NASCAR Pole Position | April-May 2024

The Spirited Story of Stock Car Racing and Down-Home Distilling

Discover North Carolina’s NEW Moonshine and Motorsports Trail and experience our state’s history of perseverance and innovation like never before.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR POLE POSITION AN OFFICIALLY LICENSED PUBLICATION OF NASCAR

23110 STATE ROAD 54, SUITE 293 LUTZ, FL 33549

EMAIL: INFO@AE-ENGINE.COM

WEB: POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM; AE-ENGINE.COM

THE CREW

PUBLISHER: CRAIG BARONCELLI

COMMERCIAL

VICE PRESIDENT: DAVID WATSON

DIRECTORS: MARK MORALES, WILL OVERTON, MATT SMITH, ROWLAND GEORGE, ARNOUT KOK

CONTENT

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: JOE RABUCK

DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR: NICOLE COOPER

DIGITAL CONTENT DIRECTOR: JOSH MULL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: ERIC ESTEPP

COPY EDITOR: KEITH WALTZ

EDITORIAL: CODY WILLIAMS, JOSHUA LIPOWSKI

SOCIAL MEDIA: PAIGE MARTIN, EVAN LIU, CHRISTOPHER HANSEN

CONTRIBUTORS: RICK HOUSTON, JARED TURNER, DUSTIN ALBINO

STAFF ASSISTANTS: AIDAN ANDERSEN, ETHAN ANDERSEN, SHOGUN & WINNIE

SPECIAL THANKS TO: ANDREW ENGEL (NASCAR)

A.E. ENGINE SPECIFIES THAT POST-PRESS CHANGES MAY OCCUR TO ANY INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION AND TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOODS OR SERVICES ADVERTISED.

NASCAR® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STOCK CAR AUTO RACING, INC.

MAIL ORDER: TO RECEIVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE, SEND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR $30.95 TO:

A.E. ENGINE, 23110 STATE ROAD 54, SUITE 293, LUTZ, FL 33549. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR RETURN MAILING ADDRESS AND AN EMAIL ADDRESS AND MAKE THE CHECK PAYABLE TO A.E. ENGINE.

ONLINE ORDER: SUBSCRIPTIONS AND INDIVIDUAL COPIES CAN BE ORDERED ONLINE AT POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM.

DISTRIBUTION: IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS OR AN ORGANIZATION INTERESTED IN DISTRIBUTING COPIES OF NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE, PLEASE CONTACT CRAIG BARONCELLI AT CB@ AE-ENGINE.COM.

SALES INQUIRIES: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING OR WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CONTACT DAVID WATSON AT DKW@AE-ENGINE.COM.

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

MY

FAVORITE WITH

TY DILLON

Ty Dillon is a veteran racer who returned to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season with Rackley W.A.R. Racing. The grandson of Hall of Fame car owner Richard Childress and the brother of Cup Series driver Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon has viewed the sport from just about every angle.

BY JOSHUA LIPOWSKI

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE ATHLETE OUTSIDE OF RACING?

I WATCH ALL kinds of sports. I’m really pulling for Bryce Young, I’m a Panthers fan. Ronald Acuna Jr. with the Braves. I love the best players on my teams pretty much like Acuna, Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets), Bryce Young and Sebastian Aho for the Carolina Hurricanes. No superstar guys, but just guys I’m fans of on my team.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF RACING MEMORABILIA?

PROBABLY MY Xfinity Series trophy from Indianapolis. Winning that race, getting to kiss the bricks. That’s probably my favorite thing that I have. I’m not super nostalgic about memorabilia as far as racing stuff. I’m a sports card collector in other sports, but not much racing stuff.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?

OH MAN … honestly, eating home-cooked meals from my wife. Anything that she cooks is always my favorite, she’s such a great chef. I’m not a very picky eater, so I’m not locked into one certain thing. I eat a lot of salmon with rice and arugula on race day, but I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite go-to meal. Maybe my guilty pleasure would be rigatoni made by my wife.

WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A NASCAR MOVIE?

MILES TELLER. I just like him. I think we’re similar in stature. He probably looks a little bit different. Either Teller or Chris Pratt. Pratt because I am a fan of anything he does, and a fan of anything

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT?

THIS YEAR, I’VE changed up my workout routine quite a bit. I’m doing a lot more heavy lifting to see the effect on my body as far as maintaining strength throughout the year. Been doing a lot of heavy weights, slow reps and mixing in 20-30 minutes of medium to hard cardio at the end of it to make sure my heart is in good shape for the length of the races.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RACING MOVIE?

FAVORITE RACING movie would be either Days of Thunder or the Senna documentary. Days of Thunder is just a good nostalgic movie. Not necessarily the racing side, but it’s just a good movie that does happen to incorporate racing. Senna is just really hearing his story, his passion and his greatness in F-1.

Show Us Your NASCAR Collection

BY EVAN LIU AND PAIGE MARTIN

NASCAR fans are notorious for having some of the most unique and outlandish memorabilia collections in major league sports. The meticulously prepared displays range from die-cast cars, to used sheet metal, to shrines celebrating their favorite drivers. Whether they’ve been fans for only a few years or for generations, the keepsakes are always something special to see. Check out some of our readers’ amazing collections:

MATTHEW HALL ON X SHARED THIS beautiful one-off Grave Digger scheme that Kevin Harvick raced during the inaugural Nashville Superspeedway race in 2021. Not only does the scheme look amazing, but alongside a-die cast of the Grave Digger Monster Truck itself, it’s safe to say fans dig it.

CHRIS PEDRAZA ON SOCIAL media showed off his collection in a wide-frame picture to demonstrate the insane scale of memorabilia. Aside from the hundreds of die-casts hanging on the wall, there is some sheet metal, including a side skirt from a Stewart-Haas Racing car. Plus, notice the tire table.

CUBBIE PLAYS ON X SHOWED A DEDICATION to the newest NASCAR Cup Series champion, Ryan Blaney. It includes an old No. 21 car die-cast car still in the box, several No. 12 die-casts and even a signed helmet among bottles of Body Armor. It’s safe to say some championship gear will make its way there soon!

ADD THIS ONE TO THE LIST of rare finds from Richardson with the Bristol sweeps in 2010 and 2017 by Kyle Busch. These six die-casts – with three in a special case – are only an example of an impressive feat not just by the driver, but by fans to collect them.

PERHAPS THE MOST EXCLUSIVE die-cast car in this piece comes from Dave Richardson, showing off an old David Pearson die-cast. It is his 1971 Mercury Cyclone for Wood Brothers Racing, the car for which the Silver Fox was best known. Check out the sleek autograph on the windshield to top off this impressive car.

Q&A with RAJAH

In only his second full season as a Craftsman Truck Series wheelman, Rajah Caruth is one of NASCAR’s hottest young prospects.

The 21-year-old racer, who grew up near Washington, D.C., has joined forces with Spire Motorsports and is driving the No. 71 Chevrolet truck with sponsorship from HendrickCars.com, a nod to the driver’s connection to Hendrick Motorsports.

His move to Spire Motorsports, which acquired the assets of Kyle Busch Motorsports, was a top story during the offseason. What he has done since the season started has made even bigger headlines.

Caruth is tearing it up in his second full-time Truck Series season. He garnered his first career win at Las Vegas over a field that included three full-time Cup Series drivers. After that race, he gave a vote of confidence in himself saying, “There’s more to come for sure.”

Let’s get to know NASCAR’s hottest young prospect.

HOW DID THE DEAL WITH SPIRE MOTORSPORTS COME TOGETHER?

It was an up-and-down offseason just getting all the details started, coming by here (the race shop), not knowing what things would look like. Would it be full time, part time or would I have a ride period?

But the interest with Spire has been mutual for a while. Even after I ran my first races for them back in 2022, there was interest to run full time in 2023, but there wasn’t funding for me to do so. Since then, I’ve been wanting to come back to this organization, and with the support of HendrickCars.com, GM and Chevrolet we made it happen.

It’s been great to kind of have it all work out and now have a full season to continue to grow and compete for a playoff spot.

WHILE SPIRE MOTORSPORTS IS NOT NEW TO THE CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES, YOUR NO. 71 TRUCK IS AN ADDITION TO THE LINEUP. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN JOINING WHAT SOME CONSIDER TO BE A NEW RACE TEAM?

CARUTH

I think for my team it’s a little bit like that, but there were three full-time trucks here at KBM last year, including the Rev Racing ones. So it’s the same this year with just one other addition, which is our team.

There’s Nick (Sanchez) and the Rev truck. There’s (Chase) Purdy, the All-Star truck and then my team. It’s been cool to keep my interior guy, Peter, and my crew chief, Chad (Walter), just because I’ve been with Peter for the last two to three years and having a season with Chad last year was pretty solid. To have that familiarity is great for my performance and my comfort.

I’ve also got some new faces but, overall, we’ve got all the ingredients we need to go compete for a championship later this fall.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF A MAJOR NASCAR TEAM LIKE HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS?

To be in any sense of the word aligned or affiliated with the HMS brand is cool. We’ll see where it goes. It’s been great to have the support of Mr. Hendrick, Miss Linda, Hendrick Automotive Group and HendrickCars.com because they’re the only reason why I have a ride this year. They’re pretty picky about who they support, so hopefully, it’s for good reason and I’ll prove that I deserve it.

IN ADDITION TO BEING A NASCAR DRIVER, YOU’RE STUDYING SPORTS MANAGEMENT AT WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY.

WHY IS HIGHER EDUCATION SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

For me, as a black man, to have a high level of education, it’s almost a must in this country and in this current day and age, period. In the same vein, being a driver, this stuff can be taken away through things in my control or out of my control. My education can’t get taken away.

It’s hard balancing both. I’m almost done, but it is not easy. Hopefully, I won’t necessarily have to use it when I’m done driving. Growing up with educators in my family, it’s pretty much a no-brainer to continue my education. Thankfully, I’m driving, and that’s the main thing.

WE’VE SEEN GREATER DIVERSITY AMONG NASCAR DRIVERS IN RECENT YEARS. WHAT HAS THE SPORT DONE TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

Nick (Sanchez) and I have gotten some really good opportunities in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program with Rev Racing. At the same time, we’ve worked hard to take advantage of them to the point now where we’re teammates again and racing full time in NASCAR. It’s just a testament to that program and the legitimacy of it, but also the changing of the guard in NASCAR, and how it’s done a lot of work to be more inclusive to everybody. Don’t forget where it’s come from but, at the same time, show others across the country and the planet that it’s for everybody. They’ve done a good job so far, and I know it’s only going to get better.

HOW HAS YOUR DAD HELPED YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER?

He’s been there from the jump. He’s helped me get the things I needed to start iRacing, taking advantage of making the Diversity Program as a senior in high school, living in North Carolina – even connections to go to my first races and taking me to my first races. Even nowadays, managing my business stuff it’s been great to have my dad in my life, and he’s been a big help for everything so far. I’m thankful for him and at the same time the sacrifices my mom, my sister and my extended family have made to get me to this point.

NASCAR NASCAR

Crocs

NASCAR AND CROCS LAUNCH FIRST OFFICIAL LICENSING COLLABORATION

NASCAR and Crocs joined forces for their first-ever licensing partnership, bringing NASCAR fans a new fusion of speed and style.

The collection includes adult NASCAR Crocs Classic Clogs in black, kids NASCAR Crocs Classic Clogs in blue, both styles include exclusive 3D Jibbitz charms, and Jibbitz charms 5-packs, sold separately.

“Crocs is one of the most innovative and recognizable footwear brands in the world,” said Megan Malayter, NASCAR managing director of licensing and consumer products.

“This collaboration gives NASCAR fans a fun, functional way to put their passion on display like never before and provides NASCAR another important opportunity to meet new consumers and potential fans where they are.”

With checkered flag graphics and NASCAR’s bold colors on the pivoting heel strap, the designs reflect the dynamic aesthetics inspired by the fast-paced world of racing.

The adult and kids NASCAR Crocs Classic Clogs are a one-of-a-kind offering fitted with a limited-edition set of Jibbitz charms and LED elements.

The collection is the first offering from a new licensing deal with NASCAR Team Properties, a collectivized licensing Trust for beneficiary members including NASCAR, tracks and race teams.

Fans can download the Crocs app for purchasing and they will also be widely available at local retailers and wholesalers as well as at crocs.com.

THE CRITIC’S CHOICE

5 Must-Watch NASCAR-Themed Movies

BY JOSHUA LIPOWSKI

There’s nothing quite like NASCAR racing captured on film. The speeds, the drama, the bright colors, the roar of the engines, the dynamic personalities – movie cameras simply love NASCAR.

From early efforts such as Speedway and Red Line 7000 to the more recent Logan Lucky, there are several NASCAR-related movies available for at-home viewing from a variety of sources.

Dedicated NASCAR fans will be entertained by the exciting stories, the stars, the plots, the racing and even the “Where’s Waldo” cameos throughout many of these movies that were originally shown on the big screen.

Here are five NASCAR-themed movies we consider to be must-watch:

Talladega Nights, The Ballad of Ricky Bobby: Ricky Bobby is living large as the top driver in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, a Formula 1 champion joins the fray, and Bobby has to clamber for his top spot. He even reunites with his father, Reese, in an effort to rekindle his lost confidence.

The film stars Will Ferrell as the talented and arrogant Ricky Bobby alongside John C. Reilly as Bobby’s doormat best friend and teammate, Cal Naughton. This was the first time Ferrell and Reilly shared the big screen, and it vaulted the comedic duo into a slew of other buddy comedies.

The film also has an intriguing roster of supporting actors, including Amy Adams as Bobby’s flirtatious assistant, and Gary Cole, who fills the role of Bobby’s tough-as-nails but careless father.

The movie also features cameos from mid-2000s NASCAR personalities, especially broadcasters. Bob Jenkins, Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip, Bill Weber, Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Benny Parsons grace the screen with their professional commentary. Drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jamie McMurray make cameos as well.

While quite exaggerated and stereotypical, Talladega Nights is perfect for NASCAR fans who want a good old-fashioned belly laugh.

plenty of obstacles.

Tom Cruise plays Trickle, a young, handsome racer who seems destined for success. Nicole Kidman shares the screen as a neurosurgeon and eventual love interest. Kidman and Cruise ended up getting married after meeting while working together on this film.

Robert Duvall is Trickle’s intense and experienced crew chief, Harry Hogge, equipped with one-liners and cheeky quips for every moment. Michael Rooker plays Trickle’s intense rival, Rowdy Burns, and a certain NASCAR driver’s nickname is derived from this character. Cary Elwes joins the field as Trickle’s bold and ambitious teammate, Russ Wheeler.

