Posted on 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 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.

RELATED: Full Charlotte schedule | Who’s the favorite?

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 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 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.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Following a national talent search at universities across the country, NASCAR and Rev Racing have invited 12 collegiate athletes to compete for roles as tire changers, carriers and jackmen at the fourth annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity National Pit Crew Combine in Concord, North Carolina, on Friday, May 24.

The annual event will be held at the NASCAR Research and Development Center and features athletes from colleges and universities across the nation with aspirations of a professional career in NASCAR. This year’s competitors include football, soccer and baseball student-athletes.

Led by Phil Horton, Rev Racing director of athletic performance, the four-hour combine will test the athletes in a series of strength, agility and flexibility exercises to assess their fitness for a NASCAR pit crew. Additionally, each athlete will learn how to perform tasks required of over-the-wall crew members.

“We’re excited to witness the impact this year’s competitors bring to NASCAR and the overall pit crew development program,” said Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR director of racing operations and event management. “Each athlete possesses something special and has demonstrated the potential to work in a fast-paced, highly competitive environment. Rev Racing’s recruiting efforts have identified some phenomenal athletes who can translate what they’ve accomplished in their respective sports to success on pit road. We look forward to training those selected to the program and positioning them for successful NASCAR careers.”

Top performing athletes will earn a spot in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development program where they will spend six months training as pit crew members at Rev Racing, with hopes of one day pitting for a national series team.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the journey both our pit crew development program and program graduates have taken from its inception,” said Max Siegel, owner and CEO of Rev Racing. “With the expansion of our recruiting efforts across the country, the talent level rises, and our program continues to evolve and create more opportunities for advancement at a higher level. We’re energized by the opportunity to work with these talented athletes and foresee a very impactful future on pit road for those selected to participate in our program.”

Since the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program began, more than 100 athletes have participated, and 65 graduates are now working in NASCAR. Thirty-five crew members have reached and competed in the sport’s national series, including the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™.

Program alums include Raphael Diaz, rear tire changer for Roush Fenway Racing, and Jordan Paige, now a jackman for Richard Childress Racing. Earlier this season, Breanna O’Leary and Brehanna Daniels became the first female graduates of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program to go over the wall in the DAYTONA 500. Both women participated in the 2016 pit crew combine and now pit regularly across the national series.

As part of the recruiting process, NASCAR and Rev Racing traveled to host student-athlete workouts at Alabama A&M University, Alcorn State University, Arizona State University, Coppin State University, Virginia State University and the University of Miami.

This year’s combine will feature Dalanda Ouendeno from Paris, France, a former University of Miami women’s soccer player. Ouendeno played for the Paris St. Germain soccer club from 2009 to 2015, won the Gothia Youth World Cup and the IberCup Portugal, and was part of five Isles of France championship teams.

Dasmond Tautalatasi will join the pit crew combine from Arizona State where he played safety for the Sun Devils football team. Hadji Gaylord, an undefeated high school wrestler and defensive lineman at Norfolk State University, returns for his second combine with hopes of earning a spot in the development program.

The 2019 NASCAR Drive for Diversity National Pit Crew Combine participants include:

Name Hometown University Primary Sport
Leishaun Ealey Jacksonville, Fla. Alcorn State University Football
Hadji Gaylord Norfolk, Va. Norfolk State University Football
Robin Loza Charlotte, N.C. Central Piedmont Community College Football
Terry McCray Pompano Beach, Fla. University of Miami Football
Dalanda Ouendeno Paris, France University of Miami Soccer
Deonte Parker Huntsville, Ala. Alabama A&M University Baseball
Mequel Phillips Chester, Va. Virginia State University Football
Josh Pokraka Honolulu, Hawaii Arizona State University Football
Raynard Revels Richmond, Va. Norfolk State University Football
Matthew Sawyer Baltimore, Md. Coppin State University Football
Dasmond Tautalatasi Concord, Calif. Arizona State University Football
Alvin Wilson Lexington, Miss. Alcorn State University Football

Following Friday’s event, the pit crew combine participants will attend the NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco 300 on Saturday, May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Drive for Diversity also offers a driver development program, operated by Rev Racing, and fields vehicles for six drivers in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, as well as legend cars for four youth racers in the US Legend Car Series. Successful graduates now competing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series include drivers Kyle Larson, Daniel Suárez and Bubba Wallace.

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 by Zack Albert

For Chase Elliott, the timing to expand the reach of his charitable foundation was well-synced.

