Miami Resident Montoya Edges Closer to the Chase, Former Hurricane Football Player Kellen Winslow Will be at Daytona and Miami Resdient Vitor Meira Eyes an HMS Return Date

Six Motorsports Championships…Lots of South Florida Storylines

NASCAR Storylines en route to Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 20-22

► Kahne and The King near Miami Championship Contention
► Miami’s Montoya in Contention for Championship
►2008 Ford 300 winner Edwards Repeats History with Win at Milwaukee
►2007 Champion Hornaday Celebrates his Birthday in style
► Former Hurricane Winslow Named Honorary Race Official in Daytona
► NASCAR Championship Standings Update: Race to the Chase Is On

  Kahne and The King near Miami Championship Contention

For the first time in 10 years, NASCAR’s King has a reason to celebrate. Last Sunday in Sonoma, CA, Kasey Kahne brought Richard Petty back to Victory Lane with his win at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA .  Kahne led 37 of 110 laps on his way to his first road-course victory and 10th win of his career. Chased by Tony Stewart, one of NASCAR’s best road racer’s, Kahne held fended off the challenge of multiple restarts to pull away from the field and log his first win of the season.

“It feels great. I can't believe it," Kahne said smiling in the winner’s circle, "Stewart's as good as it gets out here.”

Petty Enterprises, NASCAR’s longest running and most winning organization who fielded cars for King Richard, merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports in the offseason to create Richard Petty Motorsports.  The win was the first for the new organization and Kahne was happy to give his owner the checkered flag:

“To see Richard Petty in the winner's circle with us today, that was big. “ Kahne said in a post-race press conference. “That was a neat deal, and excited to see him up there.  I don't think coming in today he expected the 9 to win.  I don't know if anybody did.”

The win brought Kahne to within just three points of the Top 12 and contention to possibly win his first Sprint Cup title at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend, Nov. 20-22.

  Miami’s Montoya in Contention for Championship

Coral Gables’ resident Juan Pablo Montoya has driven his way into the battle for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in Miami. Montoya, a former F1 driver and 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner, is currently 12th in the Sprint Cup Series points standings heading to New Hampshire. Chasing NASCAR’s title contenders for much of the 2009 season, Montoya finds himself inside the Top 12 for the first time in his NASCAR career following his sixth place run at Infineon. Montoya is happy with the progress his team has made:

“We've been really good the last few weeks, everywhere we've been,” said Montoya.  “It's all about timing, doing everything right, not making mistakes -- and seeing what happens.”

The No. 42 crew has even more reason to celebrate this week as they were awarded the Tissot Pit Crew Award for their work during last weeks race. The award recognizes the fastest service on Pit Road and awards the winning crew with a $5,000 bonus.

"It is extremely gratifying to be recognized with the Tissot Pit Road award,” said Chip Goode, pit crew coach for Montoya’s team. “Our Target Chevrolet pit crew is a dedicated group that puts in the work during the week to be one of the best on Sundays.”

Montoya’s consistent finishes and his crew’s hard work have vaulted him into contention for the Sprint Cup title. If he keeps his performance up, Montoya could have a Championship homecoming this November competing for his first NASCAR Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend, Nov. 20-22.

  2008 Ford 300 winner Edwards Repeats History with Win at Milwaukee

Carl Edwards is back to his winning ways in the Nationwide Series. Riding a 14-race winless streak since his 2008 victory in the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Edwards finally back flipped off the No. 60 Ford Fusion in celebration at the Milwaukee Mile this past weekend. Edwards held off chief rival Kyle Busch to repeat his win last year at Milwaukee that catapulted him to winning nine of the final 17 races during the 2008 campaign. Will lightning strike twice for Cousin Carl?
“We could go win every race," Edwards said. "That’s how we try to approach them. As good as last season ended, it didn’t get good until a year ago tonight.”
Traveling across the country from the Sprint Cup Series race Infineon Raceway, Edwards had to start in the rear of the field, as he was unable to qualify the car before the race. No matter though, Edwards sliced and diced his way to the victory, bringing him to within 127 points of Championship leader Kyle Busch. If history is an indicator, Edwards season is about to get hotter than the South Florida sun and could lead him to another Nationwide Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend, Nov. 20-22.

 2007 Champion Hornaday Celebrates his Birthday in Style

For a racer, there’s no better way to celebrate a birthday than with a victory. 51-year-old Ron Hornaday, Jr., now knows the feeling. Hornaday won the Camping World Truck Series race in dominating fashion, leading 189 of 200 laps on his way to his 41st career victory at the Milwaukee Mile. Hornaday, who was crowned Camping World Truck Series champion at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2007, was happy to score his second win of 2009 in such a special way.

