we’re expecting a great relationship with them for many years to come. We knew in order to establish and grow our company that we needed to align ourselves with an organization that already has been established and has great credibility.”

Spraker is equally excited about working with Hill and his staff beginning with the 11^th ARCA Racing Series contest of the year next Saturday afternoon.  “We’ve carefully put this program together,” said Spraker. “We’re excited about our driver and the relationship with Mr. Hill and his group. Being new to the industry, he knew what he needed to do and after several months of talking, I’m exciting to be officially affiliated with Randy Hill Racing.”

While RHR has not chosen a primary manufacturer for its operation yet, the team will utilize Ford Fusions and Chevrolet Impalas.

Mike Bliss, Dexter Bean, Drew Brannon, Clay Campbell, Kerry Earnhardt, Joey Gase, Ron Hornaday Jr., P.J. Jones, Alex Kennedy, Brandon McReynolds, Steve Park, David Ragan, Scott Riggs, David Reutimann, Michelle Theriault, Darrell Waltrip and Smokey Yunick are just some of the drivers that Spraker, who also has starts for himself in the ARCA Racing Series (ARS), NASCAR K&N Pro Series (NKNPS), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) and NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) has been affiliated with in one capacity or another through SRE.

The Prairie Meadows 200 (200 laps / 175 miles) is the 11^th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The sixth ever ARCA race at Iowa Speedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, July 15^th with an hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 3:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. A final fifty minute session has been etched in from 5:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated for race day, Saturday July 16^th set to begin at 12:10 p.m. The event will take the green flag shortly after 4:15 p.m. The event will air live on SPEED. Additional event coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,323^rd race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. All times are local.

For more on Randy Hill Racing, please visit randyhillracing.com.

Join the team on Facebook by clicking here (Randy Hill Racing).

Tweet with us through Twitter at @RandyHillRacing.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management

PHONE: 239.834.9797

EMAIL: chris@chrisknightpr.com

Randy Hill Racing To Execute Missions In NASCAR, ARCA

ABILENE, Texas (June 30, 2011) – - In a time where the economic climate is still on shaky grounds, Randy Hill Racing (RHR) is set to invade the circuits of NASCAR and the ARCA Racing Series in time to set a foundation that will propel it to accomplish goals, gain a new level edge of support and most importantly, win races.

Set to begin with the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards contest at Iowa Speedway on July 16, 2011, for the Prairie Meadows 200, the team will then compete in two additional ARCA races and then make the leap to the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

Owned by Texas entrepreneur, Randy Hill, the team is diving into the sport in a time where new teams are few and scarce. Hill plans to build his team around the fundamentals of success and determination while strategically aligning his new operation with the right people.

“This is a very exciting time for me,” said Hill. “I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while now. I’ve taken my time and done my homework to make sure this is something I’m prepared to embrace. I’ve set a strategy outline for myself and my team that we plan to stand by and execute 100 percent.”

Hill, a businessman with experience in agribusiness and real estate, added, “I felt it was best to start my team in the ARCA Racing Series, because it’s a great stepping stone not only for drivers but car owners as well. It’s been done in the past and even though we don’t plan a long stay in ARCA, we’re excited to be starting in that development series. Our heart is set on NASCAR. Our partners want to be there and I see a long-time presence there. I realize it’s going to take some time, but I’m ready for the uphill climb on and off the track.”

Randy Hill Racing will make additional announcements including driver, manufacturer and marketing partner(s) in the coming weeks.

For more on Randy Hill Racing, please visit randyhillracing.com.

Join the team on Facebook by clicking here (Randy Hill Racing).

Tweet with us through Twitter at @RandyHillRacing.

Is there any sport that offers more confrontation than NASCAR?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/23/SP021K08JH.DTL

Check out some of the feuds that have taken place this year:

“Even an owner has gotten physical. Richard Childress, 65, was fined $150,000, but he wasn’t suspended after he put Kyle Busch, 26, in a headlock and punched him several times. He was furious at Busch for bumping into one of Childress’ drivers on a cool-down lap in a truck series race. At Darlington, S.C., this year, Ryan Newman reportedly punched Juan Pablo Montoya in the NASCAR hauler. Then the heavy hitting started. Busch spun out Kevin Harvick’s Chevrolet, Harvick tried to punch Busch through the window of his Toyota, and Busch used his bumper to push Harvick’s abandoned car into the pit lane wall. Both drivers were fined $25,000 and placed on probation.”

