The lore of NASCAR is filled with stories of backyard mechanics taking cars right off the showroom floor and winning races, fame, and glory with nearly stock cars. This is why NASCAR is called “stock car” racing after all. However, since the late 1980s, the cars have become less and less related to the showroom cousins. For 2013, Ford is trying to mend that gap, at least aesthetically, with their new 2013 Fusion racer.

Taking its cues from the production Fusion that debuted at the North American International Auto Show, the new Fusion race car adapts the cars dramatic headlight and grill treatment. To make the car look even more “stock,” the overall proportions of the stock car were mirrored. Even the character line that runs down the stock car’s side was replicated on the racer.

All of this may seem inconsequential, but in a race where a few millimeters on a spoiler’s rake can dramatically affect your finishing position, it is a big risk to change the cars body like Ford has. Rest assured that the proper adjustments were made to make sure this car is still race ready.

The changes to make the NASCAR version more similar to the production version are only skin deep though. Like every other NASCAR car, the Fusion racer will be rear-wheel drive with a big V-8 up front. No Ecoboost engine the race version, unfortunately. How sweet would that be if Ford could enter an AWD Fusion with an Ecoboost V6 in a few of the NASCAR circuit races, a’ la Aussie Supercar Racing, though?

Pipe dreams aside, get ready to see the new Fusion NASCAR contender this February in the season opener at Daytona.

After 2 years away from Formula One, Kimi Raikkonen is back. Making his return with Lotus-Renault, Kimi took his first spin in the new car last weekend in Valencia, Spain. Initial tests appear to have gone well, but we will have to wait until the season opener in March to see if he is back up to competition form.

The results of ‘The Duel’ are now in, which you can see for yourself:

Inspiration for the video originated when the Infiniti M Hybrid made it into the Guinness World Records® as the world’s fastest accelerating full-hybrid car last fall, when the 360-horsepower gas/electric luxury performance sedan covered the standing quarter mile in 13.9031 seconds!

Let’s say you have $100,000 to spend on a car, any car. The obvious choices are simple: Porsche 911, GTR, maybe some second-hand Ferrari (to ratchet up the douche status), but those choices are obvious and boring. The world can go without another Porsche 911 owner stereotype. What if, instead, you bought a Focus. Not just any Focus of course, but the race-ready Focus ST-R. Not only will you not be another financial banker clown, but you would be one step closer to becoming a racing superstar. Not really, but one can pretend right?

So, if you’re still not convinced on how to spend your imaginary stack, check out the video of Tanner Foust putting the new ST-R through its paces.

In a leak on Twitter by Toyota’s PR rep Scott Brownlee, Dashboard has our first look at Toyota’s re-entry into LeMans competition. Yes, re-entry. Toyota has raced the 24hr long race before in the early 1990′s with modest success, but the program only lasted a few years. Last October, Toyota announced that they are planning to race at LeMans once again, but until now details have been slim.

For their second try at the race, Toyota is bringing a hybrid-equipped race car to fight against Audi’s incredibly successful, diesel powered R18. We can’t tell much from the leak other than that the car looks competition ready, but hard facts on power weight, and engine specs (the stuff that wins races) is yet to be released. The green flag has a whole new meaning now that two environmentally friendly challengers are in the race.

British bikes, American muscle, and Japanese style driving are combined in the newest Icon production to create one helluva ride. A followup to their first car vs. bike drift battle ; part two documents a dogfight between two riders on modified Triumph Speed Triples and one marvelously mustachioed cop in a Cobra Mustang. The sound this video’s awesomeness nearly drowns out the whine of the Cobra’s supercharger.

Danica Patrick will be the talk of NASCAR next season now that she’s leaving the IZOD IndyCar Series for NASCAR’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series. She’ll get started at the Daytona 500 and then go from there. She’ll be running in 10 Sprint Cup races next year and you can bet she’ll be a huge story at each one. Her schedule was unveiled last month.

In addition to her full-season schedule in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports, also in a GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, Danica Patrick makes her Sprint Cup debut at the start of the 2012 campaign in the 54th annual Daytona 500 on February 26th at Daytona International Speedway.

The balance of her Sprint Cup schedule includes Darlington on May 12th, Bristol Motor Speedway August 25th, Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 2nd, Chicagoland Speedway on September 16th, Dover International Speedway September 30th, Texas Motor Speedway November 4th and the penultimate race of 2012 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 11th.

“Between our schedule and her full Nationwide Series schedule for JR Motorsports, Danica will gain a lot of experience quickly. At the same time, we’ll monitor her progress, and if we feel there’s a particular venue or style of track where more seat time would be beneficial,” Stewart noted, “we have two races where we can call an audible and enter her in those events.”

It will be fascinating to see how she does, and you know there will be a ton of interest from the Vegas sports books. Who knows, we could even see a record for Daytona 500 betting next year.

Either way it’s a huge loss for IndyCar and a big win for NASCAR.

When you think of NASCAR, you think of a few key images. First, there must be loud, fast, heavily stickered cars careening around an oval. Secondly, the race will probably take place somewhere in the south. And finally, there must be enough flowing Budweiser and blaring country music twang to annoy Toby Keith. Yes, these are stereotypes, but no one ever mentions just how much fun a NASCAR event is because of it. Bullz-Eye went to the Bank of America 500 in Charlotte as a guest of Valvoline to witness this circus in person.

NASCAR races, like horror movies, are better at night. The reason is the same, drama. The noises seem louder, the speed seems more intense, and the crowds become more restless with anticipation. And really it is the fans that make these events what they are. Their blind devotion to single drivers makes the most ardent sports team fan blush. Depending on their favorite driver’s success in the rest, certain sections of the track may be in utter despair and crazed happiness at the same time.

The venue is also crucial. Charlotte can be described as one of the cradles of NASCAR. This southern city not only contains the track, but the Roush Racing Team as well. With its southern charm, fantastic barbeque, and good times vibe, the city is the embodiment of NASCAR’s attitude.

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Everyone loves girls and cars!

The photo above has grid girls of the South Korean Formula One Grand Prix posing ahead of the start of the race at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam. South Korean F1 Grand Prix will take place today.

When you think of Sunday drives and Buick, you may think about elderly folks cruising around at 10mph under the speed limit, but you would be wrong. In fact, Buick recently took part in Silver State Classic Challenge at Nevada with its new Regal GS. The Silver State Classic is a race along a 90 mile of Nevada highway. The winner is determined by who can compete the 90 mile course fastest, while retaining the average speed set by each individual class.

Competing in the 120mph class, Buick finished their run in 45 minutes, a fantastic time for their class. The effort was good enough for a first place finish in a 37 member strong class. All of this was done in a showroom stock Buick Regal GS. Buick has a strong history of racing; hopefully events like this are foreshadowing their return to racing.

Source: Insideline