"It's a cool day," Hornaday said. "What'd they [say], 'How old are you?' I don't know. I'm in my 50s, now, I guess."

The winner of the 2002 Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway has even more reason to celebrate as the victory as his victory gave him back the lead in the Camping World Truck Series point standings with 15 races remaining in the season. The Championship Tracksm is giving fans even more reason to celebrate as fans 12 and under can get in FREE to the Ford 200. Hornaday and the Camping World Truck Series’ toughest drivers will be on hand for the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend, Nov. 20-22.
 
  Former Hurricane Winslow Named Honorary Race Official in Daytona

Former Miami Hurricanes and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kellen Winslow will serve as an honorary race official for the 2009 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4. A member of the 2001 Miami Hurricanes National Championship team, Winslow was a two-year starter for “The U” where he racked up 119 catches for 1,365 yards and nine touchdowns in 38 games for the ‘Canes. He received the John Mackey Award for the nation’s top tight end and was the sixth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.

The 2007 Pro Bowler will get to ride in one of the pace cars on the track before the drop of the green flag as well as take part in pre-race festivities on Independence Day in Daytona. Winslow as well as thousands of race fans will look on as NASCAR’s best battle on the track for precious points that will determine whether or not they will be contention for the Sprint Cup Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway, during Ford Championship Weekend, Nov. 20-22.

 NASCAR Championship Standings Update: Race to the Chase Is On

With Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Nov. 20-22 coming closer and closer every week, it’s time to see the favorites for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series Championships.

Heading to the Magic Mile in New Hampshire, Tony Stewart still leads the Sprint Cup Series points after a second place run at Infineon. Jeff Gordon trails the owner/driver by 84 markers followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch. 2008 Ford 400 winner Carl Edwards sneaks into the Top 5 in points swapping positions with Ryan Newman, who is followed by Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, and Matt Kenseth in 10th. Mark Martin and newcomer Juan Pablo Montoya round out the Top 12. Kasey Kahne is on the outside looking in, but after his win in Sonoma, he is only three points back of 12th place. David Reutimann, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer are all in contention for a spot as they sit less than 100 points behind Montoya in 12th. Only 10 races remain until the Chase cutoff in Richmond which will determine the 12 drivers that will battle to hoist the Sprint Cup trophy at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend, Nov. 20-22.

Kyle Busch maintains his lead in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship point standings after his runner-up effort at Milwaukee, but 2008 Ford 300 winner Carl Edwards is closing fast in second. Brad Keselowski won’t let it be a two-man fight as he is lurking back in third, 218 points behind the leader. Jason Leffler remains in contention in fourth, 46 points back of third, followed by Joey Logano in fifth. The Nationwide Series joins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in New Hampshire this weekend for 200 miles with 17 races until they arrive in Miami for Ford Championship Weekend, Nov. 20-22.

Ron Hornaday retook the Camping World Truck Series points lead with his birthday win at Milwaukee. Matt Crafton keeps this fight, NASCAR’s closest among the top three series as he sits 36 points back. 2008 Ford 200 winner Todd Bodine improves to third followed by Mike Skinner, David Starr in fifth, and rookie Taylor Malsam in sixth. The Camping World Truck Series Championship will come down to the final lap at Homestead-Miami Speedway during the Kids-FREE Ford 200, Nov. 20

 
IndyCar Storylines en route to NextEra Energy SpeedJam Championships at Homestead-Miami Speedway Oct. 9-10

► Miami Resident on Pace to Race in October
► Dr. McDreamy, Where Do You Find the Time?
► Miami Residents Try a New Profession: Gauchos
► Palmetto-Based Team Flexes Muscle at Iowa
► Ganassi Takes Another Grand-Am Win at Mid-Ohio

     Miami Resident on Pace to Race in October

A.J. Foyt Racing could be a two-car team later in the season if Vitor Meira, who crashed in the Indianapolis 500, returns from his injuries sooner than expected.
Doctors have told Meira, who is recuperating in Miami, that his two fractured vertebrae will require four to six months of recovery because he did not have surgery. That puts him in the window for a return at the Firestone Indy 300 Oct. 10 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
A.J. Foyt's team has committed to fielding Boca Raton native Ryan Hunter-Reay for the rest of the season, but team manager Larry Foyt said Meira would be brought back when he's ready.
"We'll run two cars in that case," Foyt said. "We know Vitor is progressing really well, so we'll be ready for him when the time comes."

      Dr. McDreamy, Where Do You Find the Time?

