Kyle Busch to start from pole in Coca-Cola 600

Posted on May 24, 2018May 25, 2018 by Reid Spencer

CONCORD, N.C. – Running his fastest lap in the final round of Thursday’s knockout qualifying session at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch earned the top starting spot for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race (6 p.m. Sunday on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Streaking around the 1.5-mile oval in 28.149 seconds (191.836 mph), Busch claimed his third Busch Pole Award of the year, his third at Charlotte and the 30th of his career. Already a three-time winner this season, Busch will have the additional advantage of first pit stall selection for the 13th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event of the season.

Busch’s No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was .091 seconds faster that the No. 22 Team Penske Ford of Joey Logano (191.218 mph). Denny Hamlin, Busch’s JGR teammate, qualified third at 191.049 mph.

Charlotte is the only active Cup track where Busch has not recorded a victory in a points race, though he has 11 top fives and 16 top 10s in 28 starts. The 2015 series champion’s only win at CMS came in last year’s Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race.

“It’s important to me, but I’m not sure it’s important in the grand scheme of things,” Busch said of his desire to knock the final track off his checklist. “It’s certainly important to me, and I would love to get that knocked out of the way and to be finished with it until another new track comes up on the circuit.

“Certainly, it’s been a trying time here over the course of my career and to have it come to fruition in a points race, (but) the last I checked, I have a trophy at home that says, ‘Winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway,’ so I’ll take that to my grave with me if I do never get a points win here. That will be my saving grace, I guess.”

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Logano was 19th fastest in opening practice but improved dramatically in qualifying.

“We made some good adjustments,” said Logano, who is second in the series standings through 12 races, 12 points behind Busch. “It’s hard for me to say what was the changes and what was the race track. The Xfinity cars ran on the PJ1 (traction compound in the center lane) and definitely activated it and got the grip definitely up there.

“It’s hard to say what was what, but the car got faster, and that’s all I really care about.”

The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing of Kevin Harvick, winner of the last two Cup points events as well as last Saturday’s exhibition Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race, failed pre-qualifying inspection three times and will start from the rear in Sunday’s race.

In addition, Harvick’s car chief, Robert Smith, was ejected from the race track for the weekend. Harvick also will lose 30 minutes of practice time in Happy Hour on Saturday. Harvick is attempting to win three straight points races for the second time this season, but Logano is just as glad “The Closer” is starting from the rear.

“Are we taking bets on how long it takes to him to get up there?” Logano quipped.

JGR driver Erik Jones earned the fourth spot on the grid, and with Daniel Suarez qualifying 10th — having eked into the final round by .004 seconds over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — all four Gibbs drivers will start from top-10 positions.

Brad Keselowski qualified fifth, followed by Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola and Suarez.

Posted on May 24, 2018May 25, 2018 by

The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford of Kevin Harvick failed inspection three times ahead of Thursday evening’s Busch Pole Award qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As a result, he did not make a qualifying lap and will start Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) from the 39th position.

Per the rule book, car chief Robert “Cheddar” Smith will be ejected for the remainder of the weekend, including Sunday night’s 600-mile event. Crew chief Rodney Childers stayed in the garage following qualifying, working with the rest of the No. 4 team as the sun dipped in the sky and the grandstands cleared for approaching severe weather.

“The loss of Cheddar just means I have to work a hell of a lot harder,” he said lightheartedly. “But I was a car chief for many years and I can do it as good as anybody can. So, we’ll get through it. We’ll miss him on Sunday though.”

The issue with the No. 4 car involved the right-rear section of the car in the Optical Scanning Station (OSS) machine. Smith, prior to his ejection, and Childers sanded down the section multiple times, and Childers eventually rewrapped the car with Busch Beer branding.

“We worked on this thing for 12 hours Monday trying to get all of it how they wanted,” Childers said. “We felt good about it when we unloaded it … everything was good and then we went back in to qualify and it was red and we sanded on it and it was more red and we sanded on it again and it was more red. So, that part I don’t understand and that part’s disappointing, but it’s not their fault.

“Everybody’s going to push things as much as they can and I think everybody knows the 4 team is going to push things as much as we can and win races. It’s disappointing to start in the back, it’s disappointing to not have Cheddar here, but we’ll get through it as a race team and we’ll have a good car on Sunday.”

The team will also serve a 30-minute practice hold in Saturday’s final session.

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Reid Spencer

Perhaps no single individual in motorsports has achieved the panoply of accomplishments that has typified Roger Penske’s career.