Like many NASCAR-themed movies, the cameos are incredible. Drivers such as Rusty Wallace and Neil Bonnett are featured as themselves alongside the titanic 1990s ESPN broadcast booth of Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons.

While there is some Hollywood embellishment and flare, this movie is the most “NASCAR” of all NASCAR movies. It’s also wonderfully nostalgic for fans of the sport during the 1990s.

Bonnie Hunt voices Sally Carrera, a beautiful Porsche who McQueen immediately starts flirting with. The late Paul Newman voices Doc Hudson, a Hudson Hornet with a mysterious history.

Plenty of supporting voice actors join the fun in making this small town come to life. Tony Shalhoub, Guido Quaroni, George Carlin, Michael Wallis, Jennifer Lewis, Cheech Marin and Joe Ranft all voice the colorful characters of Radiator Springs.

As far as cameos go, this move is second to none. Darrell Waltrip is in the commentary booth as Darrell Cartrip. Driver cameos include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Richard Petty and Mario Andretti. Promoter H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler and Petty’s late wife, Lynda, also have roles in the film.

It’s a family-friendly film with plenty of NASCAR Easter eggs

THE LAST AMERICAN HERO

sprinkled throughout.

While the CARS franchise includes three movies, this one and the third one are “must watch” for NASCAR fans.

The Last American Hero: Based on the life of NASCAR legend Junior Johnson, The Last American Hero tells the story of a renegade moonshiner turned race car driver. While other NASCAR-themed movies might be comedic or overly dramatized, this one offers a true look at the early days of stock car racing.

Jeff Bridges takes the leading role as Junior Jackson, a young, renegade moonshiner who wants to be in a race car. Gary Busey portrays Junior’s brother, Wade, and Wade will tighten every nut and bolt he can to further Jackson’s racing career.

Junior’s love interest is Marge, played by Valerie Perrine, but Junior has to fend off rival suitors to win her heart. One of those is Kyle Kingman, played by William Smith II, who Junior has to constantly tussle with on the race track.

While it does not have any NASCAR cameos, this movie provides great insight into the early days of the sport. It was just everyday people hauling bootleg liquor through the winding roads of Appalachia.

This is a truly American story, and it’s fitting for Junior Johnson to be recognized as The Last American Hero.

Stroker Ace: Stroker Ace is a superstar NASCAR driver who has a falling out with his sponsor. He signs with a different sponsor but soon realizes he’s made a terrible deal. Forced to do embarrassing public appearances in a chicken suit, Stroker Ace tries to keep his on-track record intact.

Burt Reynolds is the leading man as he plays Stroker Ace. An arrogant driver who only cares about going fast, Ace gets into trouble due his lack of knowledge on the business side of racing. Loni Anderson plays Pembrook Feeny, who Ace tries to woo throughout the film.

The supporting cast is interesting as well, and features Jim Nabors as Ace’s chief mechanic Lugs Harvey. There’s also Ned Beatty as the sneaky Clyde Torkel, who snakes his way to getting Reynolds to sign the contract.

Where this film shines brightest is the cameos. It’s like a 1980s NASCAR yearbook with individuals such as Ken Squier, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt and Tim Richmond among a host of others.

This is not exactly a family-friendly romp, but it is a fun, nostalgic adventure for fans of 1980s NASCAR.

Social Media Superstars

10 TEAMS THAT TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

BY JOSHUA LIPOWSKI

In this day and age of social media, every NASCAR team has a social media presence. However, some teams go the extra mile and meticulously craft humorous, insightful and engaging content for NASCAR fans to enjoy.

Here are the 10 social media superstars among NASCAR Cup Series teams:

Team Penske: Team Penske’s social media group does not just cover NASCAR, it also shines a light on the team’s IndyCar and IMSA programs, which makes for interesting interactions among drivers. Imagine Joey Logano and Josef Newgarden filming a video together. You just might see that on Team Penske’s social media accounts.

Kaulig Racing: Few teams are more creative with their driver reveals than Kaulig Racing. Last year, the team sent the NASCAR world into a frenzy trying to dissect whose arm hair was in a picture. They also used interesting sponsor placement by blocking Josh Williams with a Celsius can to tease his announcement. If Kaulig is revealing a driver, the announcement is going to be as interesting as the driver.

Joe Gibbs Racing: Joe Gibbs Racing takes the cake for the best offseason content series. The social media managers at JGR dressed up as TV announcers and mimicked the broadcasts of some of NASCAR’s most iconic moments. Aside from that, JGR presents insightful content on the behind-the-scenes activities of a NASCAR team.

Hendrick Motorsports: From Daytona 500 winner William Byron answering Google autocomplete questions to Kyle Larson taking questions from fans, Hendrick Motorsports’ calling card, especially recently, is including its drivers in social media. HMS fans have the opportunity to get inside the helmet and learn about these drivers, which is something fans clamber for.

RFK Racing: Members of this social media team are not allowed to touch the race cars, but maybe they’ve earned that privilege based on the quality of their work. While they offer an insightful peek behind the scenes of RFK Racing, they also find ways to make fans chuckle. RFK Racing truly is the gold standard of NASCAR on social media. Stewart-Haas Racing: SHR’s social media team carefully crafted incredible tributes to Kevin Harvick throughout the 2023 season. They were a major component of Harvick’s appropriate send-off. SHR also does an admirable job of including its drivers in their content, providing insight into who these drivers are behind the visor.

Legacy Motor Club: Having a pair of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champions under your roof is a gold mine for a social media team. Legacy Motor Club does an outstanding job sprinkling in Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson here and there, while including the team’s current drivers – Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek. Appreciating the past while giving a stage to the present.

23XI Racing: When Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin own the team, the social media effort better be top-notch. At 23XI Racing, it absolutely is with some inventive gifs and pictures following each race. The sponsored content that the drivers with 23XI do is also second to none, and that can be found on this channel as well.

Richard Childress Racing: RCR may be an old-school operation, but they do not neglect social media. Perhaps the most humorous RCR moment came in 2023 when, for throwback weekend, they paid tribute to Kyle Busch’s win earlier that season at Auto Club Speedway. That counts, right?

Trackhouse Racing: NASCAR’s new kid on the block has an incredible social media team to boot. Trackhouse is much more than a race team, it’s a brand, and the members of this team endorse that brand incredibly well. Like SHR, the drivers also join in the fun, which makes for humorous behindthe-scenes content.

Q&A WITH NASCAR GREAT DERRIKE COPE

Remembering the 1990 Daytona 500

BY RICK HOUSTON, HOST OF THE SCENE VAULT PODCAST

Dale Earnhardt owned the 1990 Daytona 500 – right up until the point that he didn’t.

After dominating the first 499 miles, Earnhardt had a rightrear tire go flat after running over debris on the backstretch. The victory went to Derrike Cope in one of the greatest upsets in NASCAR history.

Rick Houston, host of The Scene Vault Podcast, sat down with Cope to get his thoughts on that incredible day.

WHAT WERE YOU EXPECTING OUT OF THE DAYTONA 500 IN 1990?

I think I finished sixth in my twin (qualifying race), and I knew the car was fast. Obviously, I was relatively inexperienced in restrictor-plate racing, but I had a big stick and I knew it. The biggest thing was, in happy hour, you know, we were one of the few cars that could run with Dale.

I called my brother that night, and I told him, “I know this sounds funny, but I can win this thing. This car is that good.” (Crew chief) Buddy (Parrott) said the same thing. He said, “You just gotta hang tough. You’ve gotta stay out of trouble and just ride. At the end, there’ll be a caution and

we’ll get a shot at these guys.” Sure enough, everything that Buddy had laid out really came to fruition.

We stayed out and now we’re on used tires and Earnhardt had fresh tires. For us to be on his bumper every last lap there, we were hung out and we were hanging on. But you know, we had a shot and certainly as fate would have it, it was our, it was our day.

YOU RAN WELL THE ENTIRE DAY, BUT EARNHARDT WAS OBVIOUSLY THE CLASS OF THE FIELD.

I was lifting all day. I was taking care of the car. I wasn’t taking any chances. I knew at the end of the race, if I could go

wide-open, flat on the mat, I could have a shot. My car was good enough when I could drive it flat out.

THAT LAST LAP, WHAT DID YOU SEE; WHAT WERE YOU FEELING; WHAT WERE YOU THINKING; HOW DID YOU REACT; THE WHOLE NINE YARDS?

The last few laps, I really was just concerned about trying to stay in his tracks and trying to keep my foot on the floor. Coming down to the last lap, we drove off into Turn 1. I got really loose getting in there and I lost some ground on the exit of (Turn 2). Going down the back straightaway, those guys were coming. My car was starting to pick up some momentum, and I could start to feel the thing coming back on (Earnhardt).

I felt like, by the time I got back to the finish line, I’d be back to his rear bumper, but I didn’t think I was gonna get him. We got off into (Turn) 3 and the look of what transpired at that point was really what you saw in the movie Days of Thunder when the cars turned sideways and were in slow motion.

I drove to the bottom. And if I’d have

stayed on the high side, I probably would’ve got wrecked. He started to slow and I started to catch him a lot quicker. The tail of his car slid out and, all of a sudden, it did one of those wiggles and it went up the race track. As I drove by, I really thought we were gonna hit each other and then his car just moved out of the way. It was a slow-motion kind of scenario. He just did a masterful job and saved the car, and I drove right by on the bottom.

I immediately looked in the mirror and saw that I had a couple, three car lengths on Terry (Labonte) and Bill (Elliott). I knew that them together, they couldn’t get me, so I really knew if I stayed flat on the mat, I was gonna win.

I was gonna win.

really knowing where Victory Lane was. I was a little bit disorientated coming down pit road and trying to figure out, you know, where I needed to turn in.

DERRIKE

COPE

■ Winner of the 1990 Daytona 500.

■ Has competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race for five consecutive decades (1980s - 2020s).

■ Inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame (2013).

I DON’T WANT TO OVER DRAMATIZE THIS, BUT WHEN YOU SAW THE CAR WIGGLE AND EARNHARDT SLIDE UP THE RACE TRACK, DID THAT QUICKEN YOUR PULSE? HOW DID IT AFFECT YOU?

I distinctly remember looking in the mirror and seeing how far Terry was behind me. They had tried me together down the back straight and didn’t have anything for me. I knew my car was strong enough, that they were going to struggle to get back to me with the distance we had. I knew at that point that if I just didn’t make a mistake, that I was going to win the race. I was excited obviously, but at the time, you just do your job.

I got to the start/finish line and it was just utter relief.

ONE OF THE GREATEST QUOTES I’VE HEARD; YOU SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF YOU WOULD NEVER FORGET WHAT THE SUN FELT LIKE ON YOUR FACE IN VICTORY LANE. HOW MUCH OF THE REST OF THE DAY DO YOU REMEMBER? IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN LIKE A DREAM.

It’s embedded in your memory. I remember pretty much everything from that point on. I remember not

I thought of my father and what we had worked so hard to accomplish and all those things. Then, you’re in the cop car and going upstairs to the Unocal suite. All those things, it was a long enduring part of it – probably the most enjoyable hours that you could fathom.

Then, for it to be over, you come back down and yours is the only transporter in there. You drive it out of the place, get on the airplane, the next day and the next morning. I can remember every, every, every bit of that.

I came back to the race track and did a live feed to Tulsa for Purolator where they were based out of; the party we had afterward. I just look back at Daytona with all those memories and all those thoughts. When I think so fondly of it, I can still close my eyes and I can just feel the warmth and just put myself back in that moment pretty much at any time. It’s just that life altering, you know, in my opinion, YOU’VE BEEN TO DAYTONA MANY TIMES SINCE THAT DAY. WHEN YOU GO BACK NOW IS IT JUST ANOTHER RACE TRACK? OR DO YOU FEEL A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP IN THE PLACE?

What they do for us down there with the Daytona 500 club and being a part of that, you just feel very vested in the place. You do have equity in the place. You have a piece of it. I don’t know; I guess I just feel at home there. I really and truly love going to Daytona Beach. I love being there. I love driving in the place. I love just being there. Sometimes, you almost feel disheartened to physically have to leave the grounds and drive back up I-95 or get on an airplane. It’s just someplace that you just feel very, very attached to.

NASCAR’S WEIRDEST SUPERSTITIONS

From Green Race Cars to Peanuts in the Pit Area

BY JOSHUA LIPOWSKI

Athletes across all sports, including NASCAR, are superstitious.

Different sports have different beliefs about specific things bringing good luck or bad luck, and certain athletes have routines they do on a daily basis because ... if they don’t, they believe they will lose.

There are a few racing superstitions that go back to the early days of the sport, and several divers still avoid many of them. A few superstitions have waned over the years while a handful are believed to have brought racers good luck.

GREEN RACE CARS

For years, green race cars were considered bad luck throughout the racing world. The general background is that this superstition started when Gaston Chevrolet was killed in a 1920 racing accident in Beverly Hills, California. When NASCAR was founded in 1948, drivers considered green cars bad luck, and they avoided them.

Things began to change when corporate sponsors arrived, and Darrell Waltrip won his first two Cup Series championships driving a primarily green Mountain Dew car in 1981 and ’82.

Brett Bodine drove a green car to victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1990, and Harry Gant wheeled the iconic green Skoal Bandit to four consecutive race wins during September 1991. Today, green race cars are fairly commonplace.

RACING UNDER A FULL MOON

Fans who have watched a Saturday night NASCAR race on FOX have most likely heard Mike Joy talking about racing under a full moon. The theory is that a full moon over a short track on a Saturday night causes drivers to rachet up the intensity. This means more incidents, hot tempers and chaotic finishes.

Well, think about how many nighttime short-track races throughout the history of NASCAR have ended with bent bodywork and bruised egos. It seemingly happens every time there’s a race under a full moon.

$50 BILLS

The origins of this superstition are not clear, but according to Sports Illustrated it stems from the death of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joe Weatherly. The story goes that Weatherly had two $50 bills in his pocket during a crash that took his life at Riverside International Raceway in January 1964. A $50 bill has been considered bad luck ever since.

Dale Earnhardt was an ardent believer in this superstition, and Tony Stewart is a believer as well.

Stewart told a story on TheBubbaArmy podcast where he tried to sneak a $50 bill into Earnhardt’s car. The result, well, watch the clip and find out.

NO PEANUTS PLEASE

Again, the origins of this superstition are fuzzy, and there are a few theories as to where it came from. However, peanuts in the shell are unwelcome by many in the pit area of any race track. The story generally goes that there was a fatal accident and peanut shells were found in the race car.