After a strong finish at Le Mans and a sixth place finish at Mid-Ohio, Patrick Dempsey and the entire Dempsey Racing crew have logged many arduous hours to record a recent string of encouraging results.  When it comes to creating a personal fragrance, Dempsey could not rely on his driving teammates or the team that prepares his racecars.  
Dempsey played a leading role in the development of Patrick Dempsey Unscripted and was intimately involved with the concept, name, package and fragrance notes.
"At the heart of Unscripted is the idea of living your life on your own terms, and not by a written script. It's about loving what you do, and doing it in your own unique way, rather than being defined by rules," said Dempsey during an interview prior to the fragrance’s launch.
Currently, Dempsey Racing is locked in an eighth-place tie in the Grand Touring division of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.  The team trails the fifth-place Farnbacher-Loles Racing by just 32 markers as the series prepares for Daytona on July 4.  The Grand-Am Rolex Series Championship will be decided during the NextEra Energy Resources SpeedJam Championships Oct.9-10.
    
    Miami Residents Try a New Profession: Gauchos

IndyCar Series drivers, Mario Moraes and “Rafa” Matos, who hail from Miami, served various types of mouth-watering food to customers and media at Texas de Brazil Churrascaria in Richmond.   The waiters are known as Gauchos. Moraes and Matos are in town this week for the IndyCar Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, June 27.  The drivers also tested their skills in the kitchen while preparing some of the menu items.
Danica Patrick will join Matos and Moraes, Helio Castroneves, defending series champion Scott Dixon, defending race champion Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti and the rest of the open-wheel field, reaching speeds of 180 mph on the shortest track the series visits.  The Championship for the IndyCar Series will be decided at Homestead-Miami Speedway during the Firestone Indy 300 Oct.10.  At this point of the season, Ryan Briscoe leads the championship chase by three points over Dario Franchitti, who has recorded two victories in 2009, heading into this weekend’s race at Richmond.
"I don't think we're doing anything wrong," said Briscoe, who finished second to Franchitti at Iowa Speedway on June 21. "We're doing an extraordinary job as a whole team. It's going to be like this for the rest of the season. It's going to be very close. Every race we go to, it's going to be tough."

     Palmetto-Based Team Flexes Muscle at Iowa

It wasn't the charge to the podium finish the team recorded at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or the domination they displayed at the Milwaukee Mile, but Palmetto-based RLR/Andersen Racing and driver Mario Romancini’s charge from 13th to fourth on June 20 at Iowa Speedway was almost as impressive.
The 21-year-old Brazilian drove the final portion of the race with a broken weightjacker, which prevented him from making in-cockpit adjustments to his No. 5 car during the last 25 laps of the 115-lap race.
"It was a good race for the championship," Romancini said. "I had a problem with my weightjacker; it wasn't working for the last 25 laps or so, which made it very, very difficult. The car had a lot of push, and there wasn't anything I could do about it. I was up to third, but then I got blocked by (Daniel) Herrington, and then (James) Hinchcliffe and (Ana) Beatriz passed me.  There wasn't anything I could do about it. Still, it was a very, very good result for us, especially with the problem with the weightjacker."
Despite missing the podium on an oval for the first time this season, Romancini once again won the $1,000 Force For Earth Hard Charger award.
Even more importantly, the strong finish moved Romancini to second place in the championship point standings. He trails J.R. Hildebrand, 227-211, heading into the race at Watkins Glen International.  The Firestone Indy Lights Champion will be crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway during the NextEra Energy Resources SpeedJam Championships Oct.9.

     Ganassi Takes Another Grand-Am Win at Mid-Ohio

Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas overcame three early pit stops and going a lap down to win at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Starting from the second position, Rojas came into the pits under caution on Lap 2 to satisfy the mandatory pit-stop rule requiring a stop within the first 45 minutes of the race. During his stop, the team took on fuel, but it was determined by Grand-Am officials that the race had yet to complete a green flag lap. The ruling resulted in a stop-and-go penalty with the team being held in the pits for an additional 10 seconds with Rojas falling to the back of the field.
“Lady luck was surely shining on us today. I thought we were out of that one early, but the entire Ganassi team, Telmex and Lexus just did a great job today. I hope that was as much fun to watch as it was to race. Ricardo Zonta and I were both driving like it was qualifying out there, except trying to carve our way through traffic at the same time. ”
The win is a record 22nd for Scott Pruett and the ninth for teammate Memo Rojas. It is also the 23rd for Chip Ganassi Racing – also a Rolex Series record.  The Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates juggernaut will look to take the crown during the NextEra Energy Resources SpeedJam Championships Oct.10.