Kayli Barker to Lucas Oil Modifieds

May 11, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Las Vegas NASCAR^® Whelen All-American Series Champion, Kayli Barker is set to run in the Lucas Oil Modifeds Military and Veterans Appreciation Night on May 21, 2016 at the Las Vegas Bullring thanks to a recently announced sponsorship by Las Vegas Car and Truck.

Las Vegas Car & Truck stepped up to support Kayli Barker’s career and continued success in April, and have committed to backing her run in the Lucas Oil Modified Annual Military and Veterans Appreciation Night.

Barker made her debut run in the Modified category in November of 2015 at the Las Vegas Bullring and has won nearly 50 main events and a Super Stock Championship on the track. In addition to running the Modified race, she will be pulling double-duty, also running in the Super Late Model main on the same evening. She currently is the lone female driver on the roster for the Modifieds in the 75 lap main event on May 21, 2016.

I’m looking forward to the challenge of running the two very different cars that night,” says Kayli. “The modified is about 350 pounds lighter than “Monster” my Super Late Model and also has a smaller harder tire which limits the amount of usable horsepower. The real challenge is good car control and tire management on my part, but I am confident and eager to get back in the Modified.”

With her aspirations set on racing in the NASCAR^® Truck Series, the eighteen year-old driver has already celebrated many milestones in her career, including being the 1st female driver to win three track championships in Las Vegas history and being the youngest female driver to win a NASCAR^® Whelen All-American series race. In addition to her accomplishments on the track, Barker has been awarded the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Leadership Award and NASCAR^® UNOH Youth Achievement Award.

Kayli’s championship performance and proven success as a Late Model Series Driver has shown that she is ready to step up to the Modifieds and we’re pleased to be able to provide that opportunity for her,” said Dan Walker, Principal Owner of Las Vegas Car & Truck. “Her aspirations include joining the ranks of NASCAR^®’s Truck Series and moving Kayli Barker to Lucas Oil Modifieds is a vertical step in helping her achieve that goal. Kayli is a positive role model for young racers alike and is an inspiration for all young adults who desire to win and conquer in life. One of our company’s core values is supporting our local Las Vegas community and people like Kayli that make a positive impression on our valley’s youth. As a Christian faith based business we’re proud to support that Kayli’s Christian faith is a strong moral compass throughout her life.”

Currently a freshman at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Kayli Barker made her NASCAR^® Whelen Series debut in 2012 and brings a strong resume to the 2016 season. Barker will be racing her Dana Stahl, 2014 Chevy SS NASCAR^® Super Late Model for the 2016 season and is hopeful for a continued slot on the Lucas Oil Modified H-Town Racing Roster for the remainder of the 2016 Lucas Oil Modified season.

Madeline Crane joins NASCAR Drive for Diversity

March 9, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Madeline Crane joins the 2016 NASCAR Drive for Diversity program — Photo: RevRacing.net

18-year-old Madeline Crane, a native of Meansville, Georgia, has just been instated into the 2016 NASCAR Drive for Diversity roster. She will drive for Rev Racing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series as part of the program.

Crane was originally named the first alternate after her performance in the October combine. She joins the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program in place of Juan Garcia, who will pursue opportunities in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Madeline and Ali Kern now make up the two female drivers on the 6 racer roster.

Madeline Crane – NASCAR Ambitions

Madeline Crane began her racing career in Bandoleros at 10-years-old in the Thursday Night Thunder Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway. She picked up two consecutive wins in her first season, quickly moving into Legend cars, and by the time she was 14 she had already garnered 59 top-5 finishes in just 82 starts, finishing the year as the Pro Division Winter Flurry Champion.

At the age of 15, she moved up again, racing Crate Late Models at Dixie Speedway. Madeline Crane finished her first season in Late Models second in points, before turning her focus to Super Late Models.

We are excited to have Maddie join our program,” said Max Siegel, Rev Racing team owner. “Crane has continued to show growth year-after-year during her combine evaluation. We are ready to get her in the car and prepared for the season ahead.”

Madeline Crane and her teammate Enrique Baca will hit the track on Saturday, March 19th at Hickory Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season opener for Rev Racing.

Danica Patrick’s Daytona 500 Cut Short

February 22, 2016 // by Taylor Hyatt

As Speedweeks came to a close with the 58^th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Danica Patrick left with much to be desired from her newly sponsored Nature’s Bakery No. 10 Chevy SS with Stewart-Haas Racing. This was Patrick’s first event with the snack and food brand sponsor as well as crew chief Billy Scott. The two had never worked together until the February 13^th Sprint Unlimited, but the communication seemed fluent between them all weekend. Unfortunately, everything else didn’t go as planned.

