Modified Racing Powerhouses LFR and Troyer Plan to Combine Forces

Posted on May 23, 2019April 1, 2021 by Press Release

“Best in Manufacturing” and “Best in Distribution” will Service Modified, Asphalt & Dirt Racers

SHREWSBURY, Mass. — A business deal is in the works for long-time modified powerhouses LFR and Troyer Race Cars to combine forces and merge.

The plan is for a new company to be formed, Troyer Manufacturing, which would focus on manufacturing. Another company would be created – Troyer Dirt – to focus on the manufacturing and distribution of race cars for the Dirt racing customer base. LFR and Troyer will continue their respective brands and combine forces to offer the best in manufacturing and distribution.

“It‘s no secret that I have been trying to do something of this magnitude for quite some time now,” said Rob Fuller, owner of LFR. “The timing seemed right, so Billy (Colton, owner of Troyer Race Cars) and I came together and discussed options and put a killer package together.”

“I have tried several different avenues for manufacturing recently, and whether it was North Carolina or Canada, the Modifieds never were a priority,” said Fuller. “Now they are a top priority in every sense of the word!”

“Tommy Baldwin actually called me one day and asked why Billy and I don’t figure out something where we can work together, and it kind of hit me how much sense it made to do this!”

“The move is necessary in today‘s market to be successful in all aspects of the sport,” continued Fuller. “We will continue to service both LFR and Troyer dealers with a predetermined dealer structure. Myself and the LFR staff will provide at-track support for all Modified customers.”

Recently, LFR chassis has dominated the top level of modified racing — securing four consecutive NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour titles (2015-2018). Justin Bonsignore, Chase Dowling and Doug Coby drove LFR cars to the top of the standings last year — with Bonsignore winning eight races on his way to the series championship.

Troyer owner Bill Colton, who has been involved in racing for 44 years, feels the timing is right for this type of change.

“Rob and I began talking just before the Thompson Ice Breaker about the possibility of doing some manufacturing for him, I guess that starting some talks that brought us to this point,” recalled Colton.”

“I believe that the timing is right for this – Rob has proven that he will do an outstanding job taking care of the customers, working to better the product and educate the racer. When we combine that with the team that we have at Troyer and our ability to manufacture the some of the finest race cars and components in the industry, I think this will prove to be a great move for all involved!”

LFR will distribute both LFR and Troyer products out of a brand new 7,000-square-foot facility in West Boylston, Mass. equipped to provide engineering and set-up support for modified race teams. LFR will continue the distribution of the Troyer product line through much of the current well-established Troyer Dealer network.

“In talking with Rob, we both agree that it is very important to continue to offer the Troyer and LFR as their own brands,” said Colton. “I believe that both the Troyer and LFR customers will benefit in this merger in several ways, between the tech support that will be available to them along with better inventory along with other product availability it seems like a definite win-win.”

Troyer Race Cars was stared in 1977 by Maynard Troyer. The company has built over 3,000 chassis during its 40+ year history.

“I went to work for Maynard Troyer in 1981, I was 20-years-old but I knew that I wanted to work in the race car industry,” said Colton. “I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to work for Maynard for the first eight years, and then to become a managing partner in 1989 then the owner of Troyer Inc. in 1999. I was able to learn a lot from Maynard and also forged some great relationships with a tremendous number of racers over the last 38 years. Even though my roles have changed a bit, I will still be active in our sport for some time to come.”

“This will be a big change for me,” said Colton, “but I am looking forward to my new role in the organization. I will be managing the manufacturing facility as well as Troyer Dirt for the next five years.”

“In order to ensure that the dedicated Troyer staff would not be affected in this merger, it was very important to me that the manufacturing stay in Rochester, and at this point I am proud to say that the entire staff will be joining Troyer Manufacturing!”

Fuller, who has a long family history in racing, is looking forward to the future.

“Maynard Troyer was my Elvis,” said Fuller. “He was an innovator, designer and a heck of a wheel man. It‘s an honor to be involved at this level with his brand and make sure it‘s going to be around for a long time to come.”

“My family has been involved with the Modified Series for decades,” said Fuller. “I might not leave my mark from the cockpit like they did, but I hope when people discuss my legacy someday, they can say that I had some kind of positive impact on the Modified division and its evolution to what it has become today. The best racing in the country.”

Posted on May 23, 2019May 23, 2019 by Staff Report

Trackside Live is back, and this time it’s at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 60th running of the Coca-Cola 600!

Trackside Live will host two shows this Memorial Day weekend in the FanZone outside of Turn 1. The first show will take place after the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at approximately 4:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 25. The second show will start at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 26. If you’re not at the track, don’t worry — the show will be streamed live on NASCAR.com. (Bookmark this page.)