Joseph Shelton of Bleacher Report posed a theory that race teams in the early days were forced to work on their cars under the grandstands. The story goes that peanut shells would slip through the holes and cracks in the stands. Do peanut shells actually pose that big of a threat to a race car? Maybe, or maybe not, but peanut shells in a pit area are never a positive.

DALE EARNHARDT’S LUCKY PENNY

Prior to the 1998 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt received a lucky penny from Wessa Miller, a Make-a-Wish kid. Earnhardt had never won the Daytona 500 and he was preparing for his 20th attempt at the sport’s biggest race.

He glued that lucky penny to the dashboard of his car, and the rest is history.

Earnhardt went on to lead 107 laps, and he won the 1998 Daytona 500. It was his first and only victory in “The Great American Race.”

NASCAR actually caught up with Miller years later to tell the story. Maybe that lucky penny was the very thing Earnhardt needed to finally win the Daytona 500.

THE MOONSHINE & MOTORSPORTS PODCAST

A Fresh Look at the History and Impact of NASCAR’s Homeland

BY RICK HOUSTON

After months of meetings, emails, texts and planning, it’s all come down to this. In February, we launched The Moonshine & Motorsports Podcast on all your favorite platforms and YouTube.

The show is a collaboration among the folks at the Daily Downforce, The Scene Vault Podcast and North Carolina’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Our aim is to shed light on the history of moonshiners, wheelmen and the home of NASCAR racing – North Carolina.

I’m hosting the show, despite the fact that I’m a teetotaler from WAY back. I drank my half-a-Budweiser all those years ago in high school and just never developed a taste for the stuff.

So what am I doing working on a project devoted to moonshine? Here’s the way I’m looking at it.

I’ve been working in and around motorsports for more than 30 years, but I’ve never actually strapped into a race car and hauled off toward the green flag. I’ve never traded paint with another competitor.

That being said, as long as I’ve been around NASCAR, it’s a part of who I am. The same goes for North Carolina. I wasn’t born in the ol’ North State and I didn’t move here for good until I was 25 years old. But I’m a North Carolinian to the core of my being, and you’d better not try to convince me otherwise.

With all that said, I’m ready to take on the task of figuring out how moonshine, motorsports and North Carolina came to be so interrelated. Over the course of this show, we’re going to talk to

people from across the state in an attempt to figure it all out.

We actually start the show at the end of the trail, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It’s here that the sport’s long history comes together in an ultra-modern facility, gleaming in all its glory, far away from so many backwoods still sites.

What would those long-ago moonshiners have thought about this place? That’s a good question, but NASCAR legend and “former” moonshiner Junior Johnson actually built the still that’s on display. In the second episode, I sit down with Dr. Daniel Pierce, author of “Real NASCAR: White Lightning, Red Clay and Big Bill France.” Pierce bills himself as a “professional hillbilly,” but don’t let that fool you – he really knows his history.

All season long we’ll be talking to experts from the state, covering everything from the history of prohibition to the origin stories of legendary drivers, and even some of the unique culture from the mountains and forests of the Tar Heel State.

And best of all, this history is available to everyone who travels North Carolina’s Moonshine & Motorsports Trail. With more than a dozen locations statewide, the trail is the perfect destination to have a NASCAR – and moonshine – adventure for your next vacation.

Check out this new show, The Moonshine & Motorsports Podcast, on all your favorite podcasting platforms, as well as on DailyDownforce.com and YouTube. And we’ll see you on the trail.

RESPECTING YOUR ROOTS

DRIVERS’ SUPPORT OF GRASSROOTS RACING CREATES A STRONG ECOSYSTEM

BY MATT WEAVER

For those who compete at the highest level of NASCAR, grassroots racing is not merely where they got their start. It’s also about giving back to their respective disciplines and creating continued growth for those that follow in their footsteps.

More than ever before, current Cup Series competitors are routinely racing in numerous disciplines, and in many cases not even the ones in which they spent their formative years. For drivers like Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and William Byron, it’s about

creating a strong motorsports ecosystem across the board. It’s about strengthening the bridge between disciplines in the same way A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones and Mario Andretti did in their heyday.

A rising tide lifts all boats and the modern crossover culture in motorsports is about paying tribute to what came before while also ensuring that all racing is elevated as a result. That is at the figurative center of NASCAR’s latest throwback weekend theme at Darlington Raceway this May.

RYAN PREECE

In New England, they call it #ModifiedsMainly and no one represents that particular grassroots lifestyle more than Preece. Prior to reaching the upper levels of NASCAR, Preece established himself as one of the best behind the wheel and under the hood of a Tour-Type Modified and captured the Whelen Modified Tour championship in 2013.

Even upon reaching the Cup Series, Preece still aims to make around a dozen starts each season in a No. 40 Modified also wrenched by his father, Jeff. They do it because it’s what they’ve always done as a family.

While Preece loves the Tour-Type Modified above all else, he also teams up each December with Cup Series crew chief Chris Gabehart in a Super Late Model in the pursuit of the Snowball Derby together. Preece first connected with Gabehart while paired in the Xfinity Series and they have remained close friends and occasional collaborators ever since.

KYLE LARSON

In 2011, “Yung Money” swept all three segments of the USAC 4-Crown Nationals at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, winning the Midget, Sprint Car and Silver Crown races at the legendary half-mile dirt track on the same night. At the time, Larson became only the second driver to accomplish this achievement behind Jack Hewitt with only Logan Seavey adding to that legacy in 2023. It established that Larson had the versatility to compete in multiple disciplines but also a holistic passion for motorsports that has carried into everything he currently does.

This year alone, Larson will compete in up to 50 combined dirt Sprint Car and Late Model races alongside the Indianapolis 500 and 38 Cup Series races. He co-owns the High Limit Racing Sprint Car Series alongside five-time World of Outlaws champion, and brother-in-law, Brad Sweet who aim to grow their favorite pastime toward the mainstream.

DANIEL HEMRIC

Hemric is a throwback to a previous era and a legitimate grassroots success story. He won regional Late Model touring championships in 2012 (CRA All Stars Tour) and 2013 (Southern Super Series) against the likes of Bubba Pollard, John Hunter Nemechek, Chase Elliott and Mike Garvey. What fans might not know is that Hemric won those races and championships out of his own garage.

His team owner, Jake Carswell, was a founding member of the popular contemporary Christian rock band, Newsong, and the founder of the Winter Jam concert series. Carswell kept the car funded but Hemric maintained it as his own crew chief. Had he not caught some lucky breaks and found the financial supporters to remain behind the wheel, it was increasingly likely that he would have become a Cup Series crew chief instead.

Even today, Hemric is still flanked in the Cup Series garage by Jake and Deanna Carswell, a testament to the relationship forged by their grassroots tenure.

GRASSROOTS

WILLIAM BYRON

The reigning Daytona 500 winner just loves to race. It was his identity on iRacing long before he strapped into a real car and it has been his driving force ever since.

Byron continues to race Super Late Models around his NASCAR schedule, making up to a dozen starts over the past two years while routinely offering that the Snowball Derby in Pensacola each December is every bit the missing résumé item as a Cup Series championship.

While much is made of the story about his journey beginning on iRacing, those stories skip over his formative years in full-bodied race cars coming in Legend Cars and Late Models owned by Daniel Hemric. It was a connection made by mutual friend Branden Lines, who now spots for the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 team.

Byron also first worked with Lines and crew chief Rudy Fugle at a January Late Model event in Cordele, Georgia, in 2016 with Kyle Busch Motorsports and the three are now paired together at the highest level, each sharing a love for Super Late Models.

ERIK JONES

By now, most everyone knows the story about how Jones defeated Kyle Busch head-to-head in the 2012 Snowball Derby and he was in the Kyle Busch Motorsports Truck Series program by the end of the next season. A lot of people like to claim that it was the race that put him on the radar but there were more layers to it than that.

Jones actually tested a Super Late Model for Busch at the Nashville Fairgrounds while Busch was in Talladega completing his Cup Series duties. Jones got the call to practice the Busch car on the advice of now Cup Series mainstays Chris Gabehart and Branden Lines, who was a crew chief and spotter respectively that weekend.

Jones impressed in the test two months before winning that Snowball Derby and it’s the sum of both that led to Busch advocating so hard for the young driver to Toyota and Joe Gibbs in the months that followed.

NOAH GRAGSON

Gragson will tell you that Super Late Models are his favorite motorsports platform. The power-to-weight ratio, and minimal aerodynamics compared to NASCAR national touring cars, make for a purer form of competition from his perspective. But it’s also a chance for him to give back to the next generation.

Gragson races with Rette Jones Racing in his free time, which to him, is more about working with younger drivers like Kyle Steckley than anything else. He readily admits all the mistakes he has made over the past decade and has become a valuable mentor in the eyes of everyone who has raced alongside him. Gragson, who has 13 Xfinity and two Craftsman Truck Series wins on his résumé, also claims the 2018 Snowball Derby with Kyle Busch Motorsports as the biggest victory of his career to date, a reflection of how difficult it is, even for regulars of the discipline.

CHASE ELLIOTT

The 2020 Cup Series champion can never stray too far from his pavement Super Late Model roots. Elliott spent his formative years as a teenager rac ing in the Georgia Asphalt Series and ASA South ern Super Series. At the time of his victories in 2010 and 2011, Elliott was the youngest winner in both the Snowflake 100 and Snowball Derby, respectively.

Before moving on to NASCAR, he had won the grand slam in that discipline with triumphs in the Derby, All American 400, Winchester 400 and World Crown 300. Despite winning practically everything there is in that discipline, Elliott still routinely competes in these cars, and does it with the same cast of characters in crew chief Ricky Turner with father Bill Elliott atop the spotters’ stand.

Elliott frequently speaks to the importance of keeping a spotlight on shorttrack racing and backs it up with his participation.

GRASSROOTS

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK

CHRISTOPHER BELL

Past is prologue for the secondgeneration racer and son of Joe Nemechek in his debut season with Legacy Motor Club. Nemechek spent his formative years driving the family-owned NEMCO Motorsports No. 8 Super Late Model, where he won the Snowflake 100 and Snowball Derby in consecutive seasons back in 2013 and 2014. It was that multi-year stretch, where Nemechek earned wins against the likes of Chase Elliott, Bubba Pollard and William Byron, that really established his bona fides as a top prospect.

It’s also notable that his car chief in those seasons was Austin Pollak, who has spent the past decade working for GMS Racing and then Legacy Motor Club, where he has now been reunited with his once and current driver and is once again his car chief. Both have said it’s like no time has passed at all and the vibes in their Cup Series shop are just like those from their Super Late Model tenure.

RICKY STENHOUSE JR.

Having spent his formative years racing open-wheel dirt cars alongside his dad, Stenhouse Jr. has never strayed far from those roots. Since 2017, he has coowned a 410 Sprint Car team with Richard and Jennifer Marshall that competes in the World of Outlaws with second-generation driver Sheldon Haudenschild.

Stenhouse still spends his free weekends regularly racing a Sprint Car owned and wrenched by his father. He also competes in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa each January. Open-wheel dirt racing is both his heritage and passion.

Fun fact: Stenhouse is one of just five drivers to have won in all three USAC divisions to have also won the Daytona 500 alongside Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman. Upon scoring his first Cup Series victory in 2017, Stenhouse joined a list of USAC national tour winners to have won at NASCAR’s highest level that includes Andretti, Foyt, Gordon, Larson, Newman, Kenny Schrader and Tony Stewart.

Bell has been inextricably linked to Kyle Larson throughout their careers, thanks to their shared USAC open-wheel dirt backgrounds and their time with Keith Kunz Motorsports, but there is a deeper story that most do not realize. Toyota had spearheaded Larson’s development but ultimately lost him to Chevrolet when neither Joe Gibbs Racing nor Michael Waltrip Racing would sign him to a Cup Series contract without external funding.

Toyota realized Bell was seemingly just as talented but would also face the same funding issues at the highest level. Losing Larson led to the creation of the successful Toyota driver development program and one that indeed kept Bell with the manufacturer throughout a run of three Chili Bowl wins and victories at every NASCAR level.

For his part, Bell has given back to his roots by fielding Sprint Cars, Midgets and Micro Sprints to this day for drivers hoping to follow in his footsteps.

Victory Junction

CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SMILES

BY DUSTIN ALBINO

Twenty years have passed since Victory Junction opened its doors to campers with serious illnesses, hoping to provide life-changing experiences through fun activities.

The camp, located in Randleman, North Carolina, was inspired by NASCAR driver Adam Petty, who wanted to make an impact on the community after he and his dad, Kyle Petty, visited Camp Boggy Creek, a SeriousFun Children’s Network camp in Florida.

Tragically, Adam Petty died in 2000 from injuries suffered in a crash during practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Petty family made Adam’s dream come to life, providing more than 123,000 experiences over the past two decades. In 2024, Victory Junction is celebrating its 20-year milestone, coinciding with the Petty family’s 75th year of racing.

“I lost a child but gained so many others over the last 20 years. Every time I see a camper smile, I see a little bit of Adam in each of those smiles,” said Kyle Petty, founder of Victory Junction. “Kids come to Victory Junction with daily challenges they have to overcome related to their medical condition – celebrating every day is important to us.”

Victory Junction will have multiple events throughout 2024 to celebrate its 20th year. During the first weekend of April, it hosted a gala at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which is a natural connection through the Pettys celebrating their 75th year in racing. The gala hosted a diverse audience of people who have been connected to Victory Junction for 20 years, in addition to people who are newer to the camp.

The night began with a reception followed by a seated dinner, as well as entertainment by campers. There was also a live auction before guests were able to let loose and explore what 75 years of Pettys in racing looked like. One of Adam Petty’s race cars was prominently displayed near the stage.

The annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, which raises money for Victory Junction each year, made a stop at Victory Junction on May 10, when somewhere between 250 and 300

motorcyclists visited for a few hours. The ribbon cutting for the reopening to the camp’s water park took place, as the charity ride has supported the water park for 20 years.

“When I see kids leave Camp and they’ve got a smile on their face, I know Adam’s still here with us,” Kyle said.

The water park is one of the most loved activities at Camp, and after 20 years of laughter and splashes, it was time to focus on some maintenance needs. It features a more shallow, separate space and will also have a warming hut for kids who have trouble regulating their body temperature. Camp staff can manually raise and lower the temperature of the water to fit the needs of the campers. There will also be a lazy river attached and a newly designed slide. The pool took roughly six months to construct.

Throughout the summer months, many events will remain similar to years prior. The NASCARnival will return, where crew members will get inside a dunking booth for kids to dunk them in a pool of water. Other activities such as changing lug nuts on tires, carnival games and tethered hot air balloon rides will return as well.