Conflict makes for good entertainment. And NASCAR offers plenty of it. It’s another reason why NASCAR is America’s real national pastime.

Are you kidding me?

http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2011/6/21/2235502/congresswoman-nascar-military-funding-2011

Let me make sure I have this right: a Member of Congress is complaining about the military’s involvement with NASCAR?

“Minnesota Democratic Representative Betty McCollum has stepped up her campaign to end military sponsorship in NASCAR. Rep. McCollum has failed twice to stop federal funding of NASCAR, professional fishing and professional wrestling, but is working on ways to continue her fight against what she sees as wasteful spending.”

Does Congresswoman McCollum not realize that spending money on marketing in NASCAR is a perfect way to advertise to potential recruits? Fortunately, the military understands this and so does the rest of Congress. I’m proud that our military supports NASCAR. It’s a perfect match.

Here is the biggest proof yet that Indy racing is dying and NASCAR is only getting better:

http://www.independentmail.com/news/2011/jun/02/move-nascar-would-make-patricks-sponsor-very-happy/

Danica Patrick will join NASCAR full-time. I don’t know that. But I’m predicting it. Here is why:

“Yeah, the Indy 500 is still the Indy 500, but even what was once considered the greatest and grandest of motorsports events has lost its luster. Its TV ratings last year were the worst in history (and just 4.3 on Sunday), and not even the hype of the 100th anniversary of the race provided much of a boost.”

Danica knows that the future of racing is in NASCAR. And that’s why she’ll be there full-time. The question is not if, but when.

This past weekend the Indy series went up against NASCAR:

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/05/100_years_of_speed_at_indianap.html

Who do you think won? The numbers aren’t in for this year yet. But we can look at last year’s numbers to see if Indy 500 is America’s favorite race:

“American viewers don’t seem to think so. Only 5,793,000 watched the 2010 Indy 500, compared to 6,547,000 for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 later that day, according to SportsBusiness Daily.”

This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Thanks to the vision of Bill France years ago, NASCAR has been the most fan-friendly racing sport around. And by racing stock cars rather than grand prix cars, NASCAR ensured that it would be able to connect with the average American. And as far as I can tell, it’s just the beginning of greater things to come!

This week I’m in Charlotte to catch the NASCAR races this weekend. Guess what else is in Charlotte? The NASCAR Hall of Fame:

http://www.nascarhall.com/contact

Here is the great thing about this Hall of Fame:

“The NASCAR Hall of Fame wasn’t only built to honor the sport’s history, its moments and its best drivers… it was built as a tribute to its passionate fans and offer a full-throttle experience for newcomers.”

This is the ultimate museum for fans:

“The Hall is fueled with more than 50 interactive experiences like tire-changing stations, realistic race simulators, a broadcast booth and even a Kids Zone where children can be wide open. We guarantee to get your adrenaline racing. And after you work up an appetite, grab a bite to eat at the Pit Stop Café or a souvenir to help remember it all at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop. You’ll find it all at the Hall.”

So the next time you’re in Charlotte, check out the NASCAR Hall of Fame!

Today our series continues on the amazing history of NASCAR:

http://www.nascar.com/news/features/history/

Within a few short decades of its creation, NASCAR had revolutionized motor sports:

“In 1976, NASCAR’s premier division took the lead in worldwide motorsports attendance for the first time with more than 1.4 million spectators making their way to events, according to figures from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. That lead never has been relinquished. Television exposure grew as well. The 1979 Daytona 500 became the first 500-mile race in history to be telecast live in its entirety. In 1981, NASCAR moved it’s annual awards ceremony to New York City from Daytona Beach for the first time. By the mid 1980s, Fortune 500 companies not only were involved in sponsoring NASCAR, but individual races and teams as well.”