Driver Q&As and games will be part of the fun to get fans pumped up for the 60th running of the Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Jose Castillo and Amy Long will host this weekend’s events. Saturday they will welcome Monster Energy Series drivers Corey LaJoie and Ross Chastain, along with Xfinity drivers John Hunter Nemechek and Garrett Smithley. Guests for Sunday’s show include Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott, along with seven-time Monster Energy Series champion Richard Petty and Dale Inman, Petty’s crew chief of three decades.

Sunday’s show will feature the inaugural eNASCAR Heat Pro League races. Green flag will drop at 3:30 p.m. ET at the NASCAR Trackside Live stage as well as on Facebook and Twitch via live stream.

For more information about the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, please visit eNASCAR.com.

Posted on May 23, 2019May 23, 2019 by Holly Cain

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Each Memorial Day weekend, NASCAR Salutes introduces the sport and its fans to a long and esteemed list of fallen heroes — servicemen and servicewomen who have given their life while protecting our country.

The sport memorializes and honors them on this solemn holiday weekend featuring some of the world’s iconic races — a prime opportunity to show gratitude for these brave members of the military.

“NASCAR has always taken immense pride in honoring the military men and women who’ve bravely served our nation,” NASCAR President Steve Phelps said. “Each year, NASCAR Salutes unites our industry to celebrate these heroes and their families and recognize them for the sacrifices made to preserve our freedom.”

For the No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing team — the connection between the sport and a hero is especially close. The valiant person being honored by the team — Army Sgt. 1^st Class David Moore — served eight years of his long and decorated career in the Indiana Army National Guard unit where he was an officer and mentor for the No. 37 team’s lead engineer, Brian Burns.

Moore died February 4, 2008 of injuries he sustained while deployed in Iraq. And Burns couldn’t be prouder to have the opportunity to honor his late friend and former colleague this weekend in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“It means a lot; he was kind of a mentor when I was younger and first got into the military so it was pretty neat to give back to the family and let them know how much I appreciated him and how much he affected me in my youth and made me a better person,’’ said Burns, who served with Moore for eight years in the Army National Guard.

Burns, who enlisted as a teenager in 1993 to earn money for a college education through the GI Bill, was assigned to a National Guard unit in Washington, Indiana, where Moore was an officer, a leader and a mentor.

The two men served alongside one another in the National Guard unit for most of a decade before Burns attended college at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). He earned his engineering degree at the school and was hired by Chip Ganassi Racing in 2003 before taking his current job at the JTG Daugherty organization.

The Army veteran served as crew chief for the No. 47 and driver AJ Allmendinger for five years (2011-15), leading the JTG Daugherty team to an emotional win at Watkins Glen International and a Cup playoff berth in 2014. He currently serves as lead engineer on Chris Buescher’s No. 37 Chevrolet.

“Brian was one of my favorite people to work with in my career,” Allmendinger said. “He is very passionate, smart and, more importantly, easy to work with and always cared about his guys on the team. I’m so happy we were able to get a Cup win together. He is a family man and all-around great person.”

The praise sounds very familiar to what Burns says of his friend Moore. One of Burns’ fondest memories in the sport is when his former Army colleague surprised him at Phoenix’s ISM Raceway during a 2005 race weekend.

“When I got out of the Army, it was pretty neat because he knew what I wanted to do and where I was wanting to go with it,” Burns recalled of Moore. “When I got out, David had been sent over there to Iraq for a while. He had a leave of absence and I was at the race track in Phoenix for a race weekend and he actually showed up on pit road.

“That was really neat. I didn’t even know he was going to be there. That was really cool. I got to hear some stories of what they’d gone through over there (in Iraq) and show him around the garage and pit road.’’

To honor Moore on the race car Burns engineers — to celebrate his friend’s life and pay credit to his ultimate sacrifice — is an important show of remembrance for Burns. And he looks forward to meeting Moore’s family and commemorating his service.

“In this kind of industry, most people’s day-to-day job, you’re just hustling and bustling and you forget to look up and see what’s going on around you,’’ Burns said. “(Memorial Day) is a day when you can kind of take a moment and reflect back on the sacrifices made so you can do what you want to do — enjoy life with your family and realize how good you have it.

“It’s more personal because I’ve never met his family, so this will be neat for me because I’ll get the opportunity to learn more about him and share some stories.’’

This very personal connection highlights a grid filled this weekend in honor of heroes. Also among them:

Landon Cassill’s No. 00 Chevrolet will carry the name of U.S. Marine Corporal Kyle Schneider who died at the age of 23 while serving in Afghanistan.

