Matt M. Myftiu
Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.
NASCAR announces race start times, channels for 2016 season
Here's all the info you need to watch/listen to Sprint Cup action in 2016.
===
2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Schedule
2016 Audi A6 has the chops to battle with top luxury sedans
Let’s be honest. When you get into the luxury realm of the modern-day automobile, they’re all pretty nice. The look and feel and style may vary, and people may be brand-loyal, but in the end it’s hard to find a dog in the bunch. But within this elite group, some vehicles still do tend to shine a bit brighter than others. Some of it can be explained by specs and performance numbers, but often it’s just something you feel when you look at a particular vehicle and get behind the wheel that draws you in.
One such vehicle that I would put in this category is the 2016 Audi A6, a midsize sedan that I would put up against any vehicle in its class. I recently spent a week in the A6, and I’m back with a full report on what makes it reach those heights.
RHA’s T10i headphones offer bold design, stellar sonic experience
On the one hand, headphones are a pretty simple thing; you plug them in your ears and listen to music. Not too complicated.
But the reason there are hundreds of sets of headphones made by a variety of manufacturers at a variety of prices is that not everyone does it the same way. And some companies do a better job than others and getting you the quality sound you are seeking.
One brand whose stature is rising is Scotland-based RHA, and they’ve ventured boldly into high-end headphone territory with the T10i offering, which sell for about $200.
The question, of course, is whether they merit that price, and after some time testing out a set of RHA T10i headphones I’m here with the full details of my experience.
XFINITY Dash 4 Cash events add heat races; Caution Clock introduced for Truck Series
NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell announced today several racing-related innovations to the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, beginning with the 2016 season, designed to ignite and energize the growth of each series.
In the NASCAR XFINITY Series, where “Names Are Made,” each event in the popular Dash 4 Cash program now will be comprised of Two Heats and a Main. Drivers who win two of the four Dash 4 Cash bonuses available also are all but guaranteed a spot in the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase.
In addition, the rugged NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races now will feature a Caution Clock, which will be triggered at the start of each green-flag run. When the green flag is displayed, 20 minutes will be placed on the clock. If/when the clock expires, a caution will be thrown.
“These innovations contain the elements of racing that our fans want the most,” said O’Donnell. “The enhancements put a premium on in-race strategy, and will create an unprecedented level of excitement as teams make tactical decisions that could impact their spot in the Chase.”
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES DASH 4 CASH
The NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash will be comprised of Two Heats and a Main at four tracks: Bristol Motor Speedway (April 16), Richmond International Raceway (April 23), Dover International Speedway (May 14) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 23).
Qualifying for each Dash 4 Cash event will set the 40-car field and the starting positions for the Two Heats with the fastest qualifier awarded the Coors Light Pole Award. Odd-numbered qualifiers (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) will start in the first Heat in respective order, while even-numbered qualifiers (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) will start the second Heat in respective order.
The Two Heats will set the starting positions for the Main with the top two NASCAR XFINITY Series regulars in each Heat becoming eligible for the Dash 4 Cash bonus. The highest finishing driver among the four Dash 4 Cash eligible drivers will be awarded a $100,000 bonus. If any driver wins two of the four Dash 4 Cash bonuses available, he/she is all but guaranteed a spot in the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase. In short, two Dash 4 Cash bonuses are equivalent to one race win in the new NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase format.
Drivers must have declared to earn NASCAR XFINITY Series points in order to be eligible for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash bonus.
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES CAUTION CLOCK
A Caution Clock will be utilized in each NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event (except for Eldora Speedway). The clock will be set to 20 minutes and triggered at the start of each green-flag run during race events. When the clock counts down to zero, a caution flag then will be displayed and no beneficiary will be awarded. A caution occurring before time expires resets the clock when the subsequent green flag is displayed and the first truck a lap down will be the beneficiary.
The caution clock will be turned off with 20 laps to go at all events in the series, with the exception of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Pocono Raceway, where the clock will be turned off with 10 laps remaining.
-- Press release courtesy of NASCAR
NASCAR expands Chase format to Xfinity, Truck series
Using the overwhelming success of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format introduced in 2014 as a guidepost, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France announced today the implementation of a playoff system in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
On the heels of a 2015 Chase that saw the highest season-finale viewership in nearly a decade, record-breaking page views on NASCAR.com and unparalleled volume on social media, the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will each feature a seven-race Chase to decide its respective championships starting in 2016. The announcement was the first of a number of racing innovations presented by NASCAR on Tuesday.