Victory Junction will host a Community Day in September –which will be a free event and give the camp the opportunity to educate and reeducate about what it does. There will be something for everyone to experience – including admissions and camp recruitment team members on-site to answer questions about camps, volunteering and employment.

“We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to experience camp and come on-site for people who have not had the opportunity,” said Frances Beasley, chief development officer. “As with a lot of places, sometimes people in your own neighborhood don’t know what you do. To open Camp to the community so people can see what we do, why we do it and how we do it will help spread the word that Victory Junction is accessible for kids with diverse abilities, serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions who can benefit from a camp experience – never at any cost to them.”

Victory Junction is going to incorporate its annual 5K run into the Community Day as well, which will be an added feature.

“Leveraging the celebration of our 20th, we want to expand our messaging and share our story with as many people as we can – as broadly as we can – to let people know that everything we do here is at no cost to families,” Beasley added. “We try hard to make sure there are no barriers for kids that want to come to Victory Junction and benefit from a Camp experience.”

I love Victory Junction because it allows my daughter the chance to be herself and gives her some independence. It allows her to have lots of fun without judgement.

-Victory Junction Camper Parent

At Victory Junction, we believe that every child should have the chance to just be a kid. That’s why we provide life-changing camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions at no cost to their families. Through our adaptive, intentional programming, campers can ride a horse, shoot a bullseye at archery, soar down a zipline, and so much more!

Victory Junction gives children with complex medical conditions the chance to experience adventure, find belonging, and build resilience, all while having a lot of fun and making life-long memories.

Join us to make a lasting impact!

Make your gift for kids at

victoryjunction.org/donate

FORNEY & FACTION46

FORGE NEW PARTNERSHIP

BY JARED TURNER

Established in 1932 and one of the United States’ longestrunning family-owned tool, equipment and accessory product companies, Forney Industries has built a reputation on sustained ex cellence in the world of welding and metalworking.

NASCAR, a sport where welders naturally play a key role in prepar ing and repairing race cars, is a place where Forney has been involved for several years. And, that involvement continues this year as Forney – a Fort Collins, Colorado-based company with a customer network of nearly 20,000 businesses – has partnered with Faction46, a first-year NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team coowned by Lane and Logan Moore.

“Celebrating our collaboration with Faction46 in the heart of NASCAR embodies Forney’s com mitment to innovation and community,” Forney Industries President and CEO Steve Anderson said. “Having joined forces to fuel the passion of racing enthusiasts, we’re excited to bring our expertise in metalworking to the forefront, forging a dynamic partnership that resonates with fans and enthusiasts alike.”

Driving the team’s No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado is Thad Moffitt, a fourth-generation race car driver who’s the grandson of NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time Cup Series champion Richard Petty – the all-time wins leader in NASCAR’s premier series with 200 victories.

Moffitt, who at 23 years old brings a wealth of racing experience to his role, made his debut with Faction46 in February’s Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway – the track where his famous grandfather won a record seven Daytona 500s.

“Our partnership with Thad Moffitt represents a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, echoing Forney’s own commitment to family values and our relentless pursuit of excellence,” Anderson said.

Faction46 has a technical alliance with Niece Motorsports, a veteran Craftsman Truck Series team. Faction46 officials expect to benefit from that alliance in addition to its partnership with Forney Industries, which is helping to provide the equipment necessary to have a successful debut season.

Unlike traditional sponsorships, the relationship between Forney Industries and Faction46 transcends mere branding. Rather, it revolves around a mutually beneficial product trade partnership. Forney’s metalworking products seamlessly integrate into the realm of NASCAR, where chassis repairs often require welding, cutting and grinding – all areas where Forney excels.

“The Faction46 and Niece teams are excited to be working with Forney,” Moore said. “Forney’s reputation is what created our initial interest in working with them, but once we understood their business better, and how family-oriented they are from top to bottom, it made this partnership even more special. We look forward to doing great things with Forney on and off the track in 2024.”

Like the sport of NASCAR, the Forney brand is attractive to many DIYers, automotive enthusiasts and others who are unafraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty as they toil away in garages all over America. Forney’s newest NASCAR partnership – with a driver whose family roots in the sport run so deep – couldn’t be a better fit.

“Joining forces with a fourth-generation driver from the iconic Petty family, we’re honored to stand alongside Lane and Logan Moore, and Thad Moffitt and embody the enduring spirit of motorsports and craftsmanship,” Anderson said.

NASCAR’S

NASCAR RELIES ON ELGIN SWEEPER

Elgin Sweeper became an Official Partner of NASCAR more than 10 years ago. Since then, NASCAR has relied on Elgin sweepers to keep race tracks everywhere cleaner, safer, dryer and more eco-friendly.

“Our partnership with NASCAR has been a great way to showcase the superior performance Elgin sweepers offer,” said Cindy Meshenky, Marketing Brand Manager at Elgin Sweeper. “With efficient, reliable sweepers for a multitude of applications, Elgin Sweeper has a longstanding history of innovating sweepers that help our customers keep streets, runways and, in this case, racetracks clean.”

Based in Elgin, Illinois, the company has been in business for more than a century. It produced the first mechanically operated street sweeper back in 1914. Elgin and NASCAR first partnered in 2001. That relationship has blossomed over time with Elgin serving as the first Official Partner of NASCAR’s Green initiatives.

a key role in ensuring that the racing surface is safe and 100 percent race-ready when the green flag waves following a weather delay.

The process includes removing debris and oil-absorbent material from the racing surface. The Elgin Sweeper technology also helps safety crews absorb no less than 50 gallons of water per minute, rather than just pushing the water out of the racing groove. As a result, NASCAR drivers are able to return to racing significantly faster than they once did – without fear of the track being ill-prepared.

NASCAR is an enormous brand, and we’re very proud of the collaboration we’ve had with them for more than 10 years. It has been a really productive partnership built on trust, and we’re always glad to see the Elgin sweepers on the track getting it ready for the drivers, crews and spectators.

“We’ve been glad to work with NASCAR,” said Meshenky. “Elgin sweepers are used in places around the world including airport runways, rural roads and city streets. It’s great to see the Elgin sweeper out there keeping the racetrack clean and ready.”

Along with helping dry race tracks whenever rain rolls in, Elgin’s highly sophisticated track-sweeping technology plays

“Our sweepers are designed to be highly efficient while also effectively handling whatever surface they’re intended for,” said Meshenky. “Dependability also means we have a wide dealer network for parts and service. That means for NASCAR, we make sure each race has an Elgin sweeper that is ready to go.”

In races, drivers go up to 200 mph. For Elgin sweeper operators, efficient sweeping means ensuring that racetrack is safe for drivers.

“NASCAR is an enormous brand, and we’re very proud of the collaboration we’ve had with them for more than 10 years. It has been a really productive partnership built on trust, and we’re always glad to see the Elgin sweeper on the track getting it ready for the drivers, crews and spectators,” said Meshenky.

TRUSTED ON SOME PRETTY

IMPORTANT PAVEMENT...

Whether sweeping some of the most well known race tracks in America or cleaning the streets in your neighborhood – Elgin sweepers have a reputation for performance, reliability, durability. With over 100 years of experience, a full line of sweepers for every application, and industry-leading green technology –Elgin can always be trusted to get the job done, and take care of the environment along the way.

Scan to learn more about Elgin’s trusted performance – or tune into any NASCAR® - sanctioned race to witness it for yourself.

©2023

THE GIFT OF GAB

10 Colorful Quotes from NASCAR’s Best

BY JARED TURNER

With every unforgettable moment or era in NASCAR history, there’s always been more than a few great quotes – some of which are quite familiar today and others that aren’t as well-known.

Up next are 10 of the most colorful soundbites ever spoken by those who’ve competed in the sport:

“Get you a ride on a Greyhound bus when the national anthem is over.”

This was NASCAR Hall of Fame and six-time Cup Series champion team owner Richard Childress’ response when asked in September 2017 how he would handle a member of Richard Childress Racing choosing to protest by taking a knee during the pre-race national anthem.

“I hope he chokes on the $200,000. That’s all I can tell him. He knocked the hell out of me.”

“I didn’t mean to really turn him around. I meant to rattle his cage, though.”

Arguably the most memorable quote in NASCAR history, Dale Earnhardt made this brash and unapologetic statement in Victory Lane after spinning Terry Labonte in controversial fashion on the final lap of the 1999 Bristol Night Race. Earnhardt – a seventime Cup Series champion and one of the sport’s most popular drivers – was uncharacteristically booed by seemingly everyone in attendance after pulling into the winner’s circle.

“I got run over by the bug-eyed dummy, I guess.”

Sterling Marlin said exactly what he felt about Greg Biffle after the two collided on the road course at Watkins Glen International in 2004.

“He’s coming down the backstraightaway with his finger out the window and just giving me the bird all the way down the straightaway after he’d run me through the fence. I’d like to take that finger and jam it right up his rear end, I’ll tell you that, because he’s messing with the wrong guy with that mouth right now.”

Rusty Wallace didn’t mince words when making the above comments about Tony Stewart after the two tangled on the track at California’s Auto Club Speedway in 2004.

Darrell Waltrip was none too pleased with Rusty Wallace following the 1989 NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, offering this harsh rebuke of Wallace after Wallace spun him coming to the white flag and went on to capture the race win and the $200,000 payday that came along with it.

“My pit crew did absolutely nothing to help me out tonight. My truck drove like (crud). And these (truck) splitters are absolutely horrendous – you can’t pass in traffic, you can’t race alongside anybody, you can’t get within five truck lengths of anyone. But somehow, some way I was able to get back to the front. I had a blast.”

Kyle Busch threw his equipment and members of his Kyle Busch Motorsports Craftsman Truck Series team under the bus with this cutting remark in a post-race press conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May 2018. Busch finished second to Johnny Sauter in the race but never led.

“I don’t know what his deal is with me, but it’s probably not his fault. You know, his wife wears the fire suit in the family and tells him what to do. So, it’s probably not his fault.”

Referencing the fact that Kevin Harvick’s wife, DeLana, typically wore a fire suit resembling the one her husband wore during the race, Joey Logano took this cheap shot at Harvick’s manhood after a laterace bump from Harvick sent his No. 20 car spinning into the wall at Pocono Raceway in 2010.

“If you’re not a race driver, stay the hell home. Don’t come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you’ve got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won’t climb up and eat that candy ass.”

This was Dale Earnhardt’s head-turning statement in 2000 on some drivers who had been complaining about the speeds at Daytona International Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway being too fast.

“As far as Kevin goes, I just want to wish them a merry offseason and a happy Christmas.”

Chase Elliott had this to say about Kevin Harvick and Harvick’s No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team following the playoff elimination race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL in 2021. During that race, Harvick spun Elliott in an act of clear retaliation for a dustup the two former champions had three weeks earlier at Bristol. But Elliott ultimately got the last laugh at the ROVAL, recovering from his spin and advancing deeper into the playoffs while Harvick was eliminated from championship contention.

“If we haven’t crashed at least 50 percent of the field by the end of the race, we need to extend the race until we at least crash 50 percent of the cars, because it’s not fair to these fans for them to not see any more wrecks than that and more tore-up cars. We still had over half the cars running at the end. It shouldn’t be that way. The fans want to see that excitement, and I feel bad that as drivers we couldn’t do a better job of crashing enough cars for them today.”

Clearly no fan of the high-speed, close-quarters racing that Talladega Superspeedway breeds – and the multicar accidents that often result – Tony Stewart went on this wild, tongue-in-cheek rant after wrecking out of the race at Talladega in May 2012.

Understanding the Lingo

ADD THESE WORDS AND PHRASES TO YOUR VOCABULARY

Ever been watching a NASCAR Cup Series race on TV and found yourself confused by some of the terminology casually tossed about by the announcers in the broadcast booth or the reporters on pit road?

If so, you’re not alone.

Here are several words and phrases that every NASCAR fan should have in their vocabulary:

Slide job: Remember Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s first Cup Series race in the NBC broadcast booth when he repeatedly exclaimed “Slide, job! Slide job,” as Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch battled for the lead at Chicagoland Speedway on the final lap? He was referencing an often-used move where two drivers are racing side by side, and the driver on the inside aggressively slides up the track in front of the driver on the outside, blocking his lane in order to complete the pass.

Loose: This is the term used to describe a race car when it’s turning too well in the corners. In other words, the car is so “loose” or “free” that the back end wants to come around and the car becomes prone to spin when a driver is navigating a turn. Sometimes a car will be loose going into a corner but not be loose coming off the corner. Or the opposite may be true. And a car may be loose in Turns 1 and 2 but not be loose in Turns 3 and 4, or vice versa.

Tight: Also known as “understeer,” this term describes a car that doesn’t want to turn well in the corners. When a car is tight, a driver is forced to back off the gas more than they would prefer in the turns, ultimately costing them speed and time on the race track.

Neutral: If a car is neutral, it’s neither loose nor tight. In other words, the vehicle is handling to a driver’s liking and should require few, if any adjustments, during a pit stop.

Next Gen: This is the nickname for the current model NASCAR Cup Series race car rolled out ahead of the 2022 season. It’s more formal name is the Next Generation Cup Series car, but it’s also sometimes called the “Gen 7,” since it’s the seventh iteration of a car for NASCAR’s premier series since NASCAR’s inaugural season of 1949.

NASCAR Overtime: Otherwise known as a “green-white-checkered finish,”

overtime occurs when a caution flag waves with more than one lap to go but, generally speaking, less than five laps to go. It’s goal is for the race to finish under green-flag conditions, as opposed to drivers running the last few laps under caution. If more than a lap remains and NASCAR, in its estimation, won’t be able to clean the race track in enough time for the race to restart and end under green, the race will end with a green-whitecheckered finish – which consists of two green-flag laps to decide the outcome. NASCAR will make up to three attempts at a green-white-checkered finish, but if a caution flag waves once drivers have taken the white flag, the race is over.

Freezing the field: When the caution flag waves with less than a lap to go, NASCAR enacts a procedure known as “freezing the field.” Essentially, this means that a driver will finish based on the position where they were running when the caution flag waved, as the caution flag ends the race.

The Big One: This is the slang term used for the all-too-familiar and sometimes downright frightening multi-car wrecks that occur with regularity at Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and, in recent times, Atlanta Motor Speedway – the only three tracks on the schedule where the rules package and characteristics of the track force drivers to run in big packs, inches apart, all race long.

Stage points: These are points earned in the stages leading up to the final stage of every race. A stage winner collects 10 points, with the second-place finisher in the stage collecting nine points, third-place getting eight, etc., all the way down to the 10th-place stage finisher earning a single point. All stage points earned during a race are added to the points a driver collects for their final finishing position.