For his contributions to NASCAR racing, “The Captain” was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Wednesday, but driver Brad Keselowski, who delivered Team Penske’s sole Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2012, thinks his owner’s resume is too broad to be readily pigeon-holed.

“He has a legacy that’s harder to define than most everyone else in the Hall of Fame because of his background – not just as a team owner, but he has a background as owning the tracks, his background of owning businesses that can help sponsor the sport, and beyond that,” Keselowski said on Thursday during an announcement of his Checkered Flag Foundation’s support of a jobs initiative through the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

“So he has such a diverse background and there’s really not a part of this sport that I can think of that he hasn’t touched. I think he deserves a lot of credit for that, and it’s great to see him get the recognition of the Hall of Fame.”

Starting with Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Keselowski’s foundation will donate $1,000 to the Paving Access for Veterans Employment (PAVE) program for every Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stage win Keselowski collects through the July 7 event at Daytona International Speedway.

Posted on May 24, 2018September 6, 2019 by Kathy Sheldon

When Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers take the track for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), their cars will look a bit different.

Each driver will carry the name of a fallen serviceman on their windshield as part of the “600 Miles of Remembrance” initiative in the NASCAR Salutes program. It’s a program that is meaningful for both the families of the fallen servicemen and the drivers, who will do their best to honor the memories of those lost.

“As you look at our sport in general, it’s the most patriotic sport that is in this country,” said Kevin Harvick, whose No. 4 will feature U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Patrick Adle, who was killed in Iraq in 2004. “For me as a driver and person, to see the support that our sport gives the military and the things that we do to try to show them the appreciation that we have for them will never be enough, but I feel like we do a great job as a sport in trying to involve the military on a weekly basis and it makes me proud to be a part of NASCAR.”

MORE: Keselowski’s special military connection

For drivers, the chance to bring an American hero to Victory Lane makes the thought of victory that much sweeter — and personal experiences with military members and their families add to that motivation. Kurt Busch had such an experience with his recent visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. This weekend, his No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford will feature U.S. Army Sergeant Jeremiah “Jay” Holmes, who was killed in 2004 in Iraq.

“To have a service member riding along with me on my windshield banner, it’s an amount of pride,” Busch said. “It’s tough to describe. Sometimes you meet the families that come out to the races of those soldiers and that’s when it really hits you in your heart and you want to go out there and win for them, for that individual.”

The military especially hits close to home for Busch’s SHR teammate Aric Almirola, who was born on the Eglin Air Force Base in Florida during his father’s service. That personal connection makes this weekend “huge” for him.

“I greatly appreciate and understand the sacrifices that the men and women make,” Almirola said. “It means a lot to me personally to be able to represent the men and women that go out and fight for our freedom. It’s easy to take for granted that we wake up in the morning and walk out the doors of our house and go about our day. But there’s men and women all over the world fighting for us to make that a possibility.

“I’m grateful for that and the people that have made the ultimate sacrifice and have laid their (lives) down to make sure we have that freedom. It’s a great way to kind of pay tribute to them and their families by flying their name on the race car.”

Posted on May 24, 2018May 24, 2018 by Staff Report

Denny Hamlin topped the leaderboard in Thursday’s opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, circling the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway at 190.134 mph.

Team Penske’s Fords showed speed in following close behind Hamlin as teammates Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski were second- and third-fastest in the practice session in preparation for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Blaney circled the track in his No. 12 Ford in 189.673 mph; Keselowski followed close behind in his No. 2 Ford at 189.434 mph.

Defending Coca-Cola 600 winner Austin Dillon was fourth-fastest in his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet at 189.414 mph.

Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Erik Jones rounded out the top five in the No. 20 Toyota at 189.261 mph.

Several cars served 15-minute practice holds during Thursday’s opening practice. Among those penalized for twice failing pre-race inspection at Kansas (penalties deferred until Thursday) were: No. 17 of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 32 of Matt DiBenedetto, No. 47 of AJ Allmendinger and No. 95 of Kasey Kahne. Cars serving 15-minute holds for twice failing inspection at the All-Star Race/Monster Energy Open were: No. 3 of Austin Dillon, No. 4 of Kevin Harvick, No. 19 of Daniel Suarez, No. 38 of David Ragan and No. 48 of Jimmie Johnson. Finally, the No. 15 of Ross Chastain served a 15-minute hold for missing the rookie meeting.

The Monster Energy Series returns to the track at 7:15 p.m. ET for Busch Pole Qualifying (FS1).