“Fans, partners and the industry have embraced the new Chase format like nothing we’ve seen in the sport’s history,” said France. “Winning never has been this important, and the excitement generated the past two seasons in the Sprint Cup Series has led to this implementation of the Chase format in all three national series. Competition in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will undoubtedly elevate to new heights and shine a spotlight on the rising stars of our sport.”
The NASCAR XFINITY Series, where “Names Are Made,” and the rugged NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will implement seven-race, three-round Chase formats with unique characteristics but very much in the same spirit of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. All three series will conclude the Chase with a Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to crown a champion. However, all three will begin at different tracks: Chicago (Sprint Cup Series), Kentucky (XFINITY Series) and New Hampshire (Camping World Truck Series)
Drivers still must declare a series in which they will earn points, and will only be eligible to compete for a championship in that series. The 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who qualified for the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will be ineligible to compete in the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship 4 races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES CHASE
The seven-race NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase will begin at Kentucky Speedway on Sept. 24, and feature 12 drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
A win in the first 26 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase, provided the driver is in the top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race. Drivers who win two Dash 4 Cash bonuses are also all but guaranteed a Chase berth.
The first round, called the Round of 12, consists of the races at Kentucky, Dover and Charlotte. All drivers will start with their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 26 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 12, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-8) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.
Each driver who advances to the Round of 8 (Kansas, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 8 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.
The four drivers who advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest finishing Championship 4 driver will be crowned the NASCAR XFINITY Series champion.
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES CHASE
The seven-race NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase will begin at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 24. It will feature eight drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. A win in the first 16 races all but guarantees a driver entry into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase, provided that the driver is in the Top 30 in points and has attempted to qualify for each race.
The first round, called the Round of 8, consists of the races at New Hampshire, Las Vegas, and Talladega. All drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000, with three additional bonus points added to their total for each win in the first 16 races. If a driver wins a race in the Round of 8, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions (1-6) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.
Each driver who advances to the Round of 6 (Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix) then will have their points reset to 3,000. Drivers who win a race in the Round of 6 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points.
The four drivers who advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead will have their points reset to 4,000. The highest finishing Championship 4 driver will win the championship. All rules outlined above also apply to both series’ owner championship structure.
The 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season will kick off with the 58th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 21 at Daytona International Speedway. The Great American Race® will be broadcast live on FOX, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com.
-- Press release courtesy of NASCAR
2017 Bentley Bentayga is here to shake up the luxury SUV market
TROY, Mich. -- Bentley is an automotive name with a certain mystique, so when they introduce a new model, it's felt throughout the upper-crust marketplace. When they enter a entirely new segment, it's even bigger news.
The auto industry has been abuzz all year with news of the coming 2017 Bentley Bentayga, the first SUV from the high-end automaker, and it's finally here. On Sunday I got a chance to see it up close, on display at the newly expanded Bentley showroom that Suburban Collection operates in Troy, Michigan.
So what's my first impression of the Bentayga, which comes in with a starting price of about $230K: Externally it's a thing of beauty, with a distinctive look no other SUV can offer -- especially in the grille. The interior (which is highly customizable with more than a dozen color options) is intricate and classy, down to the hand-stitching on the seats.
I could only look and was not able to drive the Bentayga yet (I hope to do so later this year), but the powerful 6.0-liter W-12 engine and 600 horsepower (and 664 lb.-ft. of torque) it offers leave very high hopes for what it will be like on the road. There's even an off-road package available if you want to take a $200K+ car off the beaten path. Oh yeah, it also tops out at 187 mph, if you're ever in a place where it's possible to go that fast (not that I'd recommend it).
Regarding the reason why SUV decided to take the plunge and make an SUV after so many years of not offering one, Bentley chief communication officer Jeff Kuhlman said:
"The trend in the industry is that crossovers and SUVs do very well. We saw our customers, who often have four to six cars, going to Escalade and Land Rover. We wanted to fill that void."
Overall sales goals
With a pricetag starting around $230K and the possibility of going into the $300K bracket with features added on, the Bentley brand will never rival its more affordable competitors in terms of overall sales numbers. But that's partly by design, as this brand needs to maintain a sense of exclusivity and not overproduce its vehicles.
Still, the brand (which still builds all of its vehicles at its factory in Crewe, England) is looking for numbers to tick up in coming years. For the past few years, their total sales numbers have been about 10,000, mostly from its Continental line of vehicles.
With the Bentayga coming on board, and both current Bentley customers looking to upgrade to an SUV, and non-Bentley buyers possible making the move to a Bentayga now that an SUV is offered, those numbers should rise steadily in the coming years. An ambitious goal of Bentley's is to double sales to the 20,000 range within 5 to 10 years -- and while that may or may not happen, there is bound to be substantial growth now that there is more diversity in the brand's lineup. (And it's anticipated the Bentayga will pass the Continental as the brand's most popular model within a few years).