Playoff points: A driver can earn up to seven playoff points in most races – one for winning stage one, one for winning stage two and five for winning the race. These points are added to a driver’s point

ELEVATE YOUR TAILGATE with the TG Series Grill!

With a stainless steel design, and versatile cooking options you can expand your cooking options on the go. The portable size allows it to travel and transform tailgates, camping, backyard fun and so much more!

SHOP NOW

GRILL GRIDDLE PIZZA OVEN

UNMATCHED VERSATILITY AND MOTION CONTROL TECHNOLOGY

The TG features a safe, motion-controlled hinge for ultimate cooking control and allows the lid to stay at whatever position it is set!

total at the end of the regular season and can put a driver at a major advantage entering the playoffs. Note, too, that playoff points can be earned during the playoffs and carry over from one playoff round to the next, with the one exception being the Championship 4 drivers, who enter the season finale with equal points regardless of how many playoff points they’ve amassed.

Elimination races: Three of the final 10 races are properly dubbed “elimination races,” as four drivers are formally eliminated from title contention in each. The first elimination race is Race No. 3 in the Round of 16. The second elimination race is Race No. 3 in the Round of 12. And the third and final elimination race is Race No. 3 in the Round of 8 from which four drivers move on to compete for the championship in the season’s final race.

The regular season: These are the first 26 races on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Sixteen drivers qualify for the season-ending, 10-race playoff based on their performance in the regular season. Full-time drivers who win at least one race in the

regular season are all but guaranteed entry into the playoffs, and if fewer than 16 drivers go to Victory Lane during the regular season, the rest of the playoff field is filled by the drivers with the highest point totals.

Plate racing: From 1988 through the 2019 Daytona 500, NASCAR Cup Series cars were required to carry a device known as a restrictor plate, which was used almost strictly at the sport’s two fastest tracks –Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway – to keep speeds in check. The plate, which lived between the engine’s carburetor and intake manifold to limit the flow of air and fuel into the engine combustion chamber, reduced speeds by roughly 15 to 20 mph.

Although NASCAR replaced restrictor plates with a similarly functioning device, the tapered spacer, beginning with the spring 2019 race at Talladega, drivers still commonly refer to the races at Daytona and Talladega as “plate races.” Atlanta has since been added to the list of “plate races,” because drivers likewise stay glued together in big packs, unable to put any notable distance between each other,

which creates some of the most exciting racing on the entire NASCAR tour.

The yellow-line rule: Since 2001, NASCAR has enforced what’s known as the “yellow-line rule.” Instituted following Dale Earnhardt’s death at the 2001 Daytona 500, the rule is designed to help keep drivers safe at Daytona and Talladega. It also now applies at Atlanta, where the apron is painted red and white.

Here’s how the rule works, as explained in the NASCAR rulebook: Vehicles must race above the double yellow lines around the entire race track. If in NASCAR’s judgment, the vehicle(s) goes beneath the double yellow lines to improve its position, vehicle(s) will be black-flagged. If in NASCAR’s judgment, a vehicle forces another vehicle beneath the double yellow lines (in an effort to stop the advancement/ pass), the vehicle may be black-flagged. NASCAR defines beneath the double yellow lines as follows: when the vehicle’s left side tires are beneath the left line of the inside double yellow lines that separates the apron from the racing surface while passing another vehicle.

RV THERE YET?

PLANNING THE PERFECT NASCAR CAMPING TRIP

BY JOSHUA LIPOWSKI

You haven’t really experienced the most a NASCAR race has to offer until you’ve camped at the track.

The parties, the camaraderie among fans and, of course, the barbecues are tough to beat. Camping at a NASCAR race is always a fun experience, but if you are a rookie, it’s important to know what needs to be done long before the green flag waves.

How do you reserve a camping spot, do you need race tickets, what about utilities?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered:

How to Reserve a Camping Spot: The only place fans can go to reserve a camping spot is via the individual race track. Most tracks have a tab on their website dedicated to camping with information on the various types of campsites available and specifics on what you’ll need to bring to maximize your experience. NASCAR’s website has direct links to each of the track’s camping pages.

Fans can either visit the track’s website or call the race track directly to secure camping. Some camping spots can only be reserved by phone, and some can only be reserved online. For example, Charlotte Motor Speedway allows fans to reserve spots at the GEICO Family Campground, but the 600 Terrace can only be reserved over the phone. This may vary from track to track.

It’s worth noting that not every NASCAR track has much camping available. The

L.A. Coliseum and the Chicago Street Race do not offer any camping options. Indianapolis Motor Speedway offers camping, but it’s limited and can be a bit pricey.

Factors to Consider when Reserving a Spot: Reserving a camping spot seems easy, but there are multiple factors to consider and they may vary from track to track. So be sure to research the policies for the race track you are visiting.

Where Will You Stay?: Each track has a camping map available online to show where the camping spots are located. Do you prefer to camp close to the track or perhaps in the infield, or do you want to camp a bit further away? It’s important for fans to know exactly where they will be so they can plan the timing for the weekend – especially when it comes to parking.

Some campgrounds have fans reserve a specific spot for the race weekend. Others are first come/first served. This can impact when fans want to get to the track because they may need to arrive early to get the prime spots.

How Much Will the Spot Cost?: NASCAR camping is unique in that fans can easily do it on a practical budget, or they can go the complete opposite and splurge if they so choose. For example, at Charlotte, the GEICO Family Campground is $175 for the weekend, and the 600 Terrace is between $7,000-$8,000 for the weekend. Whatever

your budget, most tracks will have plenty of options from which to choose.

Lot Size: Fans should know how wide their RV or camper is along with the size of their camping spot. Usually, spots are about 20-by-25 feet at NASCAR Cup Series tracks. Some RVs may require a bigger spot, and fans must consider that when reserving.

And when it comes to the lots, fans should contact their race track for what to do about towing and car parking. Some spots may be big enough to fit the car, but that may not be true for others.

Paved, Grass or Gravel?: Depending on the track and the landscape surrounding it, camping spots will either be paved, grass or gravel. Again, this varies from track to track, and some may have all three, two of the three or just one. Regardless, the surface of the camping spot should be considered when fans are trying to camp at a race track.

Furthermore, not every NASCAR track is built on perfectly manicured, flat ground. Some tracks are carved into the mountains, which means the surrounding landscape can be quite hilly. If you don’t want the hassle of leveling a camper before the weekend starts, then make sure the spot is level. This is often something that requires asking someone at the track or over the phone.

Do the Lots Have Utility Hookups?: Not every spot at a NASCAR track has full electric, water and sewer hookups. If there are no electric hookups, fans usually can bring a generator for electricity in their camper or RV, but most likely those generators may need to be turned off during quiet hours. If the spot does not have water or sewer, tracks often have numbers that fans can call to get water delivered or sewage pumped out.

Are There Quiet Hours?: Speaking of quiet time, this is especially important depending on what type of camping experience you are looking for during the weekend. If a campsite has no quiet hours, that typically means there is a lot of partying, which may be great for some, but not great if you plan to bring kiddos or skittish pets.

Campsites with quiet hours are usually geared toward families and those looking to relax during the weekend. Again, think about what kind of experience you are looking for throughout when making this decision.

WHAT TO DO FOR FUN?

Campfires: What’s camping without a campfire? It’s one of the most common things to do when camping anywhere, and it can be done at a NASCAR race.

Typically, NASCAR campgrounds do not have dedicated fire pits, and fans need to check the rules for campfires. Bringing a portable fire pit can be a great solution for fans to enjoy a night under the stars at a race track. Maybe even roast a s’more or a couple of hot dogs as well.

Cornhole: There’s no lawn game quite like a good game of cornhole. Just set up two boards with some bean bags, and you are all set! It’s the perfect lawn game to play while at the track.

When playing cornhole, fans should be conscious of their surroundings and make sure they are

not intruding on other people’s space. Try to keep it out of the roads where vehicles may come through, and don’t throw bean bags into other campsites. Still, to kill some time before the race starts, this is a great game to play.

Ladder Ball: Another great lawn game is ladder ball. It’s similar to cornhole, but players throw golf balls tied to a string to hang them on a ladder just a few feet away.

Like cornhole, fans need to be aware of their surroundings when playing it. Golf balls are also smaller and much harder than bean bags, so they can injure someone if thrown the wrong way.

Tossing a Football: If fans do not have one of the above games, grabbing a football and tossing it around is as simple as it gets. If you can find some space and a few people to play, there can even be some touch or tackle football played in the campgrounds.

Watching the Race – in Style: Of course, fans who camp can watch the race from the grandstands, but camping offers a unique experience. Fans can watch the race from the infield either up against the fence or on top of another camper. Some people will build platforms on top of their camper to get a clear view of the track.

WHAT TO BRING? DON’T FORGET THIS CHECKLIST!

■ A grill and charcoal (or fuel).

■ Food and utensils.

■ Tailgate tent and chairs.

■ Long folding table.

■ Lawn games.

■ Coolers (and drinks!).

DO’S AND DON’TS CHEAT SHEET

■ Do research rules on pets, fire pits, parking and quiet hours.

■ Don’t bring items that aren’t allowed!

■ Do bring flags to fly on your RV.

■ Don’t bring flags with obscene or hateful messages.

■ Do bring fun lawn games like cornhole, ladder ball and a football.

■ Don’t intrude on other people’s space.

■ Do enjoy time meeting and partying with your neighbors.

■ Don’t be a nuisance or inconvenience to your neighbors.

Will RWR Shed Underdog Status?

DRIVER JUSTIN HALEY

SEES PLENTY

OF POTENTIAL

BY DUSTIN ALBINO

NASCAR Cup Series driver Justin Haley has always been one to keep to himself. In retrospect, it makes perfect sense as to why his surprise move to Rick Ware Racing didn’t leak before it was announced on a July afternoon.

Haley, who was in his fifth year with Kaulig Racing – second at the Cup Series level – saw the writing on the wall. Kaulig was looking to go in a different direction, bringing in drivers with funding to its Cup Series program, which is something Haley has struggled to garner throughout his racing career.

The team later moved A.J. Allmendinger to its Xfinity Series program, bringing in a rotation of drivers for the No. 16 Chevrolet Cup Series car. Daniel Hemric, the 2021 Xfinity Series champion, was later announced as the full-time driver of the team’s No. 31 Cup Series entry.

There were options on the table for Haley. He wanted to remain in the Cup Series and saw what Rick Ware Racing was building. RWR went from a team that couldn’t get out of its own way to one that found better speed and was a threat to overachieve. The organization also became multi-faceted, partnering with established teams in a variety of series such as IndyCar, IMSA and NHRA.

“I think for Matt (Kaulig) and Kaulig Racing with where they are, he’s a businessman and needs to make business decisions,” Haley said in

July 2023 at Pocono Raceway, recounting his decision to depart Kaulig Racing. “I think we were close to doing a deal and a probable option. I felt like I had a few deals and Rick kept coming and calling and gave me a good deal.”

Ware kept courting Haley, even offering the driver a lifetime contact. The biggest attraction that caught Haley’s attention was the team’s relatively new alliance with RFK Racing, spearheaded by co-owner Brad Keselowski. Haley sat in meetings with Keselowski and Steve Newmark, president of RFK, and was convinced that moving to RWR was the right move.

“I feel like Rick has made a lot of strides recently,” Haley said. “He has a lot of race teams with a lot of success and we just want to change the narrative. That was something Spire (Motorsports) has done for a little bit and I raced for them for a while, but I feel like this is just something that I believe in.”

Still, this year is life-changing for Haley, as it’s the first time in five years that he’s switched organizations. He went from competing in the Craftsman Truck Series and making the Championship 4 with GMS Racing directly to the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing. It took him a year-and-a-half to win his first race at Talladega Superspeedway before winning three straight superspeedways races and ultimately advancing to the Championship 4 in his sophomore season.

The adjustment to RWR will be evident. The 25-year-old driver from Winamac, Indiana, joins a team that accumulated just eight top-10 finishes across its first 590 starts. The team has a single topfive result, coming in 2020 when David Ragan finished fourth, though that was through a partnership with Front Row Motorsports. All eight of the team’s top-10 finishes have come on superspeedways, primarily in the form of attrition.

Little by little, RWR became a more attractive destination. When the Cup Series moved to the Next Gen car, it closed the gap between the Goliath organizations and the smaller, underfunded teams. Then, during the offseason, Truck Series championship-winning crew chief Chris Lawson joined the organization to work with Haley and the No. 51 team.

“This is an awesome opportunity,” Haley noted. “I feel like this has been a refreshing move to come over here to Rick Ware Racing. Everyone at Ford Performance has been super welcoming to me and we have a lot of manufacturer backing and being on RFK’s campus and around all those great people has been awesome. I feel like we showed at the Clash a small sample size of what we are capable of. I have an awesome crew chief, one that has won a lot of races and championships and we have to just work hard.”

Haley is already reaping the benefits of the change. He finished runner-up to Shane van Gisbergen in the inaugural Chicago Street Course event last season with only 20 minutes on the Chevrolet simulator. Ford Performance, he says, is making sure he gets up to speed and that comes through additional simulator time.

“I feel like I have been on the Ford simulator more this year than I’d previously been on a simulator in the past two years,” Haley said, just a few months after joining the Ford family. “Ford Performance has been so welcoming, and all their people have really put in a lot of effort.

“On the RWR side of it, Robbie (Benton), Tommy (Baldwin), Chris and Rick himself, it has been an open-door type of situation. You can always go have a conversation and talk with them. I feel like we all have a lot of synergy and are working hard together and can have tough conversations. If I need something, I can go to them. That has been refreshing. I feel like it can be a positive change for us.”

The No. 51 team was impressive out of the gate during the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Even in his two years at Kaulig, the tight confines of the Coliseum fit in Haley’s wheelhouse. In his first time out with RWR, the team started 10th and ran a chunk of the race inside the top 10.

Haley says the Clash could have been a preview of what is to come this season and beyond.

“When we went to L.A. and qualified 10th against teams that have gift shops bigger than our race shop, truthfully, I feel like that lit a fire underneath all of us that we could go be competitive,” Haley said. “There are going to be tough runs and tough conversations and things that we will struggle with, but at the end of the day, I can go to any of them and have an open conversation and be better. It has just been super refreshing and I feel so welcome and I feel like I am in a good position.”

Kaz Grala will be Haley’s primary teammate this year, as he has 25 races lined up in RWR’s second car.

Because Rick Ware Racing is still small in comparison to the teams that frequently run toward the front of the field and win races, there aren’t any set expectations for the season. As long as the team is pulling the rope in the same direction, strides will likely be made.