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Staff Report

NASCAR announced this offseason that it will standardize at-track team rosters across all three national series in 2018, providing a structure for the number of personnel working on each vehicle during the course of a race weekend.

Official team rosters for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) have been released. Click the print icon above, or the link below.

ROSTERS: Coca-Cola 600

Posted on May 24, 2018May 24, 2018 by Holly Cain

The men and women to be honored during the NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola Memorial Day weekend tribute at Charlotte Motor Speedway demonstrate integrity, pride and bravery. Their stories cannot help but inspire both those inside the race car for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and those watching the great race in person.

Each race team is commemorating a fallen soldier, a person who gave the ultimate sacrifice – his or her life – for our country and for our freedom.

The stories of these brave and honorable people are as diverse as they are inspiring. And each soldier, airman, Marine and sailor is absolutely just that – inspiring.

Brad Keselowski will carry the name of U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Chris Eckard on his No. 2 Team Penske Ford. Eckard, who was born in the heart of NASCAR country, Hickory, North Carolina, served in both the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps. He deployed to Iraq, then re-enlisted, ultimately losing his life in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province on Feb. 20, 2010. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

The driver of the No. 13 Chevrolet for Germain Racing, Ty Dillon, will carry the name of Army Private Charlie Anthony, who was killed in May of 1969 while serving in the Vietnam War. Anthony was a star on his Naples, Florida, high school basketball and track teams before being drafted into service a year after graduation. Just before deploying, he married his high school sweetheart Laura and they had one daughter, Cassandra. Anthony was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, posthumously.

Erik Jones, 21, will carry the name of fellow Michigan native, U.S. Army Corporal Nicholas Roush, on his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Roush was killed at the age of 22 while serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Herat Province of Afghanistan. It was his very first deployment. He is survived by his mother, Donna, father Robert and brother Bobby and Kyle, all of Middleville, Michigan.

Indiana native Ryan Newman will carry the name of U.S. Navy Corpsman Ryan Lohrey on his No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Lohrey is from Anderson, Indiana – a short drive from the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Lohrey, 31, served as both a Navy and U.S. Marine Corps parachutist and died July 10, 2017. He received a Purple Heart in addition to earning the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon with gold star in place of a second award. He was married to Cassie and they have three children.

NASCAR’s own Liberty University student, Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron, will honor a fellow Liberty community member. U.S. Army Major Michael Donahue, 41, was an alumnus and assistant professor of military science at Liberty who taught in the school’s Army ROTC program. Donahue served three combat tours of duty (in South Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan) and was killed Sept. 16, 2014, by a Taliban suicide bomber in Kabul, Afghanistan. Among the many honors he received for his service were a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal. He is survived by his wife Sherry and three children.

Kyle Larson’s No. 42 Chip Ganassi Chevrolet will carry the name of Captain Kimberly Hampton, of Easley, South Carolina. Hampton was an honors graduate and accomplished tennis player at Presbyterian College who served as battalion commander of the U.S. Army ROTC unit there. She would command the Delta Troop in the 1st Squadron of the 17th Cavalry Regiment. The helicopter she was piloting was shot down Jan. 2, 2004, and she was the first female pilot killed in Iraq. Hampton, 27, was stationed with the highly-regarded 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq and had previously served in both South Korea and Afghanistan.

These are a few of the moving stories about servicemen and service women that Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will honor in Sunday night’s race. Each driver will have a different serviceperson on their car, representing generations of military service.

A pre-race “Salute to the Troops” will feature demonstrations from all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and the salute will include F-15 fighter jets, a Blackhawk helicopter, Humvees, Howitzers, a HIMARS rocket system, a Marine MTVR vehicle and two Combat Rubber Raiding Crafts.

The Fort Bragg Firing Party will take part in a 21-Gun Salute and the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force will have interactive, fan-friendly displays in the speedway’s Fan Zone.

Senior leaders representing all five branches of the military will address the crowd.

Adult tickets to the Coca-Cola 600 start at just $49 while kids 13 and under get in for $10; Tickets, camping and upgrades are available online or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

MORE: Buy tickets for Charlotte race weekend

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Zack Albert

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — NAPA will be the primary sponsor on Chase Elliott’s star-spangled No. 9 Chevrolet for this Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but he’s getting a weekend’s worth of support from another backer, which is expanding its reach beyond product placement on his cars.

Hooters has brought its annual Hooters International Pageant to zMAX Dragway this Saturday, featuring a concert by country music artist Jake Owen. The event moves from its traditional Las Vegas home to NASCAR’s backyard, opening its gates to the public for the first time, and the restaurant chain has also added its sponsorship to Elliott’s return to the Xfinity Series, where he’s set to run just his second race of the season.