Patrick takes damage in the Sprint Unlimited race

Patrick, whose 2013 Daytona 500 pole position earned her a spot in the Sprint Unlimited, started the race in 12^th and despite multiple incidents finished in 11^thposition. She had made her way towards the front of the pack at one point, but a sudden decrease in speed by the No. 31 caused her to make contact ending in major grille damage. After fixing the majority of the problem during yellow flag pit stops, the No. 10 was caught up in a multi-car incident leading to right-front damage once again. Fortunately, for the team the car was able to continue and finished the race. In a post-race interview Patrick didn’t show much excitement about the on track activity.

That’s just speedway racing. I feel really good about how tonight went.”

Danica Patrick | Thursday’s Can-Am Duel

More trouble was ahead for the Stewart-Hass Racing team in Thursday’s qualifying race, the Can-Am Duel, for the Daytona 500. Starting in the 14^th position Patrick was in a great place to fine tune the team’s plan. That is until she was once again caught up in a multi-car accident, however, only sustaining minor damage from a spin in oil after moving to avoid the carnage happening in front of her car. Being that this happened on the final lap she was able to take the checkered flag and because of the NASCAR caution rules she was given a 7^th place finish. Patrick was optimistic that her team would be able to repair her car before the big day.

Hopefully, nothing is wrong with the car and we can just hammer on it a little bit, get it where it needs to be, change out the engine and get ready for the 500.”

Danica Patrick’s Daytona 500 efforts

Finally, it was time for the main event. The event race fans from all around the nation come to the sunshine state to watch, The Daytona 500. Patrick began the race in 16^th position, but after a green-flag pit stop causing a pass-through penalty due to crew members being over the wall before permitted by the guidelines, she was back on track without any help from the draft. Quickly, she found herself a lap down and during the next caution was just out of reach for the “Lucky Dog” which would have put her back on the lead lap.

It (the penalty) put us in a position of being aggressive at the wrong time in the race against cars you don’t always want to be aggressive with” said Patrick.

Unfortunately, left-rear contact was made with the No. 16 car, of Greg Biffle, causing Patrick to go airborne and spinning into the infield ultimately ending her day with a 35^th position finish and only earning six points towards the chase.

As if Danica needed anything else to go wrong during the first race of the season, The King himself, Mr. Richard Petty, thought he would add insult to injury. He’s always been a tough critic of hers and very vocal in regards to her NASCAR career. In an interview with Yahoo Sports he once again expressed his opinion.

“She ain’t gotten no better or no worse.”

Although, a rough start to the season, Danica Patrick has the tools, the car, and the team to have a great year. Next week she’ll show what she’s got in Atlanta!

What do you think of her Speedweek efforts and the King’s comments?

Comment below!

Julia Landauer in NASCAR K&N Pro Series

January 12, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Julia Landauer announced today that she will be joining the Bill McAnally Racing lineup in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series for 2016.

24 year-old Landauer has already built a diverse racing resume that includes a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship this past season in the Limited Late Model division at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Virginia.

Julia – who is originally from New York City; but currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina – joins a BMR driver lineup that includes Chris Eggleston, Todd Gilliland, and Riley Herbst. Plans call for all four drivers to run the full schedule in the K&N Pro Series West, along with select events in the K&N Pro Series East. This will mark her rookie debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.

“It’s great to have Julia join the BMR team, as she moves up to the K&N Pro Series,” said BMR President Bill McAnally. “She has experienced success in a variety of racing venues and we want to provide her the opportunity to continue that success at this level of competition. We look forward to working with her again and anticipate an exciting season ahead.”

Landauer returns to the Bill McAnally Racing team for the first time since 2009, when she competed in a handful of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model races for the race team at All American Speedway in Roseville, California.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be racing in the K&N Pro Series with Bill McAnally Racing,” Landauer said. “Bill and I have worked together in the past, so I’m really looking forward to building on that relationship for a great team dynamic this year. After a track championship in 2015, it’s time to carry that momentum into 2016. BMR is a successful, hard working group of people who produce top-notch equipment and I can’t wait to get on track for the first race. A huge thank you to all of the partners who helped make this season come together.”

Landauer began her racing career at the age of 13, competing in the Skip Barber Racing series in 2005. The following year she ran the full series and became the first female champion in the history of the series, scoring 12 wins.