Kurt Busch’s No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet will honor U.S. Army Lieutenant General Timothy Maude who was killed Sept. 11, 2001 at the U.S. Pentagon — the highest-ranking U.S. officer killed by foreign action since World War II.

Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet will honor U.S. Army Sergeant Bradley Marshall, who served in the 25th Infantry Division and was killed in Kalsu, Iraq, in 2007. Marshall’s son and his father will attend Sunday’s race and meet Elliott.

Aric Almirola’s No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford will honor fallen Vietnam War veteran John Patrick Bartone, a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army who was killed in 1970 at the age of 21 in South Vietnam.

Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota will honor U.S. Navy Ensign Sarah Mitchell, 23, a Virginia native who was killed while on deployment in the Red Sea in 2018.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will carry the name of U.S. Air Force Captain John Graziano, who died in November, 2018 while conducting a training mission at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas.

These are a rich sampling of a Coca-Cola 600 starting grid that will be a full display of military heroism and an opportunity for the sport to pay tribute to those who sacrificed and the families and friends who loved them.

Posted on May 23, 2019May 23, 2019 by Chase Wilhelm

Fresh off his Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race triumph, Kyle Larson has found the perfect time to turn his 2019 season around.

As the summer months get into full swing, Larson’s racing schedule is packed with roughly 45 sprint car and midget events on dirt tracks across the country. Larson even raced back into Victory Lane on Wednesday night, scoring a mini outlaw sprint win at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, North Carolina.

For the Chip Ganassi Racing driver, it’s the midweek seat time that correlates into potentially hitting his stride as the Monster Energy Series regular season approaches the halfway point.

“I think I stay fresh,” Larson told NASCAR.com. “If I’m running good in the sprint car stuff, it helps your confidence. I just get in a good rhythm of being in a car. It’s hard to get a good rhythm when you’re only in the car a few days a week, but when you’re in a car every day of the week, you’re just constantly fresh, fit and energized. I think it helps.”

Recording just two top-10 finishes in the first 10 races of the year, Larson has experienced improvement in the No. 42 Chevrolet with a third place at Dover and an eighth-place showing at Kansas.

Despite the slow start, Larson hasn’t let it affect him mentally as the recent uptick in speed offers promise.

“I think I’ve handled it alright,” Larson said. “It’s harder to handle racing around 20th to 25th place or something, but when you feel like you have a car that’s capable of running in the top 10 and you blow a tire or something that’s out of your control, I think that’s easier to deal with.

“The season that we’ve had is a lot of bad luck,” he added. “Just got to stay positive. I feel like we did a good job of that as a team and that’s why I think we’ve been able to stay focused on our task and get a win last weekend.”

Whether it’s a victory at a grassroots track or winning $1 million at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Larson hopes another checkered flag is in his future heading into Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

RELATED: Full Charlotte schedule

“I think any time you win it helps your confidence,” Larson said. “I hope that it adds some more momentum to our season. Getting that win at the All-Star Race really helps. We’ll see, but it’s a good time of year for me.”

For Larson, confidence and momentum are a vital mixture and he’ll take it anywhere he can earn it, hoping it translates into a points-paying win to lock him in the NASCAR Playoffs.

“Both of those together, along with having a good car and a team that executes, for sure it helps,” Larson said. “I think if you can have everything line up, momentum and confidence come pretty easy. But hopefully we can keep it going.”

Posted on May 23, 2019May 23, 2019 by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — With an exciting weekend of racing ahead at Charlotte Motor Speedway, NASCAR today will recognize the industry’s pioneers of diversity at the 12th annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards hosted at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Industry leaders and personnel will gather Thursday morning in Charlotte, North Carolina, for an awards ceremony that will honor NASCAR drivers, pit crew members and industry partners and ambassadors for their work promoting diversity and inclusion across the sport.

“There is shared commitment across the NASCAR industry to champion diversity and inclusion, and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards celebrate the individuals and organizations whose contributions are making a difference,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR president. “We’re pleased to recognize this year’s award recipients whose efforts and accomplishments are helping drive our sport forward.”

This year marks the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards’ first ceremony at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte after several years at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The awards will highlight exceptional accomplishments by diversity champions from across the industry, including participants of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver and Pit Crew Development Programs and the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program.

Notable past award winners include Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers and NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program graduates Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez and Bubba Wallace, and NASCAR K&N Pro Series driver Hailie Deegan.

2019 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Award recipients:

National Series Driver Award: Martin Truex Jr. — The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion established the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation in 2007 with long-time partner, Sherry Pollex, with a mission to support those who have been affected by cancer, specifically ovarian and pediatric cancer. The foundation began its partnership with Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2015.

