“Jeff Gordon Day” in Arizona, and My Dream Interview with the 4-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion!

Sports fans of all shapes and sizes typically have their favorite teams and individuals that they root and cheer for like crazy.  We buy their apparel, we make screen savers out of pictures we find on the internet, and we support them with endless passion.  Many fans can only dream about the opportunity to actually meet, let alone have a conversation with one of their favorite sports icons.  Yesterday, my friends from Phoenix International Raceway made this a reality for me.

The driver of the #24 Dupont Chevrolet was here in Phoenix to meet Arizona Governor Jan Brewer at the State Capitol for a very special ceremony and to preview the April 10th SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600™ at Phoenix International Raceway.

At the ceremony, Governor Brewer declared that March 1st would now be known as “Jeff Gordon Day” in the State of Arizona.

Afterwards, he attended a media reception at the Hard Rock Cafe, where I had the ultimate and surreal pleasure of speaking with my favorite driver in NASCAR.

Please enjoy the following video where I chat with Jeff about the upcoming Subway Fresh Fit 600 at PIR and other topics.

Vying For His First NASCAR Championship, Denny Hamlin Visits Arizona To Promote Phoenix International Raceway!

It’s safe to say that Denny Hamlin grew up knowing full well that he wanted to be, and was going to be, a racecar driver.

Hamlin began his racing career in 1988, at the age of just 7 years old, racing go-karts. By 1997 at the age of 15 he captured the WKA manufacturers cup, and at the age of 16, he was racing Ministocks. In his very first stock car race, at Langley Speedway, Hamlin won the pole position and won the race.

He then progressed to the Grand Stock division in 1998, and moved on to Late Model Stock Cars in 2000. In 2002, he won ten Late Model races, and surpassed that in 2003 with 25 wins, and 30 poles out of 36 races. In 2004, while competing full-time in Late Model Stock Cars, Hamlin was signed to a driver development contract with Joe Gibbs Racing.

In 2006, Hamlin ran his first full season in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, and during the year he drove in both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series full-time. On June 11, Hamlin scored his first career Cup Series win at the Pocono 500, where he also won his second career pole (first one was at Phoenix International Raceway). He achieved his second career win on July 23, in the Pennsylvania 500 also at Pocono Raceway, becoming only the 2nd rookie in Nextel Cup history to sweep both races at a track during the same season, both from the pole position.

In the Cup Series, Hamlin won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award and finished third in the final Cup standings, scoring the highest points finish for a rookie in the modern era of NASCAR. Hamlin thus became the first ever rookie to make the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup.

Bottom line…this kid can wheel a racecar like nobody’s business…AND, he is just getting started. Currently, hit sits sixth in the Sprint Cup Series points with two wins and 15 top-10 finishes, and is coming of a 5^th place finish at Kansas.

With the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 coming up in the Chase at Phoenix International Raceway, the driver of the No. 11 FedEX Toyota stopped by to chat about his season, championship hopes, racing at PIR, and more.

Please enjoy the following audio:

[audio http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27701953/NASCAR/Hamlin%20Audio%20Cut.mp3]

General race tickets and all other events throughout the NASCAR event weekend at PIR can be purchased at www.phoenixraceway.com, or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223).

Jimmie Johnson Foundation And PIR Continue Partnership, Plus My Chat With The 3-Time Defending Champion!

Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber has announced that the track has extended its partnership with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation for the April 16 NASCAR Camping World Series West race at PIR, which will again be named the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150.

The partnership between the Foundation and PIR reaches its second year in 2009. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 is scheduled as the first of three races during the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ event weekend, with the green flag dropping under PIR’s bright lights at 7:15 p.m. on April 16.  Mike David won the first Foundation race in 2008.

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation – created by Johnson and his wife, Chandra – is dedicated to assisting children, families, and communities in need. The foundation strives to help everyone, particularly children, pursue their dreams. The partner programs for the Jimmie Johnson Foundation include San Diego Habitat for Humanity, the Hendrick Marrow Program, the Victory Junction Gang Camp, and Phoenix-based Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.

“I really give the track a lot of credit for this partnership idea,” said Johnson. “It’s a great way that we can raise awareness and funds for our foundation.  At the same time, Chani and I are thrilled to be making a contribution to a very important local charity.  We hope the children who benefit from the services of West Valley Child Crisis Center will have a chance to join us for a night of fun and racing at the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150.”