Her diverse racing resume also includes experience with Formula BMW in 2007, Ford Focus Midgets in 2008, late model events with BMR in 2009, select late model races at South Boston (Virginia) Speedway in 2010/2011, and partial seasons in Legend cars from 2012 to 2014. She became the first woman to win a NASCAR track championship in the Limited Late Model division at Motor Mile Speedway in 2015.

Away from the track, Julia Landauer has been busy as well. She graduated from Stanford University in 2014, with a bachelor’s degree in science, technology and society. She also took a short hiatus from racing in 2012 to be a cast member on the television series “Survivor” , where she made it to day 19 before being eliminated in the season that aired in early 2013.

An advocate for women in sports, Julia campaigns to inspire education in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

GoDaddy says goodbye to Danica

November 6, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

GoDaddy posted this amazing video Goodbye and Thank-You to Danica Patrick, to celebrate their long run together in her career.

Danica has spent 10+ years as the face of GoDaddy. That partnership ends at the end of this season, ending an incredible era of her career.

GoDaddy says Goodbye to Danica Patrick

Game changer, rule breaker & inspiration. @DanicaPatrick has taken us places we never imagined. #GoingtheDistance https://t.co/rOxxmyW3lU

— GoDaddy Racing (@GoDaddyRacing) November 6, 2015

Danica Patrick fined for retaliation wreck

November 5, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

NASCAR star Danica Patrick was assessed a behavioral penalty by NASCAR officials for deliberately wrecking David Gilliland during Sunday’s Martinsville race. The move was apparently retaliation for contact made earlier in the event, when Gilliland pushed the No. 10 car of Danica up into the wall.

Danica later responded by trying to return the gesture, instead spinning and creating a caution, where she waited for Gilliland to come back around before tagging him from behind again, causing extensive damage to both vehicles and ending her race.

The bad blood between the two racers dates back several years, as they have feuded on-track since her debut in 2010. Patrick feels that Gilliland intentionally targets her in the middle of the pack.

NASCAR levied a $50,000 behavioral fine for her actions, also deducting 25 driver points for the violation and placing her on probation until the end of the year. Patrick’s Stewart-Haas team have not filed any appeal on the incident.

13 female racers Drive for Diversity

October 7, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

13 female racers will have three days to compete for a spot in the top driver development program, NASCAR Drive for Diversity (D4D), taking place at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., Oct. 19-21, 2015. In total, 22 drivers were selected to take part in the combine.

The D4D program, currently in its 12th year, invites promising ethnically diverse and female drivers, ages 14 to 26, from across North America to test their skills over a three-day period in an annual combine order to select the newest members of the program for the following year. Drivers are evaluated on their driving skills and strength and agility exercises. Those identified during the combine will take part in the diversity program for 2016.

“Finding and developing diverse athletes who will represent the future of NASCAR is at the core of our organization’s mission,” said NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Jim Cassidy. “Every year, the bar is raised with talented applicants who have the potential and determination to succeed. We’re proud to watch our graduates in the national series and develop more diverse talent to join them in the years to come.”

Rev Racing, the Max Siegel-owned race team, partners with the D4D program to offer racing opportunities in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKPSE) and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) for one full season, providing drivers with equipment, mentoring, and competition experience.

“We could not be more excited about this year’s NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine to select the 2016 Class of Rev Racing drivers,” said team CEO Max Siegel. “Coming off of our 6th consecutive multiple race winning season, we are focused on continuing to make our program and approach world-class, as we prepare these young drivers to advance into the national series.”

This year, 13 female racers Drive for Diversity, including the youngest combine participant ever at 14 years old, Macy Causey.

Fans can follow the Combine live on Twitter at @NASCARDiversity and @RevRacing.

Women of the 12th annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine

Hannah Adair, 21 Tusla, OK
Kayli Barker, 18 Las Vegas, NV
Nicole Behar, 17 Otis Orchards, WA
Macy Causey, 14 Yorktown, VA
Madeline Crane, 17 Meansville, GA
Claire Decker, 20 Eagle River, WI
Natalie Decker, 18 Eagle River, WI
Ali Kern, 22 Fremont, OH
Mariah McGriff, 20 Vail, AZ
Becca Monopoli, 26 Lakeland, FL
Erika Newcome, 20 Pickerington, OH
Hannah Newhouse, 18 Twin Falls, ID
Vanessa Robinson, 25 Las Cruces, NM

Best of luck to each of these ladies as they attempt to make the 2016 Drive for Diversity Program!

