Hemric tops opening Charlotte Coca-Cola 600 practice

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

Daniel Hemric topped the board in Thursday’s opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway ahead of Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with a fast lap of 182.791 mph in his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

Hemric is in his rookie season in the sport’s top series and led a brigade of Chevrolets to four of the top five spots in practice.

Hendrick Motorsports placed three of its cars in the top five with Chase Elliott taking second (No. 9 Chevrolet, 182.340 mph) followed by William Byron (No. 24 Chevrolet, 182.211 mph) coming home third and Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Chevrolet, 182.008 mph) placing fifth. The fourth Hendrick driver, Alex Bowman (No. 88 Chevrolet), came in seventh in the 50-minute session and is riding three straight runner-up finishes into this race weekend.

Defending race winner Kyle Busch took fourth in the session with a fast lap at 182.168 mph in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the highest-finishing Ford, coming in sixth.

This was the first of three scheduled practice sessions for the Monster Energy Series. The last two will take place on Saturday morning. The next on-track activity for the Cup drivers will be for Busch Pole Qualifying at 7:05 p.m. ET with coverage on FS1.

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Team Release

Mooresville, NC | May 23, 2019 — Entrepreneur and venture capitalist Matt Hurley today announced the formation of H2 Motorsports and its introduction of Shane Lee as the driver of the No. 28 Circuit City Toyota Supra in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS). The team will make its debut June 16 at Iowa Speedway and compete throughout the remainder of the 2019 NXS season.

H2 will be based in Mooresville, N.C.

“Entering any professional sport as a team owner is a significant commitment and undertaking,” Hurley said. “I’ve followed NASCAR closely for a number of years and appreciate the opportunity that is in front of H2 Motorsports. My due diligence has taught me much and reinforced my belief that now is the right time to build a team capable of winning races and ultimately championships. We are so proud to welcome Circuit City as the flagship sponsor for H2 Motorsports and look forward to reintroducing this brand — and many others — to the most brand-loyal fans anywhere.”

Circuit City, one of the most recognizable names in consumer electronics, returns to NASCAR after more than 20 years away from the sport. Under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Ronny Shmoel, Circuit City is writing the next chapter for a brand steeped in tech innovation by providing today’s generation with a deep portfolio of high-quality products matched with an exceptionally focused customer service support system that delivers a shopping experience like no other.

“Circuit City is excited to partner with H2 Motorsports and re-engage with NASCAR fans worldwide,” Shmoel said. “We know that NASCAR is a dynamic and one-of-a-kind property that will allow us to build strong and lasting business and consumer relationships through the power of competition and the most dedicated following. We know we’ve got a winning formula with
Matt and the team, both on and off the track.”

Lee, 25, competed in 13 NXS races in 2018, collecting one top-five and three top-10 finishes for Richard Childress Racing. A native of Newton, N.C., Lee also has participated in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series.

“It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve been patiently waiting for the right opportunity to present itself and that time is now,” Lee said. “This is the biggest step yet in my career and I appreciate the confidence Matt Hurley and H2 Motorsports has shown in me. I wish the Iowa Speedway race was tomorrow because I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of that No. 28 Circuit City Toyota
Supra.”

Pete Rondeau, most recently competition director for Furniture Row Racing, the 2017 NASCAR Cup championship team, will handle crew chief duties for the No. 28 Toyota. During Furniture Row’s championship season, the NASCAR veteran crew chief helped direct the team to eight wins en route to its thrilling title run.

Posted on May 23, 2019April 1, 2021 by Staff Report

THOMPSON, Conn. — Defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore clearly has mastered Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

The Holtsvile, New York, driver picked up his fifth straight Thompson win at the Icebreaker on April 7 — becoming the first driver in the history of Whelen Modified Tour action at the .625-mile oval to win five consecutive events. With 10 career Thompson wins, Bonsignore leads all active drivers on the high-banked oval.

“We‘ve always had great race cars no matter what, along with great teams and pit crews,” Bonsignore said. “A few of the races, the pit crew won the race for us. Really since 2014, I‘ve had a lot of success there. The biggest thing is having the really good cars and crew chiefs that make really good decisions. You need the racing luck to go along with it, and everything seems to come together for me.”

