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@nascarcasm: History of WWE moments in NASCAR
By @nascarcasm | Published: April 1, 2022 19
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Wrestlemania is once again upon us, so in honor of the WWE’s biggest event, we look back on a few times when NASCAR and WWE became tag-team partners. Take a look!
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In the 1990s through the early 2000s, the WCW (now owned by WWE) had a regular presence in NASCAR, and on the race car itself. It was common to see wrestling superstars at the track and NASCAR drivers on “WCW Monday Nitro.” The WCW-sponsored car ran several races won two races in what is now the Xfinity Series – one with Steve Grissom and the other with Greg Sacks. Clean wins – no ladders or steel chairs involved. We don’t think.
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More like “NASCAR WORLD ORDER,” am I right? The legendary heel faction known as the N.W.O. decided to hit the track as well, hiring Kyle Petty to drive its No. 49 Chevrolet, with a paint scheme that was too sweet. Only hardcore wrestling fans will get that reference. Sorry.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Hulkamania has run wild at the track on more than one occasion. Hulk Hogan served as the grand marshal for a pair of NASCAR races, one at Daytona International Speedway in 2004 and another at Dover Motor Speedway in 2006. He didn’t tell the drivers to say their prayers and take their vitamins – he basically told them to start their engines.
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Bet you never thought you’d see THIS tag team, eh? Yes, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch co-hosted an episode of “Monday Night Raw” in 2009. I mean, here they are, in a wrestling ring, and yet they decided years later that pit road at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a better venue to actually brawl.
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Also on “Monday Night Raw” in 2009, Kofi Kingston took out his frustrations toward Randy Orton on, well, an Xfinity Series race car that had Randy Orton on the hood. I mean this thing took a BEATING. Per the rules, Randy Orton has six minutes to repair it and get it to minimum speed.
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WOOOOOOOO! Ric Flair served as the honorary race director for the 2009 NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Among his duties was introducing winner of the fan vote who would advance to the main event – Joey Logano. I know what you’re thinking, and no, this isn’t a “wrestling work” – JOEY LOGANO ACTUALLY WON A FAN VOTE ONCE.
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Jeff Gross | Getty Images
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin has been a regular visitor at the track, serving as grand marshal on several occasions such as this one in 2010 at Auto Club Speedway. Stone Cold is the ideal guy to wave the green flag or give the command to start engines – when he makes a demand, no one usually objects.
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I know – you thought this may have been a wrestler executing a moonsault from the top rope. NAH, it’s Carl Edwards performing his signature backflip when he hosted an episode of “Monday Night Raw” in 2010.
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John Cena has been a guest at the track on more than one occasion, none more famous than in 2016 when his motto “U CAN’T SEE ME” became extremely prescient. He was cleared from the infield care center following that vicious ponytail shot to the face.
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Jerry Markland | Getty Images
If Alex Bowman takes one step backwards, he’ll back into Bill Goldberg. Mr. Goldberg assisted with driver intros at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2016.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Charlotte Flair handled the pace-car piloting duties at the 2019 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I mean, we named the track after her, so I don’t know why she doesn’t do this every race.
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It was then the high-flying Matt Hardy’s turn to drive the pace car later in 2019 at Phoenix Raceway.
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Winning the 2019 Cup Series championship was not enough for Kyle Busch. Prior to the championship awards banquet in Nashville, Kyle rolled up R-Truth to briefly win the WWE 24/7 Title with the assistance of newly deputized referee Michael Waltrip. KFB WITH THE 1-2-3.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
WWE superstar Sheamus drove the pace car for the 2020 Daytona 500. Sorry – that’s him on the right, I should have specified who was who in this picture.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
After winning the 2020 Cup Series championship, the Street Profits gifted Chase Elliott with his own custom-made WWE championship belt at Daytona the next year. I bet Elliott wears that thing around the house. I would.
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That same year, Sasha Banks waved the green flag to start the 2021 Daytona 500. Sadly, she did not stick around to wave the red flag that would be happening a few laps later.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
WWE Superstar Big E drove the pace car at this year’s Daytona 500. Then he bench-pressed it a few times.
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Logan Riely | Getty Images
And of course the most recent – The Undertaker drove the pace car at the Circuit of The Americas this past weekend. It was a Camry – not a hearse. We tried to get him to toss a mannequin dressed as Mick Foley off the viewing tower but were turned down.