“We still only have 20 or 30 people or whatever the number is,” Haley said. “We are working hard. I think the expectation is to just show up and be competitive and go from there. The Clash is a super small sample size, but I think we surprised ourselves. I think as long as we keep surprising ourselves and showing what we can do, then we will be ahead.”

‘I Do This to Challenge Myself’ ALLMENDINGER TAKES

ANOTHER SHOT AT ELUSIVE TITLE

BY JOSEPH WOLKIN

A.J. Allmendinger arguably has more fun celebrating a NASCAR victory than anyone else currently in the sport. The veteran racer may be in his early 40s, but he enjoys a win like he’s in his 20s.

The fun-loving, emotional Allmendinger has changed dramatically over the years. Fans have seen him go from a journeyman racer, failing to qualify for mid-pack teams in the Cup Series, to once again being mentioned among the NASCAR Xfinity Series title favorites.

And Allmendinger is at home with Kaulig Racing.

He is also content with the decision to move back to the Xfinity Series after a full Cup Series schedule in 2023. The results simply weren’t there, even though he won late in the going on the Charlotte ROVAL.

At the end of the day, little had changed from his previous Cup Series efforts and Allmendinger wasn’t competing for wins on a regular basis.

“When I get into a race car, it’s about always proving to myself that I can do it,” Allmendinger said. “It doesn’t matter if I’m racing for points or one-off races. At the end of the day, I do this to challenge myself and prove to myself that I can race against the best drivers in the world. If you win a race, great – go prove it again next weekend.”

There is something unique about Allmendinger’s perspective. He simply wants to win, but it’s not like he came into NASCAR and won right away. In fact, it took eight years for him to earn his first Cup Series win. And after his first at Watkins Glen, it took another five years to get that coveted second victory. Winning is not easy, and that’s why fans see Allmendinger ratchet up the celebration when he does visit Victory Lane.

This year, Allmendinger is competing in roughly a dozen Cup Series races, shifting his focus to chasing the Xfinity Series championship with Kaulig Racing. While he stated before the Daytona 500 that he would have liked to have raced full time in the Cup Series once again, he’s accepted that isn’t his situation.

Instead, the California native is running his third full Xfinity Series campaign in four years. The last two times he did this was 2021 and 2022, and he finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the standings, with five wins each year. And both years, he won the regular-season title.

“I’d love to win 10 races and the championship,” Allmendinger said of his lofty expectations. “But at the same point, my ultimate goal is to say in 80-90 percent of the races, we were fast enough to win that race. If we do that, wins will come.

“I’ve always loved the Xfinity Series, and the level of competition this year is going to be stacked. It’s always that mix of young talent trying to make their names and move to the Cup Series, guys like myself moving back to the Xfinity Series and a guy like Justin Allgaier, who’s been here for a long time.”

If all goes well with Allmendinger’s No. 16 team, this could be the year he becomes a NASCAR champion after nearly two decades in the sport.

“It’s all about the process,” he noted. “The way championships work now – with one race – we can go win 32 races and you can go into the last race and not beat the right three guys and you’re not a champion. If we can go win a lot of races, get to Phoenix and get dialed in, perfect. If not, it’s still about having a great year and winning a lot of races. Right now, it’s about going out there and running in the top five every weekend to give ourselves a chance to win races.

“We did a lot of work over the offseason to make our Xfinity program better. You don’t really know about that until eight or nine races into the year and you’ve been to all different types of race tracks. I know that if we’re at our best, we can compete with the best of them and win a lot of races.”

While Allmendinger’s focus is on Xfinity Series racing, he does have high expectations for when he competes in the Cup Series car, as well. Last year, he tallied seven top-10 finishes, one fewer than 2022 when he ran only half the season. Things just didn’t click.

But with a part-time Cup Series slate and Kaulig Racing focused on improving its performance, the

expectation is still to win.

“The Cup side, especially in an organization like ours where you’re trying to grow and get your footing, to go win a race is hard,” Allmendinger said. “It boosts your program. You have good days and you have bad days. You could pull from those moments that you can tell yourselves as a race team that, ‘We can do this. We have two Cup wins.’”

Making this season even more special for Allmendinger, it’s his first full NASCAR campaign since becoming a father.

In September, Allmendinger’s wife, Tara, gave birth to their son, Aero James. Three months later, the baby underwent surgery for Craniosynostosis, a birth defect where the bones in the skull join together too early. Thankfully, Allmendinger reported at the start of the season that the surgery went well and Aero is expected to make a full recovery.

“It went better than we could even hope for,” Allmendinger said about his son’s surgery. “In the short few months that he’s been around, seeing his facial expressions and everything that happens with a newborn, Tara and I have been having a lot of fun.”

Back on the race track, Allmendinger is also serving as a mentor – maybe even as a father figure – to his new Kaulig Racing teammates. Both Josh Williams and Shane van Gisbergen are new to the team’s Xfinity Series program.

Williams, an Xfinity Series veteran, has never had a realistic chance of competing for a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Van Gisbergen won the inaugural Cup Series race at the Chicago Street Course, and the New Zealander is running on ovals for the first time this year. This means they’re both relying on Allmendinger for advice.

“With all of his Supercar championships and running sports cars, his background of racing is world class,” Allmendinger said of Van Gisbergen. “He’s going to be tough to beat, especially on road courses. To me, mentally, he’s already the guy to beat on road courses just because of what he can do.”

That’s coming from Allmendinger, a road-racing ace himself. At the start of the season, he had 12 road course wins across NASCAR’s top two series.

Meanwhile, Allmendinger says working with Williams has been fun and exciting.

“His energy at the shop is already infectious,” Allmendinger said. “I already love being around the guy. I think this is a great opportunity for him, and he’s going to shock a lot of people. You can be the best driver and not get in the right equipment, and nobody will ever know that. Josh is going to get in these race cars and do a lot of great things.”

If Allmendinger can win the Xfinity Series championship this year, one can only imagine what the celebration will be like.

Color the Truck Series Gray BROTHERS

ARE TEAMMATES AND TITLE RIVALS

BY JOSEPH WOLKIN

The Gray brothers are ready to take NASCAR by storm. After fol lowing different career paths to get to the same point, Tanner and Taylor Gray are now teammates at Tricon Garage, Toyota’s flag ship team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Tanner Gray, 25, is in fifth full Truck Series season and he’s driving the No. 15 Toyota. Taylor Gray recently turned 19 and he’s running the full 23-race schedule for the first time in the No. 17 Toyota.

Their father, Johnny Gray, is also part of the equation. A retired drag racer, Johnny Gray co-owns Tricon Garage alongside former NASCAR Cup Series driver David Gilliland.

“We raced pretty well against each other last year,” Taylor Gray said of the on-track relationship between he and his brother. “Just like how teammates should be. It’s been good working together.”

But Tanner Gray originally thought there could be issues with the siblings competing in the same series. In fact, he had concerns about what it would do to their relationship.

“I was a little bit nervous going into it because you know you’re going to race each other hard, and we were trying to figure out that healthy line,” Tanner Gray explained. “We race each other hard and clean. Throughout the year, we developed a better relationship than we prob ably had before we were racing with each other.”

Taylor Gray is in the midst of a busy season. The teenager is sched uled to compete in 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series races for Joe Gibbs Racing, in addition to running the full Craftsman Truck Series slate for Tricon Garage. He is splitting the No. 19 JGR Toyota with Ryan Truex, Joe Graf Jr. and William Sawalich.

“It’s pretty crazy to think that just a few years ago, I was racing late models,” Taylor Gray said. “It’s crazy to think this is where we are now. I would say there’s a decent amount of pressure, but pressure’s a privilege. In my opinion, pressure is good. It’s been a really cool experience so far.”

The younger Gray has modest expectations for his time in the Xfinity Series.

“For the first couple of races, a top 10 is a good goal,” he noted. “As we get later into the year, we’ll look for the top-five finishes. I’ve talked with Sheldon (Creed) and Chandler (Smith), and it’s been awesome working alongside those guys. Every team operates differently. It’s been cool to see how they (Joe Gibbs Racing) operate after being around for so many years.”

Taylor Gray ran 20 Truck Series races last year after he turned 18 and became eligible to compete on the larger tracks. In those 20 races, he

earned three top-five finishes and six top-10 results. His season was highlighted by a runner-up finish at Kansas Speedway in the fall, when Christian Eckes beat him to the stripe by .363 seconds.

For Tanner Gray, he’s been a Truck Series regular since 2020. His 2023 effort was highlighted by a pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, which was preceded by a third-place finish at Darlington Raceway and a runner-up result in the season opener at Daytona International

However, he failed to qualify for the playoffs.

“My expectations are pretty high,” Tanner Gray said. “Unfortunately, over the past few years, I don’t feel like I’ve met them. It’s been frustrating and tough to deal with. With the equipment we have and the group of people we have around us, we should be contending for wins. Corey (Heim, teammate) proved that last year.

The elder of the Gray brothers continues his NASCAR transition after claiming the 2018 NHRA Pro Stock championship at just 19 years old.

“The biggest thing for the (No. 15) group is figuring out how to execute at that high of a level,” he said. “We expect to be a contender week-in and week-out. It’s about maximizing your day. You’re not going to have a perfect day every weekend. You have to take the days where things aren’t going so well and get the best finish you can possibly get out of them. The way we ran last year isn’t going to cut it.”

Teammate Corey Heim is once again a championship favorite after earning three wins a year ago. To see Heim win so often is motivation for the Grays as expectations for the entire team are high in year two with Toyota Racing Development.

“I have very high expectations for us this year,” Taylor Gray said. “We should go out and win some races and go deep in the playoffs. As long as we’re consistent and we show up to the race track to the best of our ability and prepared, I don’t think there’s many reasons we shouldn’t be running in the top-five every week.

“Last year, I wasn’t super comfortable going into it. I didn’t know what to expect. Now, I’m walking into the year knowing exactly what to expect and what things should feel like. It’s second nature now. I understand how the truck drives and what to do to make speed in the truck. We have to get our routine down and, more importantly, work smoothly

Previously known as DGR-Crosley and David Gilliland Racing, Tricon Garage is now Toyota’s primary Truck Series team after competing under the Ford banner through the 2022 season.

“Everybody at TRD made the transition really smooth,” Tanner Gray said. “It took us a few races to get used to the tools they use and everything that comes along with it. They do a great job at providing us all of the resources we need to be successful. I’d expect us to be even better

This year, Taylor Gray is paired with veteran crew chief Jeff Hensley while Tanner Gray is working with Jerame Donley for the second

“I feel like we built a strong relationship over the offseason,” Taylor Gray said of Hensley, who entered the season with 22 Truck Series vic-

The elder of the Gray brother believes that having a second year with the same crew chief will pay off for the No. 15 team.

“We have familiar faces and we can build on what we had last year,” Tanner Gray said. “I’m excited and I feel confident with all of the work we put in. He knows what I’m looking for, and I know what he expects.”

The OOTG Power Hour is a new video podcast hosted every month by YouTuber Eric Estepp and Xfinity Series driver Brennan Poole. Each episode, the two will cover the current events of NASCAR, interview a fan favorite driver, and host a special interactive segment where fans can have their voices heard.

ORDER THE LATEST NASCAR DIECAST CARS AT

IF

CONTENT CREATOR SPOTLIGHT: BRAKEHARD

BY JOSHUA LIPOWSKI

BrakeHard first dipped his toe into YouTube during the late 2010s, but he took off as a content creator on TikTok. As his following grew on TikTok, he slowly worked his way back into YouTube, which allowed for more in-depth thoughts and longer videos than he could share on TikTok.

BrakeHard videos are sprinkled with witty humor and honest opinions on things happening in NASCAR. Coverage of topics such as the Garage 56 effort and the Chase Elliott/Kyle Larson drama gave him a major boost, and it’s likely one of these topics that you’ve seen trend across your own app.

Growing up around motorsports with his dad working on sprint cars, BrakeHard took a liking to fast cars and horsepower. While he enjoys all different types of motorsports, and his family makes the yearly pilgrimage to the Indianapolis 500, NASCAR racing is his passion.

We recently caught up with BrakeHard for the “Next Gen Creators” podcast, and he gave us some insight into his content creation journey. Here’s a portion of what he had to say:

HOW DID YOU BECOME A RACE FAN?

My motorsports journey started before I was even born. My dad wrenched on sprint cars around the Midwest, so my pregnant mother had to lug me along to dirt tracks across Indiana and Ohio. I became a NASCAR fan because my dad raced around the time Jeff Gordon was coming up through sprint cars, and he closely followed Gordon’s career. Then, Gordon became my driver when I was a kid.

Growing up in Cincinnati, close to the Indianapolis 500, that has always been a huge connection for me. And waking up early mornings back when Formula 1 start times weren’t 9 a.m. East Coast time. Some people forget that it used to be 6 a.m. At times they were brutal.

YOU HAD A BLOG BEFORE YOU JOINED TIKTOK. WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THAT?

When I was in college, me and my buddies had a Cincinnati sports blog, and I just had fun writing.

At the time I thought, “I consume all this motorsport content. I have opinions that maybe people would agree with, so I might as well try to put them in writing.”

My approach to content and writing is a bit different than your Bob Pockrasses or your Matt Weavers who do phenomenal work. Mine’s more like presenting the information. There’s going to be a couple of little one-liners in there (whether people think they’re funny or not is up to them). I enjoy writing creatively like that, and that’s the approach I took to writing the blog, which then morphed into how I present on TikTok and YouTube as well.

YOUR FIRST VIDEO TO BLOW UP ON YOUTUBE WAS THE GARAGE 56 LE MANS EPISODE. WHAT WENT INTO THAT?

I love that program, so when they announced it, I thought, “This is one of the coolest things you’ll ever see.” It’s a NASCAR stock car with a few extra aero bits on there, but racing around a Ferrari Hyper Car.

It looked so ridiculous because it was so much bigger, so much louder, so much faster than all the GT cars. I, like a lot of people in America, leaned into the fact that it was blowing the doors off of the Aston Martin and the Ferraris down the straightaway with a big pushrod V-8. I had some very proAmerican things that I said in the videos, and it was fun to see people’s reactions.

The Garage 56 program brought all NASCAR fans together, in a weird sense. It brought all American motorsports fans together. They got behind this car like it was the Olympics. “Oh this is our country. We’re all going to support this.” Completely ignoring the fact that Corvette and Cadillac were out there as well. Everybody got behind that, and my just being happy about that program turned into great content.

Race fans who scroll NASCAR videos on TikTok or YouTube have probably come across BrakeHard.

