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Bob Bahre, founder and former chairman of New Hampshire International Speedway, received the Buddy Shuman Award today during the 2008 NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association Myers Brothers Media Luncheon in New York City.

The Buddy Shuman Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to NASCAR racing and is in remembrance of the late Buddy Shuman, a pioneering NASCAR driver who tragically lost his life in a hotel fire in 1955.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Foundation, and Nationwide Insurance have joined together to encourage local residents to help save a life at the Annual Town of Loudon Blood and Marrow Drive.

The drive is scheduled for December 2 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Arthur Colby Safety Building on 8 Cooper Street in Loudon, N.H., and is sponsored by the Loudon Police Department and the American Red Cross.

Late Model stock car drivers will get their first superspeedway experience next year as New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host the inaugural American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Invitational during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SYLVANIA 300 weekend on September 17-20, 2009.

The Invitational will have a purse of more than $65,000 for invited and approved teams that attend the historic, groundbreaking event for Late Model stock car racing.

The stock market may be erratic, but New Hampshire Motor Speedway is doing their part to help race fans stem the tide of economic uncertainty with their Economic Stimulus Reward program.

Seventeen lucky guests will really enjoy their next trip to a Hannaford Supermarket with $300 of grocery cards to spend.  An additional 10 fans will be rewarded with a pair of pre-race pit passes to the June 28, 2009 LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the first event in the "Race to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup."

Gain a new perspective of New Hampshire Motor Speedway before coming to the 2009 LENOX Industrial Tools 301 in June and the SYLVANIA 300 in September while learning to drive like a professional at the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

The Richard Petty Driving Experience will be offering two different classes during this session.  The Rookie Experience will be held on October 10, 11, and 12, and the King's Experience will be run on October 10. 

For 31 race fans, the SYLVANIA 300 was a very lucky day.  New Hampshire Motor Speedway officials distributed over $30,000 in rewards in the second round of the Fan Appreciation Economic Stimulus Program.

This program was implemented at that start of the 2008 season to recognize fans for their support of NASCAR racing at New England's largest sports facility.

Eldar Dutra of Taunton, Mass. has been selected to receive the ultimate reward from round two - a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu.

If you are looking for great racing action, the speedway is the place to be on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28.  The Loudon RoadRace Series will be crowning their 2008 Champions, while the New Hampshire Soap Box Derby rally competitors will have an opportunity to take a big step towards living their dream.

Greg Biffle made a "text book" late lap pass to capture the SYLVANIA 300, the first race in the "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup."

With the win, Biffle moves into third in the Championship standings. Second place finisher Jimmie Johnson and third place finisher Carl Edwards have moved to the top of leader board with 5220 points. Edwards is the "Chase" championship leader by virtue of the tie-breaker.

Ron Hornaday led 149 laps in 200 laps of the Camping World RV Rental 200 Driven By Winnebago Industries on the way to his third New Hampshire NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory.  Johnny Benson and Travis Kvapil rounded out the top 3.

"Rick Ren and the team gave me a great truck today," said Hornaday.  "I can't thank Kevin and DeLana Harvick enough for all that they do for this team.  They are the reason we are so successful."

Eddie MacDonald has won the Heluva Good! Fall 125 in style.  After waiting 17 hours to start the event, MacDonald beat NASCAR veteran Steve Park to the finish line by .365 seconds.  Series point leader Matt Kobyluck finished third.

MacDonald was perfect at New Hampshire in the NASCAR Camping World Series East winning both the June and September Heluva Good! 125's.

Due to inclement weather, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Pole Day for the SYLVANIA 300 has been canceled.  The NASCAR Camping World Series East Heluva Good! 125 has been postponed to Saturday, September 13.

Those guests who purchased tickets for Friday's qualifying and race will be able to attend all of Saturday's events.

With two major championship events set for this weekend, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. will make motorsports history as the first company to host playoff kickoffs for both NASCAR and the NHRA.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host the "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup" in Loudon, N.H., while the NHRA's "Countdown to the Championship" begins at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C.

With a continued focus on improving fan amenities, New Hampshire Motor Speedway officials have quadrupled the number of portable shower facilities located throughout the speedway camping areas for the SYLVANIA 300 this weekend.

