Patrick Down Sprint Year

Autoracing Betting Lines

Patrick left the IZOD IndyCar Series at the end of last season to compete in NASCAR full-time this year, running the entire 33-race schedule in the Nationwide Series and at least 10 races in Sprint Cup.

"I hope to do it [Indy 500] in the future," she said during a press conference. "At this point, after a lot of conversations, it's just going to be the Coke 600. I think it's going to be a big challenge, but I'm looking forward to it."

Charlotte becomes the ninth race added to Patrick's Sprint Cup schedule. Her tenth event will announced at a later date. Stewart-Haas Racing is hopeful she will run a full-time schedule in NASCAR's premier series in 2013.

Long Pond, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dr. Joseph Mattioli, the founder and chairman of the board of Pocono Raceway, passed away on Thursday at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Pennsylvania, following a lengthy illness. He was 86. Known as "Doc," Mattioli founded the 2.5-mile Pocono racetrack in the early 1960's and had been at the helm of the track ever since. Pocono has hosted 68 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races to date.

"The entire NASCAR family is saddened by the loss of a true icon in our sport, Dr. Joe Mattioli," NASCAR chairman and chief executive officer Brian France said in a statement. "Doc's relationship with my family reaches three generations, all the way back to my grandfather [NASCAR founder William H.G. France]. His passion for the sport will live on in the hearts of his family and our fans. His contributions to our sport are wide-spread. We have lost a great leader - and a great person. NASCAR offers its deepest condolences to his wife, Rose, and the entire Mattioli family."

In 2009, Mattioli received the Philanthropic Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals for his contributions to local civic organizations, hospitals, schools and charities. He served on the board of directors of numerous organizations and was dedicated to improving the quality of life in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Service arrangements for Mattioli were not announced as of Thursday afternoon.

NASCAR made such drastic changes to help improve track attendance and television ratings, which had both slumped in recent years.

The 2011 season in NASCAR's premier series -- now known as the Sprint Cup Series -- featured the closest battle for the championship. Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards ended the season in a points tie (2,403 each), but Stewart captured his third title by virtue of his five wins -- all of them in the Chase -- compared to only one for Edwards.

One significant change for 2012 is the electronic fuel injection systems, which are replacing carburetors in the Sprint Cup cars. Electronic fuel injection has been a project that NASCAR has worked on with both McLaren Electronic Systems and Freescale Semiconductor the last several years.

NASCAR also worked with Sprint Cup teams to test the technology this past season.

NASCAR is preparing for the debut of the new Sprint Cup cars next year. Earlier this week, Ford unveiled its 2013 Fusion model. The other three manufacturers -- Chevrolet, Dodge and Toyota -- are expected to unveil their models later this year. Private test sessions for the car are planned throughout this season.

comments

---

•    ultimo sprint ! Viernessssss.

  ---

•    Maybe some of you don't know this, but I have Phonophobia, fear of loud sounds, that's why I hate chinese new year's firecrackers.

  ---

•    #PengetahuanSosial ternyata Si Neng Aprilia adalah seorang pembalap Nascar..

  ---

•    It's thursday and I ain't even drinking. What theeeeee fuck?!

  ---

•    Thirsty thursday

  ---

•    Anna Meares in action tonight in sprint QFs as the fastest qualifier. Come watch the 8 x World Champion fly at the #tracknats.

  ---

•    Talking to him never gets old...even when I've had a bad day, 1 word from him changes that bad day to a better one <3

  ---

•    #Imagine Joe hacks your Twitter and changes your location to: "In my bed with me - Joe" and bio to: "I love you, beautiful."

  ---

•    Te diria que sos el amor de mi vida, pero existen Chris Zylka, Patrick Wilson y David Giuntoli♥

  ---

•    Omg, it breaks my heart seeing my family go through this. :'(

  ---