The extra sponsorship push has made an already big weekend even grander for the 22-year-old driver, who will make his 90th career start in the Monster Energy Series in Sunday’s 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Tuesday afternoon offered a preview, as he joined some of the pageant contestants at a photo shoot on a palatial Lake Norman estate.

RELATED: Full Charlotte schedule | WATCH: Elliott checks in on Blaney

“It was really cool to kind of bring them back last year and to get back involved in a bigger way, which I feel like is a great fit for them and it’s a good fit for me, too,” said Elliott, in his second season of the sponsorship deal. He’ll join fellow driver Ryan Blaney as a celebrity guest judge Saturday evening. “It’s been a great partnership. Them being on the car the past couple of years I feel like has been great. It’s been a very positive partner, definitely from my end and I hope the same for them.

“Looking forward to having the pageant in town during a race weekend, which I feel like will be different from what their pageants typically are, so I hope it’s a success and has all the ingredients to be.”

Elliott’s ingredients over his career at Charlotte have been a mishmash recipe thus far. Last year’s 600 brought an early exit, running over debris that hampered his car and caused a calamitous crash with Brad Keselowski, ending his day after just 19 of the 400 laps. In last October’s return to the 1.5-mile track, Elliott spent 12 laps in the lead before finishing second — his best result in five Charlotte starts.

So which Charlotte finish from last year — if any — provides an omen? Elliott, who has since joined his fellow Chevrolet drivers in making the switch from the SS to the Camaro ZL1, says neither one.

“I think everything’s too different,” Elliott said. “Parts and pieces change too fast, and people come up with parts and things. You might have a trick one month and then it be gone the next, and so on and so forth, and the same for other people on other teams. To me, I think it’s too hard to say, ‘Ah, we ran good there last fall. We’re going to go back and run good again here in the spring.’ It’s just too different. … It was nice to have a good run there, for sure. We wrecked out early in the 600 last year, so hopefully we can make it 600 miles this time instead of watching the end on the couch.”

So far, most of the Monster Energy Series field has been watching Kevin Harvick dominate with five wins in 12 points-paying events, plus a victory in last weekend’s All-Star Race exhibition as a tack-on bonus. Three of Harvick’s points wins have come on 1.5-mile tracks, a point of emphasis considering their prominence on the schedule.

Elliott and his Hendrick Motorsports bunch are searching to make gains on the intermediate-sized facilities, with this weekend’s showcase event as a starting point. That quest for speed, Elliott says, is a never-ending one.

“Until you’re winning every week like some guys are, you’re always trying to build,” Elliott said. “And even when you are winning like that, you still need to be building or you’re going to get behind at some point. We’re definitely not where we need to be. Running around 10th isn’t what I want. It’s not what my team wants, so we’re working hard at it, but look, that’s life. You’ve got to go through ups and downs, you’ve got to ride the roller-coaster as best you can.

“At the end of the day, the most important thing is when things are on the up and up, making the most of it and I think that’s one thing I haven’t done a real good job of in the past, so experience hopefully helps and if things come back around for us, I’m going to make sure I do my part and make the most of the good times.”

Elliott is scheduled for a double-duty weekend for the first time since the Daytona season opener, participating in the Xfinity Series’ Alsco 300 (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) for GMS Racing. The organization announced Monday that Elliott would drive the team’s No. 23 Chevy for at least five races, filling in as driver Spencer Gallagher serves an indefinite suspension for violation of NASCAR’s substance abuse policy.

Elliott, an Xfinity Series champion in 2014, teamed up with GMS last season for a win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway. Reconnecting with the team, and bolstering its program with additional sponsorship promoting Saturday night’s Hooters pageant, came as a natural pairing.

“Obviously, I wish it was under better circumstances, but they kind of kept me in mind,” Elliott said. “I had a little bit of a relationship with GMS from last year running some truck races with them and we had some mild success there from time to time, so it was just a good fit. They’ve been real easy to work with. I feel like we’ve gotten along, which has been the biggest thing, with Mr. Gallagher and Mike (Ford, Xfinity competition director) and all the folks there, so it’s just been easy to work with and I think that was the biggest thing.

“They had mentioned to me before if I had any interest in running some races whenever this all came about. I said I did and I think it would be helpful for me to go do, so I’m looking forward to doing it and helping any way I can. Obviously, I want to go do good, too, so I can help some way, somehow and go get those guys some good finishes and hopefully a win.”