NASCAR is one of the most succesfully marketed sports in history. Early on, it learned the power of television and sponsorships. This helped make it the greatest sport in the world. All of us can learn important marketing lessons by studying NASCAR’s example.

This history of NASCAR is the history of rapid growth:

http://www.nascar.com/news/features/history/

As this article notes:

“By the end of NASCAR’s first decade, the city [Daytona] not only had held on to its racing roots, but had outgrown the beach and, in 1959, moved events to Daytona International Speedway. With its long back straightaway and sweeping high-banked turns of more than 30 degrees, the 2.5-mile tri-oval was one of the largest speedways in the world. In the first race, fans were treated to something that each year still brings millions of fans to NASCAR races — close competition. The first Daytona 500 didn’t end for three days. It took that long for NASCAR officials to study a photograph of the finish between Petty and Johnny Beauchamp before declaring Petty the winner. The hook had been set. The following year (1960), superspeedways were opened just outside Atlanta and Charlotte. ABC televised the 1961 Firecracker 250 from Daytona Beach as part of its Wide World of Sports.”

Part of what has driven NASCAR’s growth over the years is having a central location for its Super Bowl event: Daytona. That’s where it began and where the growth happened. If you’ve never been to Daytona, do yourself a favor and go. It’s something that everyone should do at least once.

Today we continue our series on the history of NASCAR:

http://www.decadesofracing.net/TheBeginning.htm

Today we focus on a momentous decision that changed racing forever. After World War II, Bill France started NASCAR and began racing. But he soon had a profound insight about his young sport:

“After the war was over the big automakers had to switch production from Tanks and Jeeps back to their makes of cars. This got France to thinking that the fans would want to purchase cars when they see them winning at the races and he knew that productions were going to be slow for a while. He decided that NASCAR would run pre ’40s Fords and Chevrolets plus a handful of new Buick’s were allowed. The 1948 NASCAR schedule covered 52 dirt-track races for modified’s and Red Byron was the national champion that year.”

And so NASCAR was destined from the beginning to surpass Grand Prix racing because it knew people wanted to watch the kinds of cars that they drive. That was a great insight from a great leader.

For the next few days, we’re going to talk about one of the greatest stories in sports history–the story of NASCAR:

http://www.decadesofracing.net/TheBeginning.htm

How did it all get started? Before NASCAR, automobile speed trials had been conducted at Daytona since 1902:

“In the spring of 1935 Sir Malcolm Campbell was taking his Bluebird rocket car to Daytona Beach in hopes of running at 300 miles per hour for yet another land-speed-record. Along with this and the weather and the smaller hospitable and more affordable area maybe this is the reason behind the Frances staying in Daytona Beach. Campbell never did get his record of 300 mph at Daytona, instead his best he could do was 276.82mph and on March 7, 1935 Campbell announced that he was moving the speed trials to Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It was the shifting winds and changing tides that made Campbell realize that he would not reach his goal of 300mph if he kept working out of Daytona Beach. Campbell did beat the 300mph speed at Bonneville in late 1935.”

But after Campbell left, Bill France soon arrived and the NASCAR era was born.

Today I celebrate with all Americans the demise of Osama Bin Laden. I salute President Obama for acting on the intelligence he had and moving decisively.

It’s also important to note that early reports indicate that the intelligence that led to this event came from interrogations that many criticized President Bush for conducting.  So I salute President Bush, as well, for his role in relentlessly fighting terrorism.

This is just a battle. The War on Terror goes on!

NASCAR is the greatest sport and it has the biggest heart for its fans:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/Talladega-Superspeedway-commits-$100000-to-American-Red-Cross-Alabama-tornado-relief-efforts-seeks-fans-help-042811

The recent tornadoes have spurred NASCAR into action:

“Talladega Superspeedway officials on Thursday vowed to commit $100,000 toward Alabama’s relief efforts in the wake of devastating tornadoes — and also called on NASCAR fans to help. Besides the financial commitment to the American Red Cross, Talladega officials said that, in return for a $50 donation, they will allow race fans to drive one lap around the high banks of the superspeedway in their personal vehicles.”