Diverse Driver Award: Ruben Garcia Jr. — K&N Pro Series East driver Ruben Garcia Jr. is a native of Mexico City and is in his fourth season with Rev Racing as a member of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. A NASCAR Next alum, Garcia is the reigning two-time NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series champion and the youngest driver to win the series title.

Partner Award: Dow — Dow’s commitment to diversity is highlighted through its program support and engagement with Richard Childress Racing. Dow’s sponsorship of Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team has provided a platform to highlight teamwork and diversity at trade shows and industry events across the country.

Crew Member Award: Derrell Edwards — Baltimore native Derrell Edwards is the first NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program affiliate to win the Daytona 500 as an over-the-wall crew member. Following a successful career as a basketball player at High Point University, Edwards became a jackman at Richard Childress Racing. Since joining the team, Edwards has embraced the sport and has served as a positive ambassador. He volunteers to attend partner and philanthropic events within the local community and uses his experiences to shine a light on NASCAR and the opportunities the sport has afforded him.

Young Racer Award: Lacy Kuehl — Sarasota, Florida, native Lacy Kuehl is a 13-year-old member of the 2019 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Youth Driver Development Program. In 2018, she raced in a dirt oval flat kart at tracks such as Florida Dirt Motor Speedway, Crossroads Motorplex, Ambassador Racing School and Space Coast Full Throttle Speedway. She and her family started the charity Drive for Diabetes Awareness, dedicated to Type 1 Diabetic Ketoacidosis education, after losing her younger brother, Rocco, to the disease at the age of 1.

Outstanding Intern Award: Maxwell Miranda and Isaiah Wright — Maxwell Miranda and Isaiah Wright made an impact as standout participants in the 2018 NASCAR Diversity Internship Program. Miranda interned in NASCAR’s licensing and consumer products department where he excelled with key contributions around NASCAR’s gaming efforts and trackside reporting, as well as researching new business opportunities. Miranda received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Sports Marketing and Analytics from Mercer University in May and was recently hired to work full-time in NASCAR’s Analytics & Insights department. Wright interned at Richmond Raceway in the consumer marketing department. His commitment to diversity was displayed in his recruitment of Virginia State University classmates, fraternity brothers and professors to support the nearby track. His relationships led to more than 20 students working at Richmond Raceway throughout the season. Wright is a current graduate student at Old Dominion University.

Institution Award: The NASCAR Foundation’s Speediatrics Children’s Fund — The NASCAR Foundation’s Speediatrics Fun Day Festival began in 2017 as a small effort and grew to a multi-city program reaching hundreds of children. The event takes place in six race markets (Phoenix, Dover, Chicago, Daytona, Michigan and Martinsville) with more than 100 children participating in each. The Fund provides more than $100,000 in grant funding to local community organizations focused on the overall health and well-being of children, and directly impacts children in the community with NASCAR-themed programming.

Track Award: Richmond Raceway — Richmond Raceway’s relationship with Virginia State University, a nearby Historically Black University, grew rapidly in 2018. Richmond strategically aligned its marketing efforts to reach the local colleges and universities within its market through on-campus promotions and a pre-race concert with local artists. While the students received real-world work experience at the track, Richmond has found a valuable local community partner.

Team Award: Stewart-Haas Racing — Stewart-Haas Racing has continued to grow its reach into Hispanic markets with the addition of Daniel Suarez, driver of the No. 41 Ford Mustang. In the four months since Suarez joined the team, Stewart-Haas Racing has supported the Daniel’s Amigos campaign at Auto Club Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. Returning Stewart-Haas driver Aric Almirola has continued his community involvement with partner Smithfield through its Helping Hungry Homes initiative targeting race markets such as Dallas/Ft. Worth, Charlotte and Las Vegas.

Industry Ambassador Award: Jose Cervantes, Watkins Glen International — Jose Cervantes has been instrumental in creating various relationships within the Latino community at Watkins Glen International. Since joining Watkins Glen, Cervantes has coordinated appearances with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez in each of the track’s key markets — Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. He established a new partnership between the City of Buffalo, the Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade of WNY Association and Watkins Glen International in 2017. As part of the partnership, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown proclaimed Wednesday, July 12 “Daniel Suarez Day” in Buffalo.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 will be broadcast live from Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com.

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Chase Wilhelm

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tony Stewart sat calmly as his name was the first to be called among the five inductees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2020, but once he heard Joe Gibbs was next, he couldn’t help but fist pump.

Stewart joined four other legends of the sport — Gibbs, Bobby Labonte, Waddell Wilson and Buddy Baker — having a special connection with each new member throughout his storied career.

Once the initial reactions of earning a selection in his first year on the ballot settled, Stewart had time to reflect upon the elation he had for those joining him, more so than the excitement for his own achievement.

