Posted on by Holly Cain

ALL-ACCESS PHOTOS: Behind the scenes at Miami test

Under sunny skies and comfortable temperatures, Chevrolet drivers Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson topped Thursday’s round of testing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, site of the Nov. 18 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season finale.

Eight Monster Energy Series drivers participated in the two-day test with NASCAR, including five who are still racing for a shot to be among the Championship 4 challenging for that Monster Energy NASCAR Cup at the South Florida venue next month.

“Just trying to learn what we can before we come back here in a few weeks,’’ said championship leader Martin Truex Jr., whose No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota was fourth fastest Thursday. “It’s a very unique race track, very different. You know a lot of the mile-and-a-halves we go to are very different from this. I feel like this (race) is hopefully going to be a big weekend for our team. Hopefully we’re in that final four when we come back here and I have a shot at our first championship.

“It’s the only track like it — slick, old pavement, a lot of grooves. It’s a lot of fun to race here, definitely a unique challenge for us.’’

Truex, who has set the pace for Monster Energy Series drivers all season, hasn’t had a top-10 finish at Homestead in three years. His best showing is a runner-up in 2006 and a third place finish in 2011. He finished 12th two years ago as part of the Championship 4 — a race and title won by Toyota stablemate Kyle Busch.

Johnson won the race and his record-tying seventh crown here last November. He, like Truex, is also among the group of eight drivers still fighting for a shot at the 2017 title. He said he’s fond of the track, and, also like Truex, considers it a different challenge than most of the 1.5-milers the series visits.

“It’s just a fun race track, the surface is worn and really promotes good tire fall-off and lots of lanes of racing,’’ said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. “This one is more of a true oval. Everything else has a kind of D-shaped straightaway.’’

He said he’s hopeful to be able to shift his thinking to Miami sooner than later. But he reiterated his Hendrick Motorsports team will be focused on this week’s Martinsville Speedway as soon as the Homestead test concludes Thursday afternoon. A historic eighth Cup championship will be on the line if Johnson can match his win at Martinsville from last fall and assure his place among the final four in South Florida.

“Last year we were able to win Martinsville and it certainly shifted our focus and certainly helped,’’ Johnson acknowledged. “In the end it all worked out, so it’s a luxury if you can lock in early and having this test session is a big step in this direction. These sessions are so valuable. It’s big to be here and test.’’

Another driver in the Round of 8, young star Ryan Blaney, was third fastest Thursday in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. The 23-year old is making his first NASCAR playoff appearance. He has finishes of 17th (2015) and 26th(2016) in two previous Homestead Cup starts, but three top-five finishes in the XFINITY Series.

“I personally like coming here, it’s a shame we only come once a year but I can’t think of a better track to end the season on,’’ Blaney said. “It’s a fun place and really challenging and you can figure more out when you come test here.”

Also participating this week were Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Trevor Bayne and Brad Keselowski. Hamlin’s No. 11 FedEx Toyota was fastest Wednesday followed by Keselowski, Bowyer and Truex.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s speed of 174.036 mph on Wednesday was the fastest lap of the two-day test.

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PHILADELPHIA – Comcast announced today the finalists for the 2017 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award, which was created to recognize the charitable efforts of individuals associated with the NASCAR industry. Comcast’s Xfinity brand has been the Official Entertainment Provider of NASCAR® and entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR XFINITY Series™ since 2015.

The 2017 finalists are:

  • Jimmie Johnson, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver and founder of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation
  • Brad Keselowski, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver and founder of the Checkered Flag Foundation
  • Chip Ganassi Racing Pit Crew Department, a team that has invested in a number of philanthropic efforts in the local community led by pit crew coaches Shaun Peet and Mike Metcalf

“Comcast is committed to community investment and we are thrilled to utilize our NASCAR partnership to once again celebrate the true spirit of the individuals that make this sport what it is today,” said Matt Lederer, Executive Director of Sports Marketing at Comcast. “The annual Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award has proven to be a great platform for us to uncover and honor the selfless heroes inside the NASCAR family we are so fortunate to be a part of.”

This year’s winner will be selected by a panel comprised of Comcast and NASCAR executives, as well as former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Petty, NASCAR.com senior writer Holly Cain and 2016 Comcast Community Champion Wade Jackson. Comcast will award $60,000 on behalf of the overall winner to his designated charity, and $30,000 on behalf of the two remaining finalists’ selected charities. The 2017 winner will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Loews Hotel in Miami as part of NASCAR Championship Weekend.

Dana Jo Photography

Jackson, the 2016 Comcast Community Champion of the Year, was awarded $60,000 to help accelerate the growth of Camp LUCK (Lucky Unlimited Cardiac Kids), which provides children with heart disease a place to gather and have fun. The camp was inspired by Jackson’s son, Jacob, who suffered from a congenital heart defect and passed away at the age of 17 due to complications from open heart surgery.

“It has been a great honor to be recognized as a Comcast Community Champion of the Year, and my family and I couldn’t be more grateful for everything that Comcast has done for Camp LUCK since the nomination,” Jackson commented. “I know first-hand what this award means to those who are fortunate enough to receive it, and I am honored to be a part of the award process.”

Comcast has a long track record of community service, aiding in the advancement of local organizations, developing programs and partnerships, mobilizing resources to connect people and inspiring positive and substantive change. To learn more about the Comcast Community Champion of the Year award, please visit: ComcastCommunityChampion.com.

2017 Comcast Community Champion of the Year finalists:

Jimmie Johnson (Charlotte, North Carolina) and his wife Chandra launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in 2006 to assist children, families and communities in need in the United States. Since 2009, the focus of the foundation has been funding K-12 public education, primarily through the foundation’s Champions Grant program. More than $5.3 Million in Champions Grants have been awarded to 119 school projects across California, Oklahoma and North Carolina. In addition, each year the foundation selects five charities that support K-12 public education to be featured on Johnson’s Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, allowing them to receive a cash grant. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation provides an annual $48,000 grant to a select public or charter school in the United States each year as part of its Team Up For Technology program, an effort to bring the latest technology into K-12 schools. Since inception, the foundation has contributed more than $11 million to schools and organizations across the country. In addition to their work with public schools, they partner with the Make-A-Wish foundation every year to grant wishes to children with life-threatening conditions.

Brad Keselowski (Statesville, North Carolina) founded the Checkered Flag Foundation in 2010, which honors, supports and aids in the recovery of those who have sacrificed for their country through multiple programs and partners around the United States. As part of the organization’s efforts, NASCAR fans around the country donated to place a veteran’s name on Keselowski’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car during the November Phoenix race weekend in remembrance of Veterans Day. The foundation also donated money to the National