NASCAR is doing its part to help out during this tragedy.  I have half a mind to load up my car and donate $500 for 10 laps myself at Talladega. That would be very well spent helping others!

Today we close out the week with a discussion about the fan experience at NASCAR. Simply put, NASCAR is the best sport in the world for the fans:

http://www.thedailytimes.com/Sports_News/story/NASCAR_drivers_to_participate_in_a_free_autograph_session_today_in_Nashville_id_010458

As the article notes:

“The ALL ACCESS pass is a popular ticket add-on that gives fans unprecedented access at the track. Pass holders can walk up and down pit road where the cars are on the grid just an hour before the green flag. The Fan Walk in the garage gives fans the opportunity to watch as mechanics make final preparations for the big race. Victory Lane is opened for fans to take photos, and fans are also invited to the driver’s meeting before the race to witness NASCAR Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash give the drivers their final instructions before the race gets underway.”

What other sport does this? Where else can fans mingle on the field with the athletes? Only one sport: NASCAR, the greatest sport in the world!

Tomorrow our nation celebrates Earth Day. Believe it or not, NASCAR celebrates it every day:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2011/04/21/daytona-international-speedway-plants-trees-as-nascar-green-initiative.html

A few years ago, NASCAR decided that it had a responsibility to do something about the environment since its races undoubtedly increase emissions. The solution? Plant trees at the track:

“NASCAR’s tree-planting program, NASCAR Green Clean Air, began three years ago and has doubled in size each year, said Mike Lynch, managing director of Green Innovation for NASCAR. More than 2,500 trees have been planted near racing venues across the country, Lynch said. That includes 100 trees planted at four Flagler County schools last September to offset the carbon emissions from the Coke Zero 400 last summer.”

It turns out that it’s not just the flag that is green at NASCAR!

What a great race we just had at Talladega! But the NASCAR season is just getting started. And there are already talks of some potential changes that might make NASCAR even better:

http://atlanta.sbnation.com/nascar/2011/4/18/2117582/nascar-car-of-tomorrow-stock-cars

This is what I love about NASCAR: its roots are in ordinary cars. Unlike Grand Prix racing, NASCAR has traditionally featured cars that are pretty similar to the ones you and I drive:

“If Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards were actually going head to head in the same Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang you could go buy – though modified for safety and sporting coloful paint schemes and big numbers on the doors – with Brad Keselowski right behind in his Dodge Challenger and Kyle Busch lurking close in whatever Toyota’s highest performance car is, it would be a win-win for fans, manufacturers, and NASCAR.”

Will NASCAR return to real stock car racing? Time will tell. Until then, there are a lot of great races to enjoy for the rest of the year!

Today’ I’m heading to Talladega for this weekend’s NASCAR race:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/Are-NASCAR-drivers-scared-by-Talladega-mayhem

This is a unique track with a unique reputation: it usually offers some of the most spectacular crashes in the sport:

“In last April’s Aarons 499 alone, 24 cars – more than half the starting field – were caught up in yellow-flag mania. Two Aprils ago, Carl Edwards’ No. 99 Ford was launched airborne in a last-lap accident, smashing violently into the wire fence along the front grandstands. Seven fans were injured by the flying debris, but amazingly Edwards climbed out of the wreckage and was able to jog across the finish line, where he jumped in the air, hands raised to the crowd in a sort of defiant triumph.”

So watch the racing this weekend. You’re certain to see quite a show!

We’ve talked on the blog about how NASCAR is good for sports and good for business. It’s also good for television:

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/04/10/tv-ratings-saturday-nascar-races-fox-to-victory/88830

This past Saturday night’s race at Texas Motor Speedway didn’t have good ratings; it had great ratings:

“NASCAR Sprint Cup racing easily paced Fox to a Saturday night win. Note that in addition to the disclaimers above, the race ran into the 10pm hour but we only the saw the numbers for Fox’s normal 8-10p primetime block.”

This is more proof that NASCAR is just getting started. The more people see the sport, they more they will fall in love with it.