HIGH PERFORMANCE

ON THE RACE TRACK, AND IN YOUR HOME

State Water Heaters is excited to partner with Jeb Burton on the race track and the whole Burton family on their outdoor TV show Crossroads with the Burtons. Just like Jeb Burton knows the value of high performing equipment on the track, we know the importance of high performing equipment in your home. Our ProLine® water heaters are designed to provide tough, commercialgrade performance that your family can rely on.

COOL STUFF FOR

Slime Licker® Squeeze™

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF the mega-popular Slime Licker®, Candy Dynamics is excited to announce the release of its new Slime Licker® Squeeze! With the same delicious tartness as the original Slime Licker® line, the Slime Licker® Squeeze™ brings a new consistency. Unlike their namesake, the 70g Slime Licker® Squeeze™ comes in three flavors: Blue Razz, Cherry and Green Apple. Each display contains 6 Blue Razz, 3 Cherry and 3 Green Apple tubes.

Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes

Sour candy lovers will love the way the Slime Licker® Squeeze™ paints their tongue and parents will be happy to see the colorful smiles coming from their kids!

WWW.TOXICWASTECANDY.COM

OOEY GOOEY BUTTER CAKES ARE A MUST-TRY FOR ANYONE WITH A sweet tooth. Whether enjoyed as a pre-race treat or as a post-race reward, Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes are the perfect way to satisfy your cravings. Originating in St. Louis, the bottom layer is a delicious buttery yellow cake, while the top layer is a rich mixture of cream cheese, sugar, and egg. With eight different flavors available, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

So why not treat yourself to the deliciousness of an Ooey Gooey Butter Cake? Head to your local convenience store and grab a stack for race day – keep them for yourself or share with your racing friends.

WWW.PCBAKERY.COM

RACE FANS

Leaking Coolant System?

K-Seal is a multi-purpose, one step, permanent coolant leak repair with more than 10 million bottles sold worldwide to date. It permanently seals leaks in the head gasket, block, radiator, heater core, freeze plug and water-pump casing.

Trusted by professional mechan ics, technicians and motorists alike, K-Seal is suitable for use with all water-cooled engines, including cars, motorcycles, commercial ve hicles and heavy machinery.

No need to drain or flush the sys tem or worry about what type of an tifreeze is in the cooling system; just shake, pour and get back on the road!

LEARN MORE AT KSEAL.COM

Across the Board NASCAR Car Racing Game

Podcast Party Bus 1:24 Die-Cast Car from Lionel

Joe’s Hand Cleaner

THIS IS JOE’S ALL-PURPOSE Hand Cleaner, and it’s the cleaner you should have in your shop or garage. This industrial strength waterless hand cleaner removes some of the toughest grease, grime and oils from your skin. It contains lanolin and petroleum jelly to help combat the drying and cracking effects from the over usage of water, and its gentle formula means you can use it multiple times a day. Just apply it to dry skin and then wipe off with a cloth or towel. With its pleasant banana smell, you’ll be amazed at the way your hands look and feel after use: clean, conditioned, and without the greasy or dry feeling associated with most hand cleaners.

The Across the Board NASCAR Car Racing Game will have your adrenaline pumping as your race car makes its way around a beautifully handcrafted oval race track!

To play the NASCAR Car Racing Game, line up the race cars at the starting gate, deal the cards and begin rolling the dice to disqualify your cars and start building your “pot.” The remaining cars race to the finish line. Hold the winning car’s card and you win!

LEARN MORE AT SHOP.ATBGAME.COM

Last season, some of your favorite content creators partnered with the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevy for a sweet Cup Series experience when the Podcast Party Bus car raced at Darlington.

Now, the official 1:24 die-cast car from Lionel Racing that prominently features Out of the Groove, Black Flags Matter, Danny B Talks and The Iceberg is available for immediate shipping. This is a must-add to any die-cast collection and supplies are going fast, so place your order today. The die-cast is available now for immediate shipping.

WWW.DAILYDOWNFORCE.COM/SHOP

CHECK OUT ALL OUR FINE PRODUCTS AT JOESHANDCLEANER.COM

63

Weatherly Drives for 9 Owners

Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Joe Weatherly was best known for winning a second consecutive title in 1963 while bumming rides with nine team owners. He notched three wins and 35 top-10 finishes that season.

Weatherly was riding high during the winter months between seasons, having won the 1962 Cup Series title with team owner Bud Moore. However, a phone call soured Weatherly’s good mood when Moore reported he simply didn’t have the money or equipment to run the entire 55-race schedule. Weatherly took the news in stride and began thinking about how to defend his title.

The Norfolk, Virginia, driver took it upon himself to formulate a plan to make all of the races. He would drive the races Moore had scheduled and spend hours on the phone talking his way into other rides throughout the season. He would get into cars that he knew had no chance to win but would complete laps, gain positions and manage respectable finishes while saving the owners’ cars.

Weatherly drove for Moore, as well as Cliff Stewart, Fred Harb, Pete Stewart, Floyd Powell, Major Melton, Possum Jones, Worth McMillan and Wade Younts –names not associated with wins or championships other than Moore. Weatherly wanted nothing but to win. He had the tenacity of a bulldog and would never give up.

By season’s end, Weatherly had enough points to beat Richard Petty, even though Petty won 14 times and entered one more race than Weatherly. All told, Weatherly found himself 1,228 points ahead when the checkered flag waved at Riverside International Raceway on Nov. 3.

The other big story of the year was Fred Lorenzen, winner of six races, banking six figures in prize money with Ford’s Holman Moody team.

BEST DRIVER

FRED LORENZEN, driver of the No. 28 Holman Moody Ford, entered only 29 of 55 races and still managed to become the first driver in NASCAR to earn six figures in prize money during a single season. The Elmhurst, Indiana. native won six times, scored 23 top-10 finishes and claimed eight pole positions. It was the greatest season of his 12-year career. No other driver before him in NASCAR’s then 14-year history had come close.

BEST RACE

DRIVING THE NO. 21

Wood Brothers Racing Mercury, Tiny Lund won the 1963 Daytona 500 as a substitute driver after Marvin Panch was injured days before the event in a crash during practice for a sports car race at Daytona International Speedway. Lund helped rescue Panch from his burning car and was given the ride at Panch’s suggestion. Lund, a surprise winner, was in Daytona Beach hoping to find a car to drive in the 500.

TOP CARS

ALL THREE OF CHAMPION

Joe Weatherly’s series victories came in the No. 8 Pontiac owned and prepared by legendary mechanic Bud Moore. Richard Petty recorded 14 wins and 34 top-10 finishes behind the wheel of the No. 43 Petty Enterprises Plymouth.

SEASON RECAP

DATE LOCATION WINNER

Nov. 4 Birmingham Speedway Jim Paschal

Nov. 11 Golden Gate Speedway Richard Petty

Nov. 22 Tar Heel Speedway Jim Paschal

Jan. 20 Riverside International Raceway Dan Gurney

Feb. 22 Daytona International Speedway Junior Johnson

Feb. 22 Daytona International Speedway Johnny Rutherford

Feb. 24 Daytona International Speedway Tiny Lund

March 2 Piedmont Speedway Richard Petty

March 3 Asheville-Weaverville Speedway Richard Petty

March 10 Orange Speedway Junior Johnson

March 17 Atlanta Motor Speedway Fred Lorenzen

March 24 Hickory Speedway Junior Johnson

March 31 Bristol Motor Speedway Fireball Roberts

April 4 New Augusta Speedway Ned Jarrett

April 7 Richmond Raceway Joe Weatherly

April 13 Greenville-Pickens Speedway Buck Baker

April 14 South Boston Speedway Richard Petty

April 15 Bowman Gray Stadium Jim Paschal

April 21 Martinsville Speedway Richard Petty

April 28 North Wilkesboro Speedway Richard Petty

May 2 Columbia Speedway Richard Petty

May 5 Tar Heel Speedway Jim Paschal

May 11 Darlington Raceway Joe Weatherly

May 18 Old Dominion Speedway Richard Petty

May 19 Southside Speedway Ned Jarrett

June 2 Charlotte Motor Speedway Fred Lorenzen

June 9 Birmingham International Raceway Richard Petty

June 30 Atlanta Motor Speedway Junior Johnson

July 4 Daytona International Speedway Fireball Roberts

July 7 Rambi Raceway Ned Jarrett

July 10 Savannah Speedway Ned Jarrett

July 11 Dog Track Speedway Jimmy Pardue

July 13 Bowman Gray Stadium Glen Wood

July 14 New Asheville Speedway Ned Jarrett

July 19 Old Bridge Stadium Fireball Roberts

July 21 Bridgehampton Circuit Richard Petty

July 28 Bristol Motor Speedway Fred Lorenzen

July 30 Greenville-Pickens Speedway Richard Petty

Aug. 4 Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville Jim Paschal

Aug. 8 Columbia Speedway Richard Petty

Aug. 11 Asheville-Weaverville Speedway Fred Lorenzen

Aug. 14 Piedmont Fairgrounds Ned Jarrett

Aug. 16 Bowman Gray Stadium Junior Johnson

Aug. 18 W. Virginia International Speedway Fred Lorenzen

Sept. 2 Darlington Raceway Fireball Roberts

Sept. 6 Hickory Speedway Junior Johnson

Sept. 8 Richmond Raceway Ned Jarrett

Sept. 22 Martinsville Speedway Fred Lorenzen

Sept. 24 Dog Track Speedway Ned Jarrett

Sept. 29 North Wilkesboro Speedway Marvin Panch

Oct. 5 Tar Heel Speedway Richard Petty

Oct. 13 Charlotte Motor Speedway Junior Johnson

Oct. 20 South Boston Speedway Richard Petty

Oct. 27 Orange Speedway Joe Weatherly

Nov. 3 Riverside International Raceway Darel Dieringer

NO.

NO.

POP CULTURE

The Best-Selling Fiction

Novel was “The Shoes of the Fisherman” by Morris L. West

Two in a Row for Johnson

Driving the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Jimmie Johnson posted 10 wins and 24 top-10 finishes on the way to securing his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship and seventh title for team owner Rick Hendrick.

From 2002 until 2006, Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus amassed 24 victories, finished second in points in 2003 and 2004 and claimed their first championship in 2006. The dynamic duo felt they had the strongest team and could successfully defend their crown.

Johnson began the season by suffering a crash in the season-opening Daytona 500. The El Cajon, California, native finished 39th in the 43-car field and knew he had his work cut out for him to get his title hopes back on track. He rebounded with a victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway two weeks later and returned to fourth in points.

Johnson remained in the top-five in points through the July 4 event at Daytona International Speedway but fell to seventh at Chicagoland Speedway with a crash and a 37th-place finish.

A second crash at Indianapolis a week later and a 39th-place finish dropped him even further back to ninth. The path toward defending the title wasn’t looking promising.

Then, three top-5 finishes and wins at California and Richmond returned Johnson to the points lead. He was among the top three in points for the remainder of the season.

Consecutive wins at Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas and Phoenix during the Chase iced the championship. In the final points tally, Johnson bested teammate Jeff Gordon by 77 points.

BEST DRIVER

JIMMIE JOHNSON, driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, recorded 10 wins, 24 top-10 finishes and four pole positions. Johnson suffered through ebbs and flows during the 2007 schedule but was able to edge teammate Jeff Gordon by 77 points for his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. Johnson’s ability to communicate with crew chief Chad Knaus made them a force to be reckoned with throughout the 36-race season.

BEST RACE

ON JUNE 4, MARTIN

Truex Jr., driving the No. 1 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet, led 216 of 400 laps at Dover Motor Speedway to claim his first Cup Series victory. Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin chased him under the checkered flag. The race featured 18 lead changes and seven caution periods spanning 35 laps. A second-generation driver from nearby Mayetta, New Jersey, the one-mile Dover oval is Truex’s home track.

TOP CARS

JIMMIE JOHNSON’S NO.

48 Hendrick Motorsports

Lowe’s Chevrolet went to Victory Lane 10 times and had 24 top-10 finishes.

The No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports DuPont Chevrolet, driven by Jeff Gordon, recorded six wins and 30 top-10 results.

SEASON RECAP

DATE LOCATION

07

WINNER

Feb. 18 Daytona International Speedway Kevin Harvick

Feb. 25 Auto Club Speedway Matt Kenseth

March 11 Las Vegas Motor Speedway

March 18 Atlanta Motor Speedway

March 25 Bristol Motor Speedway

April 1 Martinsville Speedway

April 15 Texas Motor Speedway

April 21 Phoenix Raceway

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson

Kyle Busch

Jimmie Johnson

Jeff Burton

Jeff Gordon

April 29 Talladega Superspeedway Jeff Gordon

May 6 Richmond Raceway

May 13 Darlington Raceway

Jimmie Johnson

Jeff Gordon

May 27 Charlotte Motor Speedway Casey Mears

June 4 Dover Motor Speedway

June 10 Pocono Raceway

June 17 Michigan International Speedway

June 24 Sonoma Raceway

July 1 New Hampshire Motor Speedway

July 7 Daytona International Speedway

July 15 Chicagoland Speedway

July 29 Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Aug. 5 Pocono Raceway

Aug. 12 Watkins Glen International

Aug. 21 Michigan International Speedway

Aug. 25 Bristol Motor Speedway

Sept. 2 Auto Club Speedway

Sept. 8 Richmond Raceway

Sept. 16 New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Sept. 23 Dover Motor Speedway

Sept. 30 Kansas Speedway

Martin Truex Jr.

Jeff Gordon

Carl Edwards

Juan Pablo Montoya

Denny Hamlin

Jamie McMurray

Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart

Kurt Busch

Tony Stewart

Kurt Busch

Carl Edwards

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson

Clint Bowyer

Carl Edwards

Greg Biffle

Oct. 7 Talladega Superspeedway Jeff Gordon

Oct. 13 Charlotte Motor Speedway

Oct. 21 Martinsville Speedway

Oct. 28 Atlanta Motor Speedway

Nov. 4 Texas Motor Speedway

Jeff Gordon

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson

Nov. 11 Phoenix Raceway Jimmie Johnson

Nov. 18 Homestead-Miami Speedway Matt Kenseth

PRESIDENT

George W. Bush

NO. 1 AT THE BOX OFFICE

Spider-Man 3

NO. 1 SONG

“Irreplaceable” by Beyonce

POP CULTURE

Shows such as “Dancing with the Stars” and “American Idol” enjoyed unparalleled ratings.

GALLON OF GAS

2007

NASCAR’S GREATEST DRIVERS

Tim flock

One of the most engaging and accomplished drivers of his day, Tim Flock – who passed away on March 31, 1998 – was one of the first true NASCAR legends and is widely considered a pioneer of the sport.

