It’s been a tough week for old motorsports writers. Not only did we lose two of our longtime colleagues, Harold Pearson and Benny Phillips, but now comes word of the passing of Joseph “Doc’’ Mattioli.
All three of these men played important roles in my auto racing education and all three became friends.
Harold Pearson was part of the “in crowd’’ [...]

As daylight began returning to Central Florida on Saturday, it showed that Ford’s and Riley’s  impressive showings in the Rolex 24-hour race at Daytona International werecontinuing.
In the lead in the Daytona Prototype class at the 16-hour mark was the No. 60 Ford Riley of Michael Shank Racing. Behind the wheel was Justin Wilson.
Second was the [...]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Due to its status as the first major circuit race on the calendar each year, the Rolex 24 at Daytona has been a calling card to the rest of the world for American road racing for 50 years. What a ride it’s been since Dan Gurney waited on the banking and [...]

Rob Kauffman’s romance with Ferrari began the same way a lot of romances with the carmaker’s products began: as a youngster tacking up a poster of one of the iconic Italian beauties on his bedroom wall. Amore.
This weekend, Kauffman will take his relationship with Ferrari to a new, historic height as he will help usher [...]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A.J. Foyt, the Grand Marshall of the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, cancelled his appearance at the event due to illness. Foyt had complications from recent knee surgery, but is expected to make a full recovery.
“I am really sorry that I can’t be there this weekend,” said Foyt [...]

Qualifying for the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona produced an upset Thursday, with the No. 8 Starworks Motorsport Ford Riley capturing the Daytona Prototype pole for the twice-around-the-clock classic at Daytona International Speedway.
Ryan Dalziel of Orlando turned a fast lap of 1 minute, 41.119-seconds and 126.741 mph on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn road-course. [...]

Notes and quotes from the Sprint NASCAR Media Tour presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway:
CONCORD, N.C. – Bill Elliott will return to Sprint Cup driving duty in 2012 for, as it stands right now, just one race.
During the morning session of the annual Sprint NASCAR Media Tour presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway Thursday, it was announced [...]

Notes and quotes from Day 3 Wednesday of the annual NASCAR Media Tour:
One of the biggest stories of the 2011 Spring Cup season will not be a big story in 2012, officials at Kentucky Speedway said.
During a morning stop on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, those officials promised that [...]

News and notes from Tueday’s Day 2 of the Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR Media Tour:
NASCAR officials and Ford officials took the opportunity of the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour to roll out the new Ford Fusion which will compete in the Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2013.
And in introducing the car, all said they [...]

CONCORD, N. C. – Danica Patrick announced Monday that she will not drive in this year’s Indianapolis 500.
Instead, she will race in the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend.
Patrick made the announcement during the first day of the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour in North Carolina.
“I hope [...]