Posted on May 23, 2018May 24, 2018 by

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A quarter century ago, tragedy struck the NASCAR world twice in a span of a few months.

Things came full circle Wednesday, as Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki joined Jeff Gordon, Jack Roush and Roger Penske as inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2019 on one of NASCAR’s happiest days.

The two drivers both lost their lives in separate 1993 aviation accidents, Kulwicki in April and Allison in July. The former was the defending Cup Series champion at the time; the latter perhaps on his way to his first title, fifth in points at the time of his passing.

Both were fan favorites, and their losses and the impressions on the sport they left behind have been felt for quite some time.

“I felt like Davey eventually would be in there because he was good; his life was short, but he really did good,” NASCAR Hall of Famer and Davey’s father Bobby Allison said Wednesday at the Hall. “He did good with a race car, but he also gathered the people, too. Fans loved him. I had a taste of that — when he died, the mailman delivered 1,300,000 pieces of mail to my house in five weeks.”

Bobby Allison, part of the second Hall of Fame class in 2011, was clearly moved while speaking about his son, pausing at times to gather his thoughts. It was a fitting and joyous ending to a story that could have — should have — had plenty more chapters.

“Yes,” Allison said when asked if this was his proudest moment as a father. “I didn’t even really think of it in terms of that, but yes. And he was the ultimate son. He’d say, ‘Hey dad, how can I get better?’ I thought about that along the way. I’ve known a lot of youngsters along the years and seen a lot of talent, but I never heard anyone say that. He always was my buddy. Worked there in the shop for me, all hours of the night. Going through tough times and trying to figure it out to get something going better, he’d be there with me.”

I am still shaking….I am so very grateful to all those who voted for Davey. Thank you to all of you who have kept his memory alive. Davey loved you and I love you too.

— Liz Allison (@Lizallison28) May 23, 2018

Thirty-two-years old at the time of his passing, the eldest of Bobby Allison’s four children was well on his way to putting up a career that could have rivaled that of his father. Driving for Yates Racing and Class of 2018 member Robert Yates, Davey had come off two straight five-win seasons and was among the favorites for title consideration in 1993. All told, he won 19 races in just 191 starts for an impressive winning clip of 10 percent.

VIDEOS: Kulwicki’s legacy lives | Davey Allison joins father in Hall

It’s hard to extrapolate what his final numbers could have looked like had he been able to finish out his career, but it’s not out of the question that Davey could have put a significant dent in his father’s whopping 84 career wins. Regardless, his resume — which included a win in the 1992 Daytona 500 and a runner-up finish to his dad in the 1988 running of the Great American Race — was enough to secure his place in NASCAR history.

For Kulwicki, the collective sigh of relief Wednesday was tangible, as NASCAR Chairman & CEO Brian France announced Kulwicki as the fifth, and final, member of the Class of 2019.

An inspiration for every small budget, everybody-in-the-shop-knows-everybody-in-the-shop kind of team, Kulwicki and his AK Racing squad laid the groundwork for how to succeed at NASCAR’s highest level — and actually take home a title.

“I’m so happy,” Tony Gibson, car chief for Kulwicki’s 1992 championship run, told NASCAR.com via phone on Wednesday. “It’s been going on for so many years trying to get into that thing and in my opinion, he should’ve been in a long time ago. He was the little engine that could.

“We had a really, really small group of people and a really small budget, competing against guys that had $4 million and $5 million dollars for a year, which at that time was a lot of money. We were sitting there at $1.4 million a year. To be able to do it with the small group that we had … when we went to the race track, we were all there; there was nobody left (at the shop) to continue working. We would all go to the race track and come home and work. It was a seven-day-a-week, year-round kind of job as a small group.

“Alan was one of those guys that he had a dream and he had a plan and you either wanted to be a part of it or you didn’t want to be a part of it; you had to believe in it. Some of his stuff was pretty crazy and off the wall and you’re like ‘Man, does he really think we can compete with these guys?’ But he was like, ‘If you guys believe in me and believe that we can be successful, we can do it. I just need you to stick with me.’ He was a very smart person and spent a lot of time thinking and planning things out … we learned how to do a lot with less.”

PHOTOS: Top career moments for Class of 2019 selectees

Famous for his “Polish Victory Lap” at what is now ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Kulwicki made his impact known and worked his way up perhaps quicker than many thought he could, given the team’s circumstances.

He would receive offers to race for higher budget teams with more resources, but it wasn’t the Kulwicki way. He stuck by his team. He stuck by his people.