In partnership with Phoenix International Raceway, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation has designated the West Valley Child Crisis Center as its local charity of choice.  The WVCCC’s mission is to provide a safe place where children are comfortable and loved, and given a chance to heal before being placed in a foster home, restored with their parent(s), or with a relative that the State deems able to provide decent care.

“We are truly excited about partnering with Chandra and Jimmie Johnson on this unique project that ties racing with philanthropy for a second consecutive year,” Sperber said. “PIR strongly believes in the work of the foundation and it was natural for us to continue to grow this partnership. Additionally, we are very excited to unveil a new and unique race experience for our fans through the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Ticket Package.”

This year’s event will feature more than just a 150-mile race for the Camping World Series West teams. A special “Night of Champions” party featuring Johnson will take place in PIR’s Octane on the evening of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150. Proceeds from special racing items and memorabilia auctioned at the event will benefit the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and its partner programs, all with the intent of giving back to children in the Phoenix area and beyond.

PIR also released a very cool new pace car to commemorate the new partnership.

As Johnson attempts his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup Series victory at PIR in the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™, I had an opportunity to catch up with the man they call “Vader” and discuss his foundation, favorite tracks, and whether he’d ever want to own his own team.  Please enjoy the following audio: [audio http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27701953/NASCAR/JJ%20Audio%20Cut.mp3]

General race tickets for the April 16 Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 and all other events throughout the NASCAR event weekend at PIR can be purchased at www.phoenixraceway.com, or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223).

Clint Bowyer Returns To Racing Roots…And Whoops Me In The Process!

Just because Clint Bowyer finds himself behind the wheel of a Sprint Cup car nearly every weekend from February through November doesn’t mean that he’s forgotten the roots of racing.

Bowyer, driver of the No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, appeared recently at the F1 Race Factory in Phoenix on behalf of the Coca-Cola Racing Family to meet with fans and the media in advance of the April SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ at Phoenix International Raceway.

The highlight of Bowyer’s day came in a pair of races on one of the high-performance go-kart tracks. Bowyer’s first group of opponents included the members of the Phoenix-area media, and lucky NASCAR fans were the next to step up and challenge the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion.

Now, I consider myself a pretty aggressive driver. The 27 points I racked up on my drivers license before the age of 18 should provide some solid evidence for that statement. So, having the opportunity to compete against one of NASCAR’s best, I felt I could at least hold my own. Man was I wrong! Feast your eyes on the race results below.

Yes, there I am in dead last. U-G-L-Y! Clint finished at the top as expected. He is of course a friggin’ NASCAR driver. Kudos to Justin, who even passed him at one point, for keeping pace.

Racecar drivers know how to drive the wheels off anything they sit in. They know the feel, have the timing, and live to do what they do. Watching Bowyer run around the track three seconds faster than me every lap confirms that I should stick to my job of writing about NASCAR drivers rather than racing against them.

Before the excitement of racing took place, I had some time to sit down and talk with Clint. Here are the questions I asked him, along with attached audio of his answers.

• “Where does Phoenix International Raceway ranked on yourlist of favorite tracks?”   Bowyer – Audio 1
• “Do you have a favorite track?”  Bowyer – Audio 2
• “Do you feel Phoenix International Raceway plays to your strengths?”  Bowyer – Audio 3
• “Which do you prefer driving more, the old car or the new car?”  Bowyer – Audio 4
• “What outcome are you looking for today in the go-kart races?” (I am sure you could guess his answer)  Bowyer – Audio 5

During the event, Bowyer also highlighted some of his favorite things about racing at Phoenix International Raceway.

“The weather’s great and there’s always good, close racing when we come (to Phoenix International Raceway),” said Bowyer. “Phoenix was the place where I had my first start in the (Sprint) Cup Series so it’s always nice to get back.”

In addition to winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 in April 2007, Bowyer finished second to race winner Jimmie Johnson in last April’s SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™. Outside of Johnson, Bowyer is the only driver in the Sprint Cup Series to have finished in the top five of the championship standings in each of the last two seasons.

Tickets to see Clint Bowyer and the rest of NASCAR’s stars throughout the April 2009 NASCAR event weekend at PIR can be purchased online at www.phoenixraceway.com, or over the phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223).

A huge thanks to Phoenix International Raceway, Paul Corliss, and Griffin Hickman for access to the event and providing some of the enclosed content.