Bonsignore, a driver who grew up racing at Riverhead Raceway in New York, has found a knack for the high-banks of Thompson, a completely opposite style compared to Riverhead. Why he has been able to find so much success?

“A lot of people ask me that and I can‘t really say what the answer is,” Bonsignore said. “But I feel really comfortable there, it‘s like going home to Riverhead — I have the same feeling when we unload. I know what I need on the first lap of practice and I know what I need for the race.”

His quest to capture a sixth consecutive victory certainly isn‘t going to be easy. Bonsignore will have to fend off the challenges of names like Doug Coby, Woody Pitkat, Ron Silk, Matt Swanson and many more. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star Ryan Preece will also join the event to compete in the No. 6 car for Ed Partridge.

With just one practice for the day due to the packed schedule, Bonsignore knows unloading off the truck well is going to be crucial.

“We‘ve put an emphasis on coming off the truck better than we ever have. It‘s really important practice because you want to be in that last group in qualifying and pick the right pit stall. You want to have good notes and good feedback because you are only going to get out there a few times in practice,” Bonsignore said. “Just a little bit of fine-tuning here and there, and Ryan Stone does a really good job of getting us there off the truck.”

Stone has been a major player in Bonsignore‘s success over the last year and a half. After moving from a job at JR Motorsports, Stone helped Bonsignore win eight of the 16 Whelen Modified Tour races last year en route to his first championship.

“Everywhere we go with Ryan setting up the cars, we‘ve been unbelievably fast. Rob Fuller and everyone at LFR have developed a really great car and Ryan has been with LFR since day one, and has a really great understanding of the cars. It‘s the time and the effort he puts into the setups,” Bonsignore said. “The people working on these cars are smart.”

When Bonsignore won his fifth straight race at the Icebreaker, the emotion poured from the veteran when he climbed out of the car and stood on the nerf-bar screaming ‘five in a row!‘ for the fans to hear.

“We got off to a little bit of a struggle with a bad race at Myrtle Beach and got caught in a crash at South Boston, so we were a little bit behind and we knew we were looking to turn it around at Thompson,” Bonsignore said, recalling why there was so much emotion. “From Thompson‘s World Series last year until the Icebreaker all we heard was that we had won four in a row and we were looking for five. We did think about it and how much of an amazing accomplishment it was. I thought about it when people said Richie Evans or Mike Stefanik hadn‘t even done it on the Tour. Everything put together, I just let loose in Victory Lane.”

Just under two weeks before the return to Whelen Modified Tour action at Thompson, Bonsignore certainly is thinking about the streak. In NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition, Bryan Narducci has won six consecutive SK Light Modifiedu00ae races entering this Wednesday special event as well. Both streaks will be on the line come June 14^th.

“People talk about it and it‘ll be something where I am going there with intentions of winning the race. Having a shot at six in a row is really special, but we also know that in racing, you aren‘t going to win 10 or 20 races in a row,” Bonsignore said. “We have to be prepared for the streak to be over at some point. But I go to the race track thinking that everyone needs to come there to beat us.”

“Every single time we go to Thompson there are packed stands. The fans in that area seem to accommodate with any night we race.”

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park returns to action on Wednesday, June 5, as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour headlines the night with the annual Thompson 125. Grandstands will open for the night at 3:30 p.m., while qualifying heat racing is scheduled to get underway at 5:05 p.m. with the Sunoco Modifieds.

Fans will be able to watch all five Whelen All-American Series divisions compete in both qualifying and feature action, along with group qualifying for the Whelen Modified Tour, and the Thompson 125. Fans should note that the SK Light Modifiedsu00ae will run their 20-lap feature at the conclusion of the Whelen Modified Tour race.

A paddock pass for the night is $55, while fans can enter the grandstands for $50. Any seniors (65+), veteran, or active military members can enter at $45 with the proper identification. Kids 12 and under will be free. Any fans wishing to camp on the grounds of Thompson Speedway for the night can do so for $25, but campers must be removed from the property early Thursday.

If for some reason inclement weather delays the event, Thursday, June 6, is the rain date.

For more information on Thomspon Speedway Motorsports Park, fans are encouraged to visit www.thompsonspeedway.com and follow the track on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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.

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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.”

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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.”