Female Racers seek votes to race NASCAR event

September 23, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Two Female Racers Compete for NASCAR Xfinity Seat

Stock car racers Cassie Gannis and Mackena Bell have been selected as finalists in an online contest for VROOM Brands. The drivers are competing for a chance to win a seat in the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series Hisense 200 at Dover International Speedway. Each driver is asking fans to vote for them online by selecting their favorite finalist, liking the Vroom Brands Facebook page, and sharing the contest with others. The racer with the most votes will get the chance to showcase their talent behind the wheel at the HiSense 200 race on October 3rd.

>> To vote, visit http://fans.vote/v/ACjecYd3j9o <<

Voting takes place September 23- 26th.

Best of luck to our favorite NASCAR Racing Women!

New sponsor for Danica Patrick

August 18, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

NASCAR’s Danica Patrick just announced a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Nature’s Bakery, a rapidly-growing snacks and food brand headquartered in Reno, Nevada, to join Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) as primary sponsor of the No. 10 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning with the 2016 season.

The agreement will see Nature’s Bakery and its signature tagline, “Energy for Life’s Great Journeys”, on board Patrick’s No. 10 Chevrolet SS for 28 races per year.

Nature’s Bakery was founded in 2010 by the father-and-son duo of Dave and Sam Marson with a mission of making delicious, convenient, on-the-go snacks that complement health-conscious living and active, everyday lifestyles. Their lineage in the food industry can be traced back to the 1960s when Dave’s father, Richard Marson, opened a family bakery. Growing up in the bakery, Dave passed his passion and skills along to his son, Sam, whereupon the two combined their knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit to form Nature’s Bakery.

“Danica Patrick is one of the most fit and health-conscious drivers in all of racing and she embodies the Nature’s Bakery customer,” said Dave Marson, founder of Nature’s Bakery. “We make great products that complement Danica’s lifestyle and the always on-the-go environment in which she competes. Nature’s Bakery provides ‘Energy for Life’s Great Journeys’ and we’re very proud to embark upon this NASCAR journey with Danica and Stewart-Haas Racing.”

Nature's Bakery and Danica Patrick — Photos: NASCAR

Patrick is one of the most recognizable athletes in motorsports and the most marketable personality in NASCAR, statistics derived from Repucom’s 2015 Davie Brown Index. Her success on the racetrack, which includes an IndyCar Series victory and a Daytona 500 pole, transcends her into the mainstream household, proven by a 2014 Harris Poll which named Patrick the second-most recognized female athlete in the United States, behind only tennis star Serena Williams.

“It’s an honor to represent Nature’s Bakery and also a great deal of responsibility,” Patrick said. “They have ambitious goals and they’re going to rely on me and everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing to deliver. I have ambitious goals too. It’s why I came to NASCAR and, specifically, to Stewart-Haas Racing. There’s still a lot I want to achieve in this sport and I’m looking to continue my professional journey with a brand as determined as I am.”

“All you need to say is ‘Danica’ and people know exactly who you’re talking about,” Dave Marson added. “She has immersed herself and succeeded in a very intense sport and been recognized for her efforts. By offering convenient, easy-to-find and affordable products that people can feel better about eating, we’ve carved a niche for Nature’s Bakery in the fast-growing, packaged snack-food industry. With our partnership with Danica and Stewart-Haas Racing, we’re able to take that niche mainstream.”

Danica Patrick has 6 top-ten finishes in her 4 year Sprint Cup career, including a pole at Daytona out of the 104 races she has entered. She currently is ranked No. 21.

“Danica has proven she belongs in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we’re very happy to have her a part of our team for years to come,” said Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing with Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation, the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. “Nature’s Bakery is a natural fit with Danica. She has played an important role in the growth of all the businesses associated with her and our growth as a race team. Our partnership with Nature’s Bakery is all about growing their business. In Danica, we have the best possible person to help Nature’s Bakery achieve its goals.”

Representing: Tia Norfleet

July 10, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Aspiring NASCAR driver Tia Norfleet shows off her Horsepower & Heels

Check out the fierce custom heels of aspiring NASCAR driver Tia Norfleet. The heels match her racing livery and even have her number on the side of them. Tia is making waves in the racing world as NASCAR’s first female African American driver.

Learn more about Tia Norfleet at http://www.tianorfleet34.com/ and look out for more to come on this young, ground-breaking upstart. She continues to push for more NASCAR opportunities.

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