Elliott’s philanthropic efforts have already given a boost to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a pediatric hospital in his home state of Georgia. Now in this season of Memorial Day remembrance and the recent re-launch of the annual NASCAR Salutes initiative, the 23-year-old driver is doing his part to support two more good causes connected to U.S. military members.

RELATED: NASCAR pays homage to military heroes

The Chase Elliott Foundation announced Monday a partnership with apparel maker Untuckit to sell commemorative, American-made shirts featuring Elliott’s No. 9 as a trim detail. Both parties have planned donations in conjunction with the shirt’s release, benefitting the VFW Help a Hero Scholarship and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

“Centered around Memorial Day this weekend, we thought it was a good time to do that,” Elliott says. “They’ve been a great partner and their support to the VFW Help a Hero Scholarship and then the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which is also the fund that’s on our car when NAPA does their patriotic scheme, has been pretty cool. So it’s really just a good time of year to do it, a fitting weekend and the program that came together with them made it all fit.”

Elliott’s contribution to the cause is part of the build-up to this Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), a key moment in the weeklong NASCAR Salutes program. The longest event of the Monster Energy Series season includes vivid pre-race pageantry with a military theme at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but it also provides an appreciation — something the NASCAR industry has warmly embraced.

“The whole sport, I feel like for years has done a great job trying to recognize the heroes amongst the country,” Elliott said. “This weekend has been huge in showing that. I don’t know that you could ever say thanks enough, but it’s a great weekend to continue that tradition. I look forward to being a small part of a great weekend.”

Elliott launched his foundation in March 2017. The organization’s signature promotion thus far has been the “Desi9n to Drive” program each year at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where patients at nearby Children’s Healthcare provide colorful designs on driving shoes for Elliott and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates. Auctions of the race-worn shoes have helped raise funds for the hospital.

“To me, I feel like the rewarding side of that has been being able to have some of the kids who are going through a rough time in their lives out to the race track in Atlanta, to get them and their families to come to an event just to get their mind off whatever they have going on,” Elliott says, reflecting on the foundation’s two-plus years in existence. “That’s probably the biggest thing we can do is just try to create a weekend or a day that they can come and enjoy it away from the hospital. Like I say, it’s a small piece, but if you brighten their day at all, it’s a bit of a win.”

PHOTOS: Chase Elliott’s rise up the NASCAR ladder

The days have been brighter for the Hendrick operation recently, with Elliott’s Talladega triumph last month providing a centerpiece moment. Elliott has led laps in bunches in six of the last seven races, but his teammates are also riding the modest gains — most notably teammate Alex Bowman, who has finished second in three consecutive events as he seeks his first career victory.

Elliott’s history in the Coca-Cola 600 has been an up-and-down tale, but the recent upturn in performance has also prompted a renewed confidence.

“It’s been encouraging to be more relevant the past few weeks, and just being able to battle for the lead has been a lot of fun,” Elliott says. “That obviously, you’d much rather be battling for the lead than battling for 10th or 15th. It’s not always going to work out for you, but just being up front has been nice and racing with those guys that are the ones to beat is always a good thing. Hopefully we can stay there and be amongst them.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Rich with history and talent, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is the sport’s most exclusive club and highest honor.

On Wednesday, the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel will meet to select the 2020 Class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame as they will join 50 other members in taking the next step of their legendary careers.

Media and the public are invited to join members of the Voting Panel, NASCAR legends and other fans in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Great Hall for the official announcement on May 22 at 5 p.m. ET. The announcement will also be broadcast live on NASCAR.com.

Prior to the announcement, tune in to NASCAR.com at 4:45 p.m. ET for interviews with NASCAR drivers and Hall of Fame voters, then stay tuned for analysis and interviews following the announcement at 5 p.m. NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon will lead off the show at 4:45, so don’t miss it.