“It wasn’t about me,” Stewart said Wednesday following the formal announcement at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “It’s about this whole group that’s going in. There was that sense of pride obviously when Mike (Helton) called my name. But at the same time, it’s fun to sit there and share that moment and know how much that’s going to mean to Joe and Bobby and Waddell.

“I’m more excited and prouder to be able to share it with them than I am about what it means just for me.”

Focusing on experiences with his former team owner, Stewart shared the fondest memories with Coach Gibbs. Stewart remembered joking with Gibbs about the only addition he wanted in the initial contract — an opportunity in one of the Top Fuel seats in the NHRA Gibbs had owned at the time. While Gibbs’ eyes got really big, Stewart got a kick out of pulling the leg of his new boss.

While it was the initial exchange that set the comedic tone for their relationship, it was the final one that was more heartfelt — the tough moment when he walked into Gibbs’ office to break the news — he was leaving the team to start up Stewart-Haas Racing.

“There’s been a lot of moments where Joe was more than patient with me,” Stewart said. “I remember how frustrated and mad and upset he was about it. But then I said, ‘This is my opportunity to be like you,’ and that stopped it all with him being mad.

“I think he was still frustrated, but I don’t think he was mad anymore,” Stewart added. “That was a moment that was just the two of us that day. What do you say when you tell someone you’re trying to be like them? What are they going to tell you, no don’t be like me?”

For Gibbs, it was a moment he remembers very well.

“At that point, I was upset,” Gibbs said. “You don’t really want to lose somebody like that that was such a key part to what we were doing. I think when he first said that to me, my reaction was I was disappointed, upset and then the more we thought about it, you do realize the opportunity he was offered.

“I will say this … I think it’s one of the key teams in support of NASCAR now,” added Gibbs. “What they’ve done over there has been good for our sport.”

For all the race wins and championships Stewart’s organization has earned since 2011, Stewart feels Gibbs was an integral part in that success for him, both personally and professionally.

“Working with someone like Joe is probably the best asset that I’ve ever had in my life,” Stewart said.

PHOTOS: Scenes from Voting Day for Hall of Fame 2020 class

As far as former teammate Labonte, Stewart credits him with paving the way to slot into the seat of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing machine.

“When I joined Joe Gibbs Racing, that’s when Bobby spent the most time with me because that’s when I needed the most help,” Stewart said. “I remember going to Rockingham where the Xfinity garage was on the backstretch and I remember how excited I would get when Bobby would come over.

“… He made an effort to go all the way to the backstretch to see how I was doing and offer advice. That meant the world to me because he was the guy that got me there.”

As much as Labonte offered a helping hand to Stewart in the beginning of his Cup Series venture, Labonte noted it was actually a two-way street.

“When the second car was added, he was so good, and he helped me, and I hope I helped him,” Labonte said. “I think of the race in Miami where he won the race and I won the championship. So many good things. Just how much of a great teammate he was to me and he was always willing to help.”

Aside from the JGR history, even Stewart’s connections with Wilson and Baker left a footprint early on in his career. Wilson was with former team owner Harry Ranier when Stewart joined Ranier-Walsh Racing’s 1996 entry in what’s now the NASCAR Xfinity Series. When Stewart went through the Buck Baker Driving School, Stewart shared that Buddy was there watching him take laps.

“It’s very humbling,” Stewart said. “It’s just really cool how the four guys I’m going in with I have a connection with at early parts of my career.”

Posted on May 22, 2019May 22, 2019 by Zack Albert

Tony Stewart spent last Saturday night slinging dirt at Atomic Speedway in rural Chillicothe, Ohio, blissfully unaware of the post-race donnybrook that erupted after the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race.

Stewart prevailed in the sprint-car main event, went through post-race obligations and autograph signing, packed up and hit the road. Five miles from the track, Stewart and Co. regained cellular service from what he termed a “virtual black hole” and his phone started to crackle — not with congratulations for this sprint-car success, but with a PSA about Stewart-Haas Racing employee Clint Bowyer and his role in an All-Star dust-up with adversary Ryan Newman.

“I got five miles down the road and then all of a sudden, I’m getting all these texts,” Stewart says. “I’m like, ‘How do all these people know we won that fast?’ And it wasn’t about us, it was about Clint’s deal. Finally, I got another five miles down the road where I got a real signal, and somebody goes: ‘Look at Twitter,’ and I got to see the clip of it. I had no idea that him and Newman had some kind of altercation during the race.

“That’s the first thing I did was text Clint and I said, ‘Listen, take your helmet off if you’re going to get in a fight for Pete’s sakes.’ And he goes, ‘I didn’t have time!’ But then the second text I sent him, I said don’t lose that passion to fight for what you believe in.”