Some lucky race fan will drive off in a new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu following the SYLVANIA 300 on September 14 as the grand prize winner in New Hampshire Motor Speedway's latest, innovative economic stimulus program.

In addition to the car, twenty more guests will really enjoy their next trip to the supermarket as they share more than $6,000 of free Hannaford grocery cards.

Fans will have the opportunity to personally experience the thrill of NASCAR racing this Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at New Hampshire Motor Speedway's "Chase" Kick-Off Party.

Kicking off SYLVANIA 300 Week activities, the Sprint Racing Experience will be at the speedway to demonstrate the incredible speed and awesome power of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car.  Fans can get behind the wheel of this intense, full-motion simulator and feel what it is like to race against the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, and Kyle Busch.

Fans attending Friday's events during the SYLVANIA 300 weekend on September 12, 2008, will see one Heluva Good!® show.

In June, Patrick Carpentier, a native of Joliette, Quebec, won the Heluva Good!® Pole for the LENOX Industrial Tools 301.  It was the first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole for the Canadian, who has had a number of strong qualifying attempts throughout his rookie season.  This was the second time a foreign-born driver has been the top qualifier in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.  Lloyd Shaw from Toronto, Ontario, was the first to accomplish this feat in 1953. 

NASCAR Camping World Series East teams have arrived at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in preparation for the Heluva Good! Fall 125 on Friday, September 12.

The rain has stopped, the track is dry, and testing has begun. 

For fans wanting to watch the test, grandstand admittance is free of charge.  Speedway World Souvenirs and the Ticket Office are open.

Twelve drivers will look to win the first race in the "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup" during the SYLVANIA 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 14, 2008.

In the four years since the inception of the "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup", a championship contender has found himself in victory lane at the end of the SYLVANIA 300.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway officials distributed over $30,000 in rewards to 31 ticket holders, including six month's mortgage payments for one lucky fan,  as part of its newly-implemented Fans Appreciation Economic Stimulus Program today.

The program was implemented for last month's LENOX Industrial Tools 301.  The fans, drawn randomly from all ticket buyers for the race, were hosted at a recognition luncheon in Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman O. Bruton Smith's trackside suite.

The Women's Riding School will offer the unique opportunity for both veteran and novice female riders to sharpen their skills on Monday, July 28, 2008, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Women's Riding School is exactly what it appears to be.  It is a place for women to improve their riding skills - racing is neither encouraged nor allowed.  The school was founded ten years ago by Judy Mirro to provide female motorcyclists with a welcoming environment which focuses on safety and fun. 

The rain came at the right time for Kurt Busch as he won the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 today at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

This was Busch's third victory at the 1.058 mile oval. He won both races at the speedway in 2004, on his way to claiming a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.

Busch acknowledged that some of his success was a result of luck, but that he had the pit strategy and, more importantly, the drive to win.

Chuck Hossfeld won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour New England 100 from the pole today at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The modifieds once again showcased some of the best racing of the weekend, passing side-by-side until the start/finish line. In the final laps, the top drivers swapped the lead back and forth and fought each other until the last second.

Eddie MacDonald beat out competitors Trevor Bayne, and Matt Kobyluck to win the NASCAR Camping World East Series Heluva Good! 125 tonight at New Hampshire Motor Speedway tonight.

The night was special for MacDonald, a native of Rowley, Mass., who said that his main goal in putting together his team has always been to win a race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a feat that escaped him in 16 starts at the speedway where his average finishing position was 37.

"We didn't know until late yesterday that there were pachyderm permits required to move an elephant across state lines, and apparently, there are some health certifications required as well," said Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of the speedway. "We're disappointed, but we simply don't have the time to comply properly with all the federal procedures.

"Even without elephants frolicking on the frontstretch, race fans will still see the most entertaining pre-race show in the history of the track Sunday with the Kansas concert and motorcycle stunt show."

Track Facts LENOX Industrial Tools 301

Kansas's greatest hits and gravity defying motorcycles will kick-off the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 on June 29.

The festivities will include classic rock band Kansas and extreme stunts from Free Style MX motorcyclists.  Both promise to be exciting preludes to the main event - the NASCAR Sprint Cup LENOX Industrial Tools 301.