Hall Of Fame
The 2019 Hall of Fame ceremony was one for the books. | Getty Images

MORE HALL OF FAME CONTENT

  • Every member of the Hall of Fame | See the list
  • NASCAR Hall of Famers’ rides you may have forgotten | See them

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REST OF THE BALLOT

The NASCAR Hall of Fame opened May 11, 2010, and is an interactive entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The 150,000-square-foot facility includes artifacts, exhibits and a 278-person theater. Learn more here about the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

• Class of 2010: Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Junior Johnson, Richard Petty
• Class of 2011: Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, David Pearson, Lee Petty
• Class of 2012: Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood, Cale Yarborough
• Class of 2013: Buck Baker, Cotton Owens, Herb Thomas, Rusty Wallace, Leonard Wood
• Class of 2014: Jack Ingram, Tim Flock, Dale Jarrett, Maurice Petty, Fireball Roberts
• Class of 2015: Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly, Rex White
• Class of 2016: Jerry Cook, Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte, Bruton O. Smith, Curtis Turner
• Class of 2017: Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons
• Class of 2018: Red Byron, Ray Evernham, Ron Hornaday Jr., Ken Squier, Robert Yates
• Class of 2019: Jeff Gordon, Jack Roush, Roger Penske, Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki

Posted on by Staff Report

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 21, 2019) – Beginning Memorial Day weekend and running through Independence Day weekend, the NASCAR industry will honor United States Armed Forces heroes and their families as part of NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola – an industry-wide expression of respect, appreciation and reverence for those who have served the nation both past and present.

For the fifth straight year, NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola kicks off with the return of 600 Miles of Remembrance during Sunday’s 60th annual Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) – the nation’s largest Memorial Day weekend celebration.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™ race cars will bear the name of a fallen service member on the windshield during the race in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

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

Coca-Cola, the “Official Fan Refreshment of NASCAR®,” returns as the presenting sponsor of NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola to honor the U.S. Armed Forces each week with efforts focused on Remembrance, Family, Future and Patriotism. For example, at the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR and Coca-Cola, alongside Chef Robert Irvine, will host a race-day brunch for Gold Star Families in remembrance of those who served our country.

Along with the USO, Coca-Cola will honor military spouses and their families across the different military branches at Pocono Raceway and Michigan International Speedway. Then at Sonoma Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway, an at-track experience with Troops to the Track Hosted by Coca-Cola will showcase how the industry and its partners support military members in transition to civilian life.

“Our partnership with NASCAR is incredibly important to our system,” said John Mount, Vice President, Marketing Assets & Activation, Coca-Cola North America. “The NASCAR Salutes program and Coca-Cola 600 is a special way to spend Memorial Day as we honor our heroes, and remember our fallen military members.”

On Sunday, Charlotte Motor Speedway will host more than 5,000 active military members, veterans and their families at the Coca-Cola 600 to commemorate Memorial Day weekend. A pre-race Salute to the Troops will incorporate all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces in connection with the U.S. Department of Defense’s #KnowYourMil initiative.

A number of fallen service members who will be honored during 600 Miles of Remembrance have special connections to NASCAR race teams, including Army National Guard Sergeant First Class David Moore and Army Specialist William Jefferies. Both men served in the U.S. Armed Forces with Brian Burns, lead engineer for the No. 37 JTG-Daugherty Racing Chevrolet driven by Chris Buescher. Buescher and his teammate Ryan Preece will carry the names of SFC Moore and SPC Jefferies on their car windshields during the Coca-Cola 600.

Family members of many fallen service members will attend the Coca-Cola 600 and be honored during 600 Miles of Remembrance as well. Fans can learn more about the fallen heroes honored during 600 Miles of Remembrance by viewing a special gallery available on NASCAR.com/Salutes.

Among the other NASCAR Salutes events and activities are the following:

  • Throughout the platform, fans can follow the NASCAR Salutes conversation on social media using #NASCARSalutes.
  • This weekend, NASCAR together with Honor and Remember, Inc., will display specially prepared Honor and Remember flags representing those who have died in service to our country from each of the 50 United States throughout the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Mack Trucks, the “Official Hauler of NASCAR®,” will adorn NASCAR Salutes colors on its flagship NASCAR hauler and lead all hauler parades during the six-week program. This year’s Mack Anthem scheme was chosen by fans through a social media vote and will be unveiled leading up to the Coca-Cola 600.
  • During Saturday’s Alsco 300, NASCAR Xfinity Series™ drivers will display red, white and blue Xfinity windshield decals on their race cars.
  • For the 10th year in a row, Goodyear will transform its NASCAR race tires by replacing its iconic “Eagle” sidewall design with “Honor and Remember,” in recognition of the organization that worked closely with the industry for 600 Miles of Remembrance to honor military lives lost while serving.
  • Sunoco is also working with Honor and Remember on a double flagging moment where a stationary Honor and Remember flag will wave next to the checkered flag at the Coca-Cola 600 and Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Toyota will honor fallen service members on its Toyota pace and grand marshal vehicles during the Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Toyota will also host military members at its Toyota Owners Hub during the Coca-Cola 600. Through its partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Hire our Heroes, Toyota will include “Hire our Heroes” within Toyota PitPass for military veterans and spouses, which assists with resume writing, social media training and connects with employers looking to hire veterans.
  • Mars, the “Official Chocolate of NASCAR®,” is highlighting its red, white and blue limited edition M&Ms with a paint scheme for Coca-Cola 600 reigning winner Kyle Busch. The paint scheme was unveiled at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in front of the parents of fallen Army Sergeant Dale Griffin, who will be honored by Busch during 600 Miles of Remembrance.
  • During the broadcast of the Coca-Cola 600, FOX will display the name of every U.S. Armed Forces member who lost his or her life since last year’s Memorial Day weekend race as part of a special tribute titled “FOX Sports Remembers,” an initiative begun in 2009. FOX’s scroll will begin running during its pre-race show at 5:30 p.m. ET.
  • This Sunday, NASCAR drivers will discuss 600 Miles of Remembrance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (channel 90) during a special military tribute show airing at 1 p.m. ET. The Dialed In Salute to the Troops special, hosted by Claire B. Lang, will feature interviews with several drivers as well as service members from different branches of the military.
  • At Pocono Raceway, NASCAR Salutes is joining forces with the USO Military Spouse Network to create a VIP race day experience for USO spouses representing all branches of the military.
  • With Coca-Cola at Michigan International Speedway, fans will receive the opportunity to thank military spouses for their support, which will be featured at USO locations across the country.
  • At Sonoma Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway, in celebration of 10 years of NASCAR Troops to the Track Hosted by Coca-Cola, active and veteran military members will shadow industry members to learn how the sport, its partners and Coca-Cola support military members in transition to civilian life.
  • During the Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway, Comcast will work with NASCAR and teams to replace its Xfinity branding with active military units and installations on all NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers’ windshield headers to commemorate Independence Day weekend.
  • During the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, in celebration of the NASCAR Salutes finale, Publix in partnership with Coca-Cola, will bring its “Race Day Salute” to the track midway for fans and military alike.
  • AMR, the “Official Emergency Medical Services Partner of NASCAR®,” will include NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola branding on its AMR Safety Trucks and honor a group of first responders with VIP race day experiences during the platform window.
  • Sugarlands Shine, the “Official Moonshine of NASCAR®,” is accepting nominations for deserving armed forces, first responders and veterans throughout the NASCAR Salutes window for a VIP trip to this fall’s Sugarlands Shine 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. Submit a nomination today at moonshare.org.

Tickets to NASCAR national series events are available at NASCAR.com/tickets.

Posted on by PJ Walsh

The Action Network specializes in providing sports betting insights/analytics and is a content partner with NASCAR. Check out more NASCAR betting analysis here.

Sunday is the best day of the year in motorsports, with F1’s Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 back-to-back-to-back.

I’ve spent many Memorial Day weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway throughout the years, so this race has provided many great memories. While I don’t get to attend as often as I used to, it’s still an event I very much look forward to.

And after a couple of very fun races, I’m excited to see how this plays out. Without further ado, here are my NASCAR Props Challenge picks for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.

1. Will Alex Bowman be the highest finishing Hendrick driver?

I didn’t need to look up any stats before answering “no,” but here’s some data just in case.

Excluding Atlanta Motor Speedway due to its excessive tire wear, there have been three races run at 1.5-mile race tracks this season: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. In those three races, Bowman’s average running position of 13.3 is the worst of the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers.

Pick: No

2. Three of the last five Coca-Cola 600 winners have won from the pole? Will Sunday’s winner start from the front row?

Through 12 races this season, not a single race winner started on the front row. Considering this year’s aero package is dramatically different from those run in recent years, this is another easy “no” for me.

Pick: No

3. O/U 52.5 points for Kyle Busch

Since NASCAR introduced stage racing, 2.5 drivers have averaged more than 52.5 points in the Coca-Cola 600. I really want to take the over for Busch here, but that’s too much to ask in a race that’s so hard on equipment.

Pick: Under

4. With a third stage added in Sunday’s race, which driver will finish higher in more stages? Martin Truex Jr. or Kevin Harvick?

Download the FREE Action Network app to finish reading this article and get the rest of PJ Walsh’s NASCAR Props Challenge Picks.