RELATED: Stewart heads Class of 2020

Bowyer’s passion mirrored the bravado-fueled approach that has carried Stewart in his racing career, one of the many factors that propelled him to his election Wednesday to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot.

Another defining Stewart trait is humor, which he applied liberally to teasing his successor in his No. 14 ride.

“No, Bowyer’s not even close to the Hall of Fame yet. That kid has to take his helmet off if he’s going to fight,” Stewart said. It’s worth noting here that Stewart is 48 years old; ‘Kid’ Bowyer is eight days from turning 40. “These kids leave their helmets on to fight. Men take their helmets off and they fight. If you’re gonna fight, fight.”

Stewart said that he’s interested to see where Bowyer and Newman go from here. Bowyer is in his third season driving for the SHR organization that Stewart co-owns; Newman was Stewart’s original teammate when Stewart-Haas launched its inaugural season in 2009.

For the immediate time being, Stewart says he might be an interested spectator in their next public appearance.

“I think the funniest thing, the best part of that whole thing is that Clint and Newman are doing an autograph session (Thursday) at Bass Pro Shops, and I’m actually in town, I might dress incognito and go through that line to see what I can get signed from those two guys and see what they’re doing,” Stewart said. “It’ll be interesting to see if they’re sitting at the same table, if they’re at different tables, if they’re looking at each other, if they’re speaking to each other. I have no idea where they’re at, but it’ll be interesting to see where they’re at tomorrow.”

Posted on May 22, 2019May 22, 2019 by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series are staying close to home this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, for the annual Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, Sunday, on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and return of NASCAR Salutes.

Here are all the things you need to know for Sunday’s 600 Miles of Remembrance.

TRACK DETAILS

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile quad-oval with 24-degree banking in the corners and five-degree banking on straightaways. It’s an asphalt track.

The track held its inaugural Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on June 19, 1960 where Joe Lee Johnson took the checkered flag in the World 600.

Since then, there have been 51 different race winners in 119 races held at the North Carolina track.

Charlotte will be the fifth of 11 races on 1.5-mile tracks on the 2019 schedule, and it marks the only race on the schedule with four stages.

Kyle Larson won last weekend’s All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Only seven drivers in history have won the All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 in the same year. They are Darrell Waltrip in 1985, Davey Allison in 1991, Dale Earnhardt in 1993, Jeff Gordon in 1997, Jimmie Johnson in 2003, Kasey Kahne in 2008 and Kurt Busch in 2010.

The driver leading at the 550-mile mark of the Coca-Cola 600 has gone on to win only eight of the last 24 races (33%).

With the longest race of the season ahead of us, there’s only one driver to finish in the top 10 in all four races on 1.5-mile tracks in 2019 so far. Kurt Busch finished third at Atlanta, fifth at Las Vegas, ninth at Texas and seventh at Kansas.

HORSEPOWER, AERO DUCTS, GOODYEAR TIRES

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup teams will be running the same tire setup for the Coca-Cola 600 that they ran during last weekend’s All-Star Race. It is obvious after the racing we saw that tires will play a factor in the race results. Teams that took four tires overcame track position over those who didn’t. Each team will also have 12 race sets of tires for the longest race on the circuit, as pit crews will play a vital role in a team’s success.

Teams will use the 2019 rules package with a target horsepower of 550 and aero ducts as part of the aerodynamic devices.

The return of single-car qualifying began a couple weeks ago at Dover International Speedway for all three national series, including the Xfinity Series and Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

NASCAR Xfinity Series teams will also run the same tire setup as Cup teams. For the Cup cars, this is the same right-side tire code that they raced in last year’s Coca-Cola 600 and the same left-side tire code they had the last three weekends (Dover, Kansas, All-Star). The Xfinity cars will have the same right-side tire they ran at Charlotte last season combined with their 2019 Dover left-side tire code.

The left-side features an update to align it with what is run at other speedway. This was the result of a test on the 2019 rules package run last October at Charlotte.

Like all other oval tracks greater than one-mile in length, teams must run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte. Air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

For the 10th year, for one weekend in the NASCAR season, Goodyear changes the branding on the sidewall of its racing tires in a show of support for the U. S. Military and fallen heroes. Goodyear will work with a new organization to replace the standard “Eagle” with “Honor and Remember” for both series this weekend.