Track Facts Heluva Good!® 125

Featuring one of the most lucrative purses per-mile in NASCAR racing, drivers competing in the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 week of events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will race for their share of a record purse that totals close to $7 million.

The posted prize money of $6,977,328 awaits competitors among four NASCAR touring divisions. The purses for all series have increased from last June's races, and are the highest in New Hampshire Motor Speedway history.

At the conclusion of last year's LENOX Industrial Tools 300, Jeff Gordon said, "Obviously I would have liked to have has another lap," after Denny Hamlin beat him by just 0.068 seconds.

This year, Jeff Gordon will get his wish.

For the first time, drivers and fans alike will have the opportunity to see if that EXTRA MILE will make a difference, when an additional lap is added to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, making it the LENOX Industrial Tools 301.

An innovative economic stimulus program for race fans attending the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will offer ticket holders the opportunity to have their mortgage or rent paid through the rest of the year, share in $10,000 worth of free gas or experience the luxury of suite level seats.

All race fans who have purchased a ticket by the close of business on June 25, will be eligible to receive these rewards.  The winners will be announced as part of the pre-race ceremonies for the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 on Sunday, June 29.

The green flag has waved on the New Hampshire Motor Speedway gift shop, and fans can now race in to stock up on authentic motorsports gear.

Unique New Hampshire Motor Speedway merchandise comes in a variety of styles for both women and men from top name designers such as Columbia, Liz Claiborne, Tommy Hilfiger, Ping, Polo by Ralph Lauren, Nike and Chase Authentics.

Race fans visiting New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Week activities will find it easier to navigate around the 1,100-acre complex with the introduction of a new Disney-like tram system.

The tram system, similar to that offered to visitors at Walt Disney World, will move guests from the parking and camping lots to grandstand area, providing a more efficient route to and from the races.

Tickets for the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 on Sunday, June 29 are going fast!  Don't miss out on one of the greatest sporting events in the northeast.  Call our Ticket Hotline now at (603) 783-4931 or visit our online ticket center to be a part of the action!

Great seats are also available for the Saturday, June 28 NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 presented by RVs.com and the New England 100 Whelen Modified Tour race.  Guests will get to enjoy two rounds of Sprint Cup Series practice, the Nationwide Series race and qualifying featuring a number of Sprint Cup Series stars, and the fan favorite Mighty Modifieds.

In response to today's announcement regarding H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler's retirement as President and General Manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway and President of Speedway Motorsports, New Hampshire Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Gappens issued this statement:

"To me, throughout his career, Humpy personified the great characteristics of P.T. Barnum, Walt Disney and Don King," said Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Arlen Kurtis has been selected to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Vic Yeradi Memorial Oval Days during the 18th Annual Vintage Celebration at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Arlen will be representing Kurtis Kraft, a company noted for designing and building midget cars, quarter midgets, sports cars, sprint cars and Champ Cars.  He became the head of Kurtis Kraft in 1968 when his father, the legendary Frank Kurtis, retired.

In preparation for the June 26 - 29 NASCAR Event Weekend at NHMS, teams have traveled from all over the world to test their hotrods for the upcoming races. 

Rookies and veterans alike from NASCAR Camping World Series East and Whelen Modified Tour teams will be taking turns on the 1.058-mile superspeedway to hone their skills for the Heluva Good! Summer 125 on Friday, June 27 and New England 100 on Saturday, June 28.  East Series drivers and motocross legend, Ricky Carmichael will be making his debut at NHMS for Ken Schrader Racing along with Austin Dillon, grandson of Richard Childress.  Modified Tour Champion, Todd Szegedy and winner of the Southern Modified Tour season opener at Caraway Speedway, L.W. Miller will be making return visits to the Speedway.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be one of the prominent exhibitors at this weekend's SpeedwayEXPO '08.

The region's largest motorsports trade show runs from Friday through Sunday in the Mallary Complex at the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield, Mass.  The speedway's booth will feature a diverse display of competitors and race cars scheduled to compete on the 1.058 mile oval throughout the 2008 season.

From Politics to NASCAR, New Hampshire will be the host for three of the most important “first races” of 2008, and New Hampshire Motor Speedway officials are in the middle of all the action. Tuesday, voters in the Granite State will head to the polls for the “First-In-The-Nation Presidential Primary” race.