Posted on by Staff Report

Jacob Goede’s racing career at Elko Speedway can be broken up into two stints.

The first five years, beginning in 2002, saw him finish second in the late model division points twice, and third once. After taking some time away from the track to travel across the country to race, Goede returned to Elko in 2014.

In the five years since, he’s won five straight championships in the track’s top series.

Goede will begin the season this weekend at Elko, a 0.375-mile semi-banked oval in Elko, Minnesota. And while he has seen incredible success at his home track the last half-decade, he’s still racing for more.

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“I always want to be better, and I know we can be too,” Goede said. “I know there’s always room to improve.”

Jacob Goede

Goede’s competitive edge on the track started when he was 7 years old and began racing quarter midgets. He did that until he was 15 and made the switch to late models, a car he spent a full summer just practicing on before getting into a real race.

While the late model veteran said he spent some time also playing baseball growing up, racing has always been his passion, and his dad made sure he and his two younger brothers knew the hard work that went into being successful in the sport.

“My dad got us into it, but at the same time he didn’t make it super easy,” Goede said. “If we wanted to race we had to work on the car, whether that meant just cleaning it or whatever. You had to show some interest otherwise were weren’t going to continue doing it. That was huge for me and my brothers… and I think that just carried over. If you want to do something you’ve got to work at it. It’s not just going to be handed to you. That’s how I grew up and that’s how I still feel.”

After taking time away from his home state to travel the country racing, Goede returned home after getting married in 2011 and welcoming his first daughter in 2012. Now married with three kids, getting to race closer to home is easier, plus it helps, he said, that his whole family can be there to see him get behind the wheel every weekend.

While he said he still travels to race occasionally, it’s not as fun for him if his family can’t be there to watch and cheer him on.

Winning at Elko hasn’t come easy for Goede, but with each win and championship comes more confidence. And with confidence comes the drive to keep competing and finding victory lane.

“Honestly, it was hardest to win the first one,” he said. “I’d been close my first three years or so… We ran really good but couldn’t actually win the championship, so finally in 2014 when we won the first one, it was a trying season but I guess we made it happen.

“After that I think just the confidence of having won one before and then two, I think the biggest thing is just having confidence and continuing to work on it too. You always want to be better. That’s probably most of it, just continuing to try and improve, and then the biggest thing I think is just the mindset and the confidence that you get with the experience.”

Goede enjoys going to the track every week and knowing his car will be the one to beat, even if that does come with added pressure – “But it drives me, it continues to drive me to want to be better as well,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how good the season was before, I want to improve come the next year. I won I think nine features last year, so this year I want to win 10 or 12.”

Jacob Goede

There aren’t any real goals Goede has written down that he goes into every season wanting to accomplish, but there is one long term goal he’s going for. He’s been told the record for most track championships by a single driver at Elko Speedway is nine.

He was also told by fellow competitors that that record will likely never be broken.

He’d like to prove them wrong.

“That’s a little bit of driving motivation right there to keep going,” he said. “I guess that’s probably my biggest goal. Might as well try to win 10 and put my name at the top.”

Goede will begin the season at Elko this Saturday, with sponsors Suburban Chevrolet and GM Performance Parts, his wife’s business called Baby Gowdy – “without her support I obviously couldn’t be doing this” – Getz Trucking, Motor Racing Products, Murgic Racing Engines, and Big Johnson Tires.

He’s been on the track at La Crosse Speedway in Wisconsin a few times this season to get warmed up for 2019 so he can shake the rust off and be ready to go as his run for No. 6 begins.

Goede and his team made improvements on this year’s car, and so far those seem to be working. He’s ready to put them to the test this weekend.

“I guess always wanting to be better. I want to keep winning championships,” he said. “I appreciate what NASCAR does. We’ve gone to the banquet every year. They make it fun and I don’t know, I just want to keep going I guess and maybe see how many we can win. Eventually it’s going to come to an end but I’m going to try to enjoy it while I can and see how many we can win. I still want to do some super late model stuff, but for right now this fits well with us.

“The competition is tough at Elko. It’s not just a gimme, that’s for sure. We’ve got to be on our game, and that’s kind of what drives me to keep going. I want to continue to win and it’s not easy, but someone’s got to win, and it might as well be me.”

Elko Speedway will open the season this Saturday with Eve of Destruction, featuring NASCAR racing from late models, Thunder Cars, and Legends, beginning at 6 p.m.

Elko Speedway 2019 calendar