FACTS AND FIGURES

The last three Coca-Cola 600 winners were Kyle Busch (2018), Austin Dillon (2017) and Martin Truex Jr. (2016). The most laps led in the race is 392 by Truex, the second most is 377 by Busch and Dillon’s two laps led is tied for the fewest for a winner in 600 history.
Mark Martin snapped a 73-race winless streak in 2002 at the Coca-Cola 600. Jimmie Johnson won the 2019 shootout and Kyle Larson won the 2019 All-Star Race — both drivers won non-points races and are on long winless streaks (Johnson – 71, Larson – 58).
Alex Bowman finished second in the last three races, becoming the first driver to finish runner-up in three straight races prior to his first win.
Hendrick Motorsports has the most Coca-Cola 600 wins with 11. Richard Childress Racing is behind them with six.
Jimmie Johnson has four Coca-Cola 600 wins, the most of any active driver.
Four of the last 12 races were won on fuel mileage (2007, 2011, 2015, 2017).

LIVE COVERAGE
The Coca-Cola 600 will air on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 26.

Fans can also follow along on the live leaderboard on NASCAR.com, get in-car audio on RaceView and watch in-car cameras on NASCAR Drive. Be sure to set your Fantasy Live lineup and sub in your garage pick (if needed) before the end of Stage 3 when rosters lock for good. Only Stage 1 and Stage 2 will be scored for fantasy points this week.

The Alsco 300 will air on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 25.

2018 RACE WINNER
Kyle Busch started on the pole and led 377 laps last May to score his first Coca-Cola 600 victory. There were 11 cautions for 54 laps with nine lead changes.

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Zack Albert

Editor’s note: NASCAR.com’s Zack Albert is among the 59 voting members — including the fan vote — casting ballots to elect the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020. This year marks his second time participating in Voting Day. Here, he reveals the reasoning behind the five choices on his ballot and his pick for the Landmark Award.

Class of 2020 Selections

Tony Stewart — This year’s slam-dunk choice. Smoke’s on-track accomplishments as a three-time NASCAR champion combined with an uncanny ability in other motorsports disciplines established him as one of the greats. The success, his hard-nosed driving style and a no-filter demeanor when cameras were rolling endeared Stewart to countless fans.

Buddy Baker — NASCAR’s “Gentle Giant” carries a Daytona 500 triumph and a reputation as a fearless record-setter of speed onto the ballot. His post-driving career provided a long tenure as a folksy broadcaster, cementing his legacy. Baker earned a place on my ballot last year, and held firm for the Class of 2020 voting process.

Joe Gibbs — With nearly three decades in the sport, the coach with multiple Super Bowl rings transferred his NFL excellence to stock-car racing, winning nine national series championships. His statistics are every bit the measure of team owners already enshrined, and his leadership qualities head the list of Gibbs’ intangibles.

MORE: Meet the Class of 2020

Waddell Wilson — Wilson brought his brand of mechanical wizardry into stock-car racing, with a Holman-Moody pedigree synonymous with horsepower. As an engine builder and crew chief, Daytona 500 wins and championships flowed for some of stock-car racing’s all-time legends.

Bobby Labonte — Strong consideration went to Ricky Rudd and candidates from short-track circles (Mike Stefanik, Larry Phillips), but titles in two national series, plus landmark wins at Indianapolis and Darlington carry his name onto the ballot.

Landmark Award

Edsel Ford II — Another tough choice among five deserving candidates with extraordinary contributions to stock-car racing, but Ford’s lasting influence as an automaker executive earns the vote. Ford’s devotion to motorsports continues to transcend manufacturer allegiances.

MORE: Official fan ballot

Posted on May 22, 2019May 22, 2019 by Reid Spencer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will join the NASCAR Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2020, arguably the most interconnected group of five inductees yet to be voted into the sport’s most prestigious fraternity, as announced Wednesday at the Hall of Fame.

Joining Stewart are car owner Joe Gibbs, for whom Stewart won two of his three Cup titles; fellow series driver Bobby Labonte, who won his 2000 championship with Gibbs; crew chief and engine builder Waddell Wilson, who worked with Stewart at Ranier Racing during a limited run in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 1996; and hard-charging Buddy Baker, who got his first look at Stewart when the 49-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winner was testing his mettle at the Buck Baker Driving School.

“Tony was a lock,” said four-time Monster Energy Series champion Jeff Gordon, who preceded Stewart into the NASCAR Hall of Fame earlier this year. “So, I’m not really surprised about that.”

RELATED: See every Hall of Fame member

Stewart, a three-time NASCAR premier series champion, was chosen in his first year of eligibility, garnering 88% of the balloting from the 59-member voting panel. Though his driving days in NASCAR’s top division are complete, Stewart remains active both as a team owner and recreational racer in various sprint-car tours.

The relationships between this class and others already in the Hall also are inexorably intertwined. Baker’s father, the aforementioned Buck Baker was inducted as a member of the Class of 2013. Labonte joins his brother, Terry Labonte, a member of the Class of 2016.