91

Born in Fort Payne, Alabama, on May 11, 1924, Flock competed in NASCAR’s inaugural Cup Series season of 1949, running five of eight races, including the first. The following season, Flock started 12 of 19 events and captured his first NASCAR premier series victory in a 200-lap race at the old Charlotte Speedway, a three-quarter-mile dirt track.

Tim’s brother, Bob, ran second that day, and the Flock siblings were the only drivers in the 25-car field to finish on the lead lap.

It was during the 1951 season, however, that Tim Flock began showing flashes of the greatness that would ultimately make him one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers. Campaigning the No. 91 car, Flock recorded seven wins in 30 starts on the way to a third-place points finish.

He was just getting warmed up, however. In 1952, the affable Alabama native cruised to his first premier series NASCAR title on the strength of eight wins in 33 starts while campaigning the now legendary Hudson Hornet. As ill fortune would have it, though, Flock actually ended that year in a crash that sent his car sliding on its roof.

Thankfully for Flock, wrecking with 36 laps left in the season finale at the half-mile Palm Beach Speedway dirt track didn’t keep him from securing the title.

“I bet I’m the only driver who ever won a championship on his head,” Flock, who finished his career in 1961 with 39 premier series victories, was later quoted as saying.

In between Flock’s first championship season and his second and final championship season, which came in 1955, he gained much acclaim for competing with a monkey – appropriately dubbed Jocko Flocko – strapped to the passenger seat of his Hudson Hornet for an eight-race stretch during the 1953 season.

Over that time, Flock led 158 laps and posted five top-five finishes, including a victory at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina. Eventually, though, Flock had to part ways with his atypical passenger when the monkey worked its way out of its seatbelt and became unruly during a race in Raleigh, North Carolina.

IT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO DRIVE THOSE HEAVY, OLD CARS BACK THEN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WITH A CRAZED MONKEY CLAWING YOU AT THE SAME TIME, IT BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

BEST SEASON

DRIVING A CHRYSLER 300

owned by Carl Kiekhaefer in 1955, Flock rolled up an amazing 32 top-five finishes in 39 starts as he became the second two-time champion of NASCAR’s premier division. That same year, Flock also captured 18 poles and led a whopping 3,495 laps – both career-highs.

RECORD SETTER FLOCK SHATTERED THE record for wins in a single NASCAR season when he triumphed an incredible 18 times in 1955 on the way to his second Cup Series championship. Flock’s record stood until 1967, when Richard Petty went to Victory Lane a stunning 27 times in 48 starts.

THE NO. 91 CAR

FUNNY CHARISMATIC ADVENTUROUS PIONEER SKILLED

KNOWN FOR FLOCK WAS NOTED FOR being born into a racing family that included three of his siblings. Tim, Ethel, Fonty and Bob Flock actually competed against each other in a 1949 race on the Daytona Beach and Road Course. They are the only four siblings to have competed in the same NASCAR-sanctioned event.

One of the first NASCAR drivers to boast true rock star appeal, Tim Richmond had influence that stretched far beyond that of the typical 1980s Cup Series driver – and most drivers both before and since.

25 tim richmond

Born on June 7, 1955, in Ashland, Ohio, Richmond was one of the few NASCAR competitors of his day who didn’t hail from the Southeast, but, in all reality, it didn’t matter where Richmond was from.

The bottom line is that he marched to the beat of his own drummer and made absolutely no apologies for it, despite having a reputation for living his life outside of the race car a little too close to the proverbial edge.

Sadly, Richmond’s life was cut short at the age of 34 due to complications from AIDS, but not before he became universally recognized as one of the Cup Series’ most talented drivers and left a lasting mark on the sport.

Just how impactful was Richmond over his eight full or partial seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series? Impactful enough for Hollywood filmmakers to pattern the character of Cole Trickle –aka Tom Cruise – after Richmond in the 1990 blockbuster hit movie “Days of Thunder.”

Richmond passed away on Aug. 13, 1989 – about a year before “Days of Thunder” premiered – but he’ll be forever remembered not just for his movie-star good looks and infectious personality but for his abilities behind the wheel of a race car. Between 1982 and 1987, Richmond went to Victory Lane 13 times despite running only four full seasons.

Had Richmond not fallen ill, there’s a strong possibility he would’ve added a Cup Series championship and a Daytona 500 victory to his already impressive résumé.

Unfortunately, we’ll never know how much Richmond might have accomplished if his life had taken a different course. He ran only eight races in the season that turned out to be his last, making his final Cup Series start on Aug. 16, 1987, at Michigan International Speedway.

Incredibly, Richmond won his first two races back that year after sitting out the first 11 races of the ’87 season with an undisclosed illness. After later missing most of the season’s second half on the heels of his brief return, Richmond made plans to make a second comeback at the 1988 Daytona 500, but those plans never materialized.

I AM TRYING TO PROVE THAT I WAS PUT ON THIS EARTH TO HAVE FUN ... TO SUCCEED IN THE FUN DEPARTMENT.

BEST SEASON

DRIVING THE NO. 25

Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Richmond put on a driving clinic when he captured a career-high seven victories during the 1986 Cup Series season on the way to a career-best third in points. That year, Richmond gave eventual champion Dale Earnhardt – a friend and rival –all he could handle.

RECORD-SETTER

RICHMOND IS THE ONLY driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to return from an extended absence by winning his first two races back. This happened in 1987 when Richmond, after being sidelined for the first 11 events, triumphed at both Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania and the Riverside International Raceway road course in California.

CONFIDENT HANDSOME CHARISMATIC

KNOWN FOR

EVER THE FREE SPIRIT, Richmond loved being the life of the party during his limited days as a NASCAR Cup Series driver. Although he and Bill France Jr. – NASCAR’s second-generation leader –didn’t always see eye to eye, Richmond was able to build a passionate and loyal fan base that ultimately helped grow the sport.

THE NO. 25 CAR

Red Byron overcame injuries sustained as a flight engineer on a B-24 Liberator in World War II to become NASCAR’s first champion.

22 RED BYRON

YOU

MIGHT LOOK AT

Born March 12, 1915, in Virginia, Robert “Red” Byron moved as a child to Colorado and then settled back East in Anniston, Alabama. He was already a veteran racer by the time America was caught up in the horrors of World War II.

Stationed in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands, Byron’s left leg was shredded by shrapnel during a bombing run and he spent more than two years convalescing and recovering from those wounds. Slowly, he returned to racing, driving with his mangled leg in a brace bolted to the clutch pedal.

It wasn’t exactly the safest of designs, but that didn’t seem to matter to Byron. Nothing could be worse than flying into a firestorm of anti-aircraft fire, could it? Remembered car owner Raymond Parks on ESPN.com, “Red said, ‘This is working. Bolt it on there and let’s go!”

As awkward and physically painful as the setup must have been, Byron managed the best he could.

NASCAR was officially organized during a meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Dec. 17, 1947. Parks was at the meeting and mechanic Red Vogt suggested the new sanctioning body’s name … the National Association for Stock Car Racing, or NASCAR for short.

Together with Parks and Vogt, Byron captured not only NASCAR’s first Modified championship in 1948, but also its new-fangled Strictly Stock (what’s now the NASCAR Cup Series) title the following year.

They were the last two championships Byron would ever score. His health steadily deteriorating, Byron turned his attentions to sports-car racing for the rest of the 1950s. A heart attack claimed his life on Nov. 11, 1960.

Byron was inducted posthumously into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2018.

SOMETHING AND THINK, ‘WOW, ISN’T THAT PRETTY.’ BUT RED, HE WAS THINKING, ‘HOW IN THE WORLD DID THEY MAKE THAT?’ LIKE AN ENGINEER. VETERAN TRAILBLAZER

BEST SEASON

RED BYRON WON TWO races (Daytona’s Beach and Road Course and Martinsville) and finished third twice in six starts to capture the NASCAR Strictly Stock championship in 1949, the first year for what is now the NASCAR Cup Series.

RECORD-SETTER

LIKE CHARLES

Lindbergh, Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay and Neil Armstrong, Red Byron joined the Famous Firsts Club when he became NASCAR’s first champion. Many would follow in their footsteps, but there could only be one person at the very front of the line.

THE NO. 22 CAR

OVERCOMER

KNOWN FOR

DESPITE THE FACT THAT his car owner Raymond Parks was a moonshine kingpin in and around the Atlanta area … and given the reputation of most of his fellow competitors as a bunch of good ol’ boy hellraisers … Red Byron did not drink.

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Nov. 16, 1956, Terry Labonte became the first driver not from the Southeast to win a NASCAR premier series championship since Conewango Valley, New York’s Bill Rexford in 1950.

5 Terry Labonte

Labonte’s first title came in 1984 – 34 years after Rexford’s – and he ascended NASCAR’s highest mountain once again a dozen years later, in 1996. Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016 and named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in the sport’s 50th anniversary season of 1998, Labonte competed at NASCAR’s highest level from 1978 to 2014.

Over his impressive 37-year career in the premier division, Labonte made 890 starts and captured 22 victories to punctuate his two championships. All of his wins came between 1980 and 2003, with his final trip to Victory Lane coming in one of the sport’s biggest races – the Southern 500 at fabled Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.

While Labonte had no trouble finding Victory Lane, he was better known for his quiet consistency that appropriately augmented his quiet, laid-back demeanor outside of the race car – a demeanor that, in combination with his ability to remain cool under pressure, earned him the nickname “The Iceman.”

Over his Hall-of-Fame career, Labonte recorded an amazing 361 top-10 finishes that included 182 top-five results. That means Labonte finished in the top 10 more than 40 percent of the time – an astonishing statistic when considering it wasn’t until 1994 that he joined the powerful Hendrick Motorsports organization where he competed full time through the 2004 season.

It was during Labonte’s time at Hendrick that he became NASCAR’s new “Ironman” when he broke the record for most consecutive starts at the Cup Series level. Labonte, who won from the pole at North Wilkesboro Speedway on the same date he eclipsed the record, held the “Ironman” title from 1996 to 2002 until Ricky Rudd surpassed his mark of 655 consecutive starts.

One of NASCAR’s best drivers to never win the sport’s most prestigious race, the Daytona 500, Labonte enjoyed his greatest success on short tracks. Nine of his 22 career wins came at short tracks, which made up only a small portion of the Cup Series schedule. North Wilkesboro, the same track where he became NASCAR’s “Ironman,” was fittingly the track where he did his most winning, picking up four victories.

HE (DALE EARNHARDT) NEVER HAS ANY INTENTION OF TAKING ANYBODY OUT. IT JUST HAPPENS THAT WAY.

BEST SEASON

IN 1996, LABONTE CLAIMED his second Cup Series championship 12 years after winning his first, doing so with Hendrick Motorsports rather than the now-extinct Hagan Enterprises outfit he drove for in 1984. Although both championship years included two wins, Labonte enjoyed a slightly better overall season en route to title No. 2.

RECORD-SETTER

LABONTE HOLDS THE record for longest drought between championships in NASCAR’s premier series, going a dozen years between his first title in 1984 and his second in 1996. Labonte and his younger brother, Bobby, are one of only two sibling duos to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

COOL RESPECTED METHODICAL CONSISTENT QUIET

KNOWN FOR LABONTE IS WELLknown for his infamous dustup with seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt during the Bristol Night Race in 1999. While Earnhardt might have won the race, Labonte won the sympathy of the NASCAR world after being punted from the lead by Earnhardt on the final lap.

THE NO. 5 CAR

NASCAR’S

75

This 116-page magazine is packed with the stories that made each of these drivers the greatest we have ever seen.

Printed in full-color on glossy paper and delivered to fans inside a polybag to protect its contents, this magazine will sit on the coffee tables of NASCAR fans for years to come.

Carl edwards

Widely regarded as one of the best drivers to never win a NASCAR Cup Series championship, Carl Edwards made his mark by being a fierce competitor on the track with a winning smile off it.

99

Born on Aug. 15, 1979, in Columbia, Missouri, Edwards spent his formative years racing at local dirt tracks. After briefly attending the University of Missouri, Edwards decided to pursue racing as a career while working as a substitute teacher to pay the bills.

He famously visited garage areas, handing out business cards that read, “If you’re looking for a driver, you’re looking for me.”

Edwards’ first opportunity came during 2002 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series when he ran seven races for team owner Mike Mittler. He had a best finish of eighth at his home track, Kansas Speedway, which caught the eye of Jack Roush.

Edwards ran full time for Roush in the Truck Series in 2003 and ’04, winning six times. When Jeff Burton abruptly left Roush Racing’s Cup Series team in 2004, Roush tabbed Edwards as the replacement. Edwards impressed enough to land a full-time ride for 2005.

He won four races and finished an impressive third in the standings that season. His best weekend came in the spring at Atlanta when he swept the Xfinity Series race on Saturday and then beat Jimmie Johnson in the Cup Series race on Sunday.

Broadcaster Mike Joy called Edwards, “NASCAR’s newest star.”

Edwards continued winning races, and he even took home the 2007 Xfinity Series Championship. However, his career was marked by near-misses.

Despite nine victories in 2008, a pair of DNFs handed the title to Johnson. In 2011, Edwards lost the crown on a tiebreaker to Tony Stewart in the season finale. In 2015, Edwards moved to Joe Gibbs Racing to drive the new No. 19 car, but the close calls continued. That season at Phoenix, a poorly timed rain shower ended the race early, eliminating Edwards in the Round of 8.

He had the best car among the Championship 4 in 2016 but was turned into the wall on a late restart.

That following offseason, Edwards abruptly and surprisingly called it quits after 12 full-time seasons. It was a decision many still question.

LIFE IS SHORT. YOU’VE GOT TO DO WHAT YOUR GUT TELLS YOU. BELOVED PERSISTENT FUN

BEST SEASON

IN 2008, EDWARDS SET career highs in wins (9), top-five finishes (19), top-10 results (27) and laps led (1,282). He finished second in points after only a crash with Roush Racing teammates at Talladega and a failed ignition box at Charlotte kept him from the crown.

RECORD SETTER

EDWARDS BURST ONTO the scene with four wins during his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season in 2005. He is known for his near-misses at the sport’s top prize in 2008, 2011 and 2016, but they don’t overshadow his 28 wins in what some consider a very short career.

THE NO. 99 CAR

KNOWN FOR EDWARDS HAD A VERY outgoing and pleasant demeanor off the track, but don’t let that fool you. He was as intense as any competitor on the track. If someone crossed Edwards, there was sure to be something coming their way. However, Edwards’ pleasant personality resonated with NASCAR fans.