Specificially for the Bentayga, total sales of at least 5,000 are anticipated (possible more if interest grows), with about 1,500 of that number coming from the United States.
Background on the Troy showroom
The Bentleys I saw were housed in the newly upgraded 5,200 square-foot showroom with high ceilings (32 feet) at the Suburban Collection's campus in Troy, which also houses showrooms for Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and Maserati. The new showroom had formerly housed a Hummer showroom in a past life, and in recent years was a temporary home for Cadillac and Kia dealerships during renovations.
Now it's classed up to the Bentley line, and the extra space was in part added due to the urging of Bentley, which wanted more room to show off its new wares -- included the long-awaited Bentayga (which started out as a concept car in 2012 and has evolved quite a bit to get to where it ended up).
The new showroom opens up to the public in Troy on Jan. 12, and an uptick in visitors is anticipated due to the arrival of the Bentayga. David Butler, executive manager of Suburban Collection, said it's anticipated the Troy location will sell about 20 Bentaygas this year, though it's likely they'll be able to sell more if Bentley gives them access to more of the vehicles, which are expected to be in high demand at dealerships all over the country. All of Bentley's other models will continue to be sold at the Troy location, too.
The bottom line
To this point, other automakers offering luxury SUVs could take comfort in knowing that Bentley fans didn't have an option in-house, but that's no longer the case. I'll be curious to see how that shakes things up for the competition in this small but competitive segment of high-end SUVs.
AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page. Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.
Volkswagen bringing gesture control to mass production in e-Golf Touch
Volkswagen returns to CES 2016 with two ground-breaking, zero-emissions vehicles: the BUDD-e concept and the e-Golf Touch. BUDD-e is a concept vehicle that will take CES attendees on a quick time-hop to the year 2019. In contrast, the e-Golf Touch, with its next-generation infotainment system, shows that technologies showcased at CES 2015 are close to production.
Jimmie Johnson Foundation announces third annual Wellness Challenge
Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra announced today that the Jimmie Johnson Foundation (JJF) Wellness Challenge, presented by Penn Mutual, will return in 2016.
The JJF Wellness Challenge is a series of four athletic events that attract a wide range of participants, from beginners to advance. Three of the four events are located in and around Charlotte, North Carolina. New to the JJF Wellness Challenge in 2016 is the “JJF Virtual Triathlon” an event that allows anyone living in the United States to participate by registering and completing 2.4 miles swim, 112 miles bike and 26.2 miles run (in their own time), during the month of October.
“This marks the 10th anniversary of the Foundation and during that time, we have supported some great projects and non-profit organizations,” said Johnson, co-founder of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. “The JJF Wellness Challenge is one of the many ways we raise money for programs that support public education.”
VIP experience with Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart offered via TaxAct sweepstakes
As Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) prepares for the start of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, TaxAct, the official tax preparation software partner of SHR and driver Danica Patrick, has launched the Race to Your Refund Sweepstakes. Race fans can now enter the Race to Your Refund Sweepstakes for a chance to win a number of prizes, including an exclusive 2017 VIP Daytona race experience featuring Patrick and SHR co-owner Tony Stewart.
“TaxAct does a great job of engaging NASCAR fans and the Race to Your Refund program is another strong example of their efforts,” Patrick said. “The sweepstakes provides an opportunity for our fans to have some fun and connect with TaxAct, all while helping them to get the best deal when they file their own income tax return.”
Toyota donations to help the poor stay warm this winter
As temperatures fluctuate this winter in Michigan, one thing for sure is snowy, icy and even cold rainy days are here through March and warm winter boots and socks are still a “must have” in Michigan. Without adequate clothing, often low-income families and people experiencing homelessness have a much higher risk than the general population of developing exposure-related conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite.
To protect families from the cold, Toyota Motor North America through its “Toyota Walk In My Boots” community outreach project and North American International Auto Show activities, is stepping in to help area low-income and homeless families by providing new insulated boots and socks to more than 200 participants of The Salvation Army Conner Creek Corps Community Center located on Detroit’s Eastside and The Salvation Army Booth Services of Detroit, a homeless shelter for primarily women and single mothers and their children.
News Categories
Popular Tags
Search Reviews by Make
AutoTechReviews is your home for In-depth reviews of the latest cars, trucks, and SUVs; information on all the emerging vehicle technology; and breaking news from the world of NASCAR and other motorsports.