In 1972, Wilson built the engines for the Wood Brothers — NASCAR Hall of Famers Glen and Leonard — including the power plant that propelled A.J. Foyt to his Daytona 500 victory.

Edsel Ford II, who on Wednesday was named the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR, has enjoyed a relationship with the Wood Brothers that spans generations. Edsel Ford is a member of the board of directors of Ford Motor Company. The Wood Brothers have fielded Ford products exclusively during their long tenure in the sport.

Following Gordon from the open-wheel ranks, Stewart won his first Cup championship with Gibbs in 2002, added another in 2005 and claimed his final title as an owner/driver in 2011 after joining with Gene Haas to form Stewart-Haas Racing.

“To me, it’s even way bigger than us getting in — the fact that the guy that really was responsible for getting me to Joe Gibbs Racing was Bobby Labonte,” said Stewart, whose 49 series victories rank 14th on the all-time list. “And getting Coach (Gibbs) in as well. And even before that, there was Waddell Wilson, who was with Harry Rainier in 1996 when I started with Ranier-Walsh Racing.

The four of us going in at the same time … there’s personal ties to all three of those guys, and even Buddy Baker. When I went through the Buck Baker School, Buddy actually was there one day and watched me run the car. It’s just really cool how the four guys that are going in with me, I have a connection with at early parts of my career.”

Stewart led the Hall of Fame voting, which was conducted in a closed session on Wednesday at the Charlotte Convention Center. He was named on 88% of the 57 ballots cast, followed by Gibbs (72%), Wilson (72%), Baker (70%) and Labonte (67%).

A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a three-time Super Bowl-winning coach of the Washington Redskins, Gibbs has four championships to his credit in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series — two with Stewart and one each with Labonte and Kyle Busch (2015).

“This couldn’t be any better for me, to get a chance to go in with those two guys,” Gibbs said of Stewart and Labonte. “So I think we’ll have fun. I think it’ll be a great time for us, and I’m thrilled that I can ride their coattails here.”

Gibbs’ 164 Cup wins as an owner ranks third all-time and includes three Daytona 500 victories and five Brickyard 400 triumphs.

A champion in both the Monster Energy and Xfinity Series Labonte was selected in his third year on the NASCAR Hall of Fame ballot. In 729 career Cup starts, he accumulated 21 victories to go with 26 poles. He and Terry Labonte were the first brothers each to win a Cup title, later to be joined by Kurt and Kyle Busch.

“I didn’t want to watch the broadcast (of the announcement), because I didn’t know if it was going to happen — a lot of emotions, I guess you’d say,” Labonte said in a conference call with reporters after the announcement of the Class of 2020.

“After a couple years it was like, ‘Maybe I won’t get in.’ So you think about it, and then you don’t want to think about it. Whenever it comes down to today, and you see who is inducted into it, you think, ‘Man, what an awesome day and feeling for everybody that got voted in.

“As far as Joe and Tony and myself, I’m just so thankful to be in with them. It just really is an honor.”

Known as the Gentle Giant, Baker always showed up in the important races. In 1980, driving the legendary Gray Ghost (the No. 28 Oldsmobile owned by Ranier), he won the Daytona 500 with an average speed of 177.602 mph, a track record that still stands.

Baker won the big races on the big tracks. Of his 19 career victories, four came at Talladega, four at Charlotte and two each at Daytona and Darlington. After retiring from racing in 1992, Baker embarked on a second career as a broadcaster on both television and radio, earning a large following with his and storytelling.

Wilson built engines for the stars of the sport, powering David Pearson (1968-1969) and Benny Parsons (1973) to Cup series championships. Cars with his engines under the hood won 109 times and earned 123 pole positions.

As a crew chief, Wilson won 22 races, including the 1980 Daytona 500 with Baker. He also triumphed in the Great American race with NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough in 1983 and 1984. It was his engine in Benny Parsons’ car when Parsons became the first driver to top the 200 mph mark with a lap at 200.176 mph in Talladega qualifying in 1982.

MORE: This year’s nominees

Landmark Award winner Edsel Ford’s tenure at Ford Motor Company includes a stint as president and chief operating officer from 1991 to 1998. He was also a director of International Speedway Corporation from 2007 through 2015.

“It means a great deal to me,” Ford said of the award. “I’m honored to be given this award and I feel I have an ambassadorial role within Ford Motor Company and NASCAR, so it’s wonderful. I’m truly honored.”

The five newest NASCAR Hall of Famers will be officially inducted on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Charlotte Convention Center. Their enshrinement will increase the NASCAR Hall’s list of honorees to 55 members.