NASCAR Daily News Headlines * December 24, 2008

Motorsports 2009 Race Car & Trade Show Adds Drivers

Starr, a 12th place finisher in the final Truck Series championship chase, will be visiting with fans and signing autographs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 17th at the Jeff Hammond Store display (Booth No. 605).

Though he was not able to win a race during the 2008 season Starr was a consistent performer. He has four career wins to his credit in Camping World Truck Series competition. Starr will return to the Red Horse Racing team in 2009 and that will also be where champion Johnny Benson will be making his home. Benson will also be appearing at the Motorsports 2009 show.

In addition to Starr and Benson, NASCAR Sprint Cup racers Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick will be on hand to meet fans and sign autographs.

Drag racing will also be well represented by NHRA Top Fuel racer Antron Brown, Pro Stock racer Kenny Koretsky, along with motorcycle racers Matt Smith and Angie McBride.

There will be a large number of regional and local racing stars on hand and more than 250 race vehicles on display. Just about everything imaginable in motorsports will be part of the huge show that fills almost 300,000 square feet of the A.C. Convention Center. In addition there will be more than 400 vendors offering a variety of products and services. Many area speedways will have displays and offer their schedule of events for the new season.

Seminars covering numerous subjects will be offered free to attendees and the Ms. Motorsports Pageant will again for a very popular part of the two day show. Exhibitor space is filling at a rapid pace with all space expected to be filled long before the show opens on January 16th. Tim Hogue can help those who want to reserve exhibit space at 609.888.3618.

And while Motorsports 2009 goes on during the day, January 16-17, at night fans will fill the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall to see the Gamblers Classic Indoor Auto Races. Information on both events can be had at 609.888.3618 or visit the website at www.aarn.com. Fans can also gain information on discount lodging being offered in Atlantic City during the big motorsports weekend by visiting the same website.

McMurray Turns Fastest Lap

Jamie McMurray turned the fastest lap in the track's April 27 race, averaging 201.636 mph. On Oct. 5, Juan Pablo Montoya's 200.563-mph lap was fastest. By comparison, the fastest Daytona lap was Brian Vickers' 192.155 on July 5, and the next fastest track was Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Dale Earnhardt Jr. turned a 186.012 lap on March 9.

Talladega's fastest Nationwide Series lap was 198.154 mph by Kyle Busch on April 26, and Jason White turned a 195.810 Craftsman Truck Series lap on Oct. 4. NASCAR's "loop data" monitors total passes, throughout the field, during races. In the October race, Talladega had 12,416 such passes, while the April event had 9,146.

Next, once again, was the circuit's other "restrictor-plate track," Daytona, with 6,921 passes on Feb. 17 and 5,697 on July 5. The Aug. 3 race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway featured 4,636 passes through the field. Through the loop data, more interesting facts emerged.

NASCAR's "driver rating" is derived through a formula that weighs the data. Kurt Busch had the largest decline in driver rating, falling 25.9 points from 99.7 in 2007 to 73.8 in '08.

The most improved driver, statistically, was David Ragan, whose rating improved from 56.1 (2007) to 81.8. Next was Ragan's Roush Fenway teammate Greg Biffle, who improved from 76.4 to 93.4.

In the 2008 regular season, Kyle Busch's driver rating was 112.0. In the Chase, the rating fell to 83.4.(niagarafallsreview.ca)