‘Honoring The Drive’ Set To Recognize Senator Jon Kyl In Phoenix On November 8th!

Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced today that  United States Senator Jon Kyl will be presented with the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame’s “Outstanding Achievement Award” at PIR’s ‘Honoring the Drive’ charitable fundraiser on November 8 at the Arizona Biltmore. ‘Honoring the Drive’ marks the start of NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup semi-final week in Phoenix.

NASCAR personalities, including 7-Time champion Richard Petty, “The King”, and Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, will be on-hand to honor Senator Kyl’s exemplary career serving Arizona and our nation in the U.S. Senate.

“Senator Kyl has been involved with racing and Phoenix International Raceway since he was a young man,” said Sperber.  “His support of racing over the years has been critical to the growth and health of the sport.”

Turner Television (TNT) and SPEED Channel personality Ralph Sheheen will be hosting the evening’s festivities. In addition to recognizing Senator Kyl’s career and contributions to motorsports, ‘Honoring the Drive’ will be raising funds for the non-profit West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame and The MVP Foundation.

Phoenix International Raceway’s ‘Honoring the Drive’ will be held at the legendary Arizona Biltmore Resort at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 8. Tickets for the event are $250 a piece and will provide attendees with the chance to spend an evening with honored NASCAR guests while enjoying food & beverage, as well as an exclusive charity auction.

Tickets for Phoenix International Raceway’s ‘Honoring the Drive’ are available online at www.themvpfoundation.org. Interested sponsors for the event can contact Phoenix International raceway at 602-463-5400.

Tickets to the Nov 8-11 AdvoCare 500 NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway are also available, with prices starting at just $25. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.PhoenixRaceway.com or call 1-866-408-RACE.

Watch the Semi-Final Race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at PIR on Sunday, Nov. 11. Tickets for the entire Nov. 8-11 NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more information, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.

About The MVP Foundation

The MVP Foundation is an Arizona-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization that leverages the power of professional sports to provide opportunities, support and resources to children and families in need.

NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson Honored at the White House!

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson was honored at the White House on Wednesday, August 19. The South Lawn event also included 2008 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and several past champions and special guests.

“NASCAR is once again honored to have its drivers recognized by the President of the United States,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “NASCAR is rooted deep in America’s fabric and represents the best of sports and side-by-side competition.”

Joining Johnson at the celebration were: Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart. (Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth couldn’t attend due to schedule conflicts).

Past champions and special guests in attendance were: Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, Juan Pablo Montoya, Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace and Darrell Waltrip.

This was the ninth time the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion has been honored at the White House since 2000. NASCAR’s first official visit to the White House was in 1978 during the Carter administration.

A New Champion in 09′? That’s What The Press Thinks!

The media have spoken, and it predicts Carl Edwards will end Jimmie Johnson’s championship stranglehold.

In a NASCARMedia.com poll asking members of the media to forecast 2009’s final top 12, Edwards received almost twice the first place votes as Johnson. Edwards finished with 70 first-place votes, compared to Johnson’s 37.

Despite his proven dominance in winning three consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles, Johnson could not muster a majority of the support from the 198 voters who cast a ballot.

“It is an unreal compliment for 70 [media members] to think that I will win it all,” Edwards said. “It’s just great. What Jimmie has done is spectacular. For the media to say they think that I might be able to stop that is pretty neat.”

The voters believe the rest of the 2009 top 12 will look much like the final 2008 version – with one notable exception.

In their opinion, Mark Martin’s return to full-time competition with Hendrick Motorsports will shake up this season’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The media picked Martin to finish eighth. Clint Bowyer, who must adapt to his new No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet crew in 2009, is the only 2008 Chase participant who the voters feel will fail to make it in 2009.

Here are the media’s final top 12 predictions:
1. Carl Edwards
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Kyle Busch
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
6. Greg Biffle
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Mark Martin
9. Jeff Burton
10. Matt Kenseth
11. Denny Hamlin
12. Tony Stewart

In Raybestos Rookie of the Year balloting, voters believe Joey Logano will live up to expectations. Logano, who takes over the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota from Tony Stewart, garnered 52% of the media vote. Scott Speed finished second with 44% and Max Papis finished third with 3%. A total of 185 votes were cast in the preseason Raybestos Rookie of the Year ballot.

Thanks to Mike Forde, NASCAR Public Relations, for this content.