“What else can you say? My goodness, this is great … ” said Kulwicki’s longtime public relations guru Tom Roberts. “I’m so happy and so thrilled. I wish that Thelma (Kulwicki, Alan’s stepmother) was here. I know that she’s up there and she’s got a big smile on her face. This one, I feel like, is a win for the little guy. I’m just so blessed that I get to carry his name on … this is just like the icing on the cake. I’m happy, but I’m happy for so many people.

“Tony Gibson texted me about an hour beforehand and said ‘I got 600 cars to get ready. I can’t come, but my heart will be there.’ All the Kulwicki team, all the Kulwicki-ites through all the years, this is one for so many people. So appreciative.”

While it would have been incredible to see these two stalwarts of NASCAR folklore accept their nominations in person, they each had members of their community there to receive the honor on their behalf. It’s clear how revered they were not just by the fans, but by those closest to them.

“I don’t know (how we’ll reflect on this in the coming years),” Allison said. “I feel so good about it right now. I’m just really, really pleased. I’ll be smiling for a long time.”

MORE: Everything you need to know about the Class of 2019

Posted on May 23, 2018May 23, 2018 by Zack Albert

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With a rousing 96 percent vote for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Jeff Gordon was a stone-cold lock for election from the moment his name first appeared on the ballot. But Gordon, still the picture of grace and decorum, demurred at the notion that Wednesday’s honor was a shoo-in.

“I mean, you never know until they announce it,” Gordon said after headlining the Class of 2019 with a record percentage of the vote. “I was trying not to get my hopes up or get too caught up into all of it. But yet today having my family, so many people reach out to me once the announcement came, that was fantastic.”

Voting Day for Gordon meant a celebration with his wife, Ingrid, and their children, Ella and Leo. But it also meant confirmation of his place in stock-car lore, a place among the immortal inductees, whose ranks swelled to an even 50 with Wednesday’s vote.

Very few drivers have reached the status of household names, figures that transcend motorsport. Petty and Earnhardt are the only other names that spring quickly to mind. Stats and on-track accomplishments alone were enough to merit Gordon’s inclusion, but the 46-year-old driver was the rare star who nimbly shifted from race track to the entertainment realm.

Wednesday, Gordon was in firmly on the racing side, celebrating the recognition and enjoying the achievement.

“I’m so honored,” Gordon said. “I mean, I’ve been coming here to the Hall the last several years, being a part of other inductees. Every time I’ve had a chance to come here, especially when it’s people that you worked with, like Ray Evernham, Rick Hendrick, people that you know, that you competed against like Mark Martin, those are when you start to realize how special this is. NASCAR has made it so special.

“I’ve always said that timing has been on my side in my career. The timing couldn’t be better than right now to be going into the Hall of Fame. This is very special.”

For Gordon, timing was part of a recurring theme that helped shape his illustrious career. The timing of meeting the right people steered him from a path toward Indianapolis-style cars to the Buck Baker Driving School and headlong into the stock-car world.

“To me, I was a kid from California that was racing sprint cars and midgets in Indiana, came down to North Carolina hoping and dreaming of something,” Gordon said. “But I didn’t know much about NASCAR racing.”

MORE: Hall of Fame Class of 2019 through the years | Career highlights

That background, Gordon said, made Wednesday’s honor all the more surreal. His path in NASCAR eventually led to crew chief Ray Evernham and car owner Rick Hendrick, who preceded Gordon into the Hall of Fame. Their combination yielded multiple championships, victories by the dozens and a foundation that launched Gordon into the elite.

“Those two are like family to me,” Gordon said. “To be able to follow them is very, very, very special to me. They’re obviously extremely deserving. I wouldn’t be sitting here if it weren’t for those two. Besides my parents, I owe those two everything, how they contributed to my life in more than just racing, but especially racing, when you look at the success we had on track.”

It was Evernham who suggested another fortunate aspect of Gordon’s timing, the opportunity to share the celebration surrounded by his family during a special broadcast at FOX Sports’ studios.

“I am super, super happy for him to be recognized,” Evernham said. “It was kind of a no-brainer, but when you look at everything he’s done and how much of an ambassador he’s been for the sport on top of everything else, he’s a pretty phenomenal guy.

“And I’m happy that this is something he can share with his children. I know that’s important to him because they didn’t get to see all of the wins and all of the championships. They got to see some and do some things, and this I’m sure will be the highest honor of his career and he gets to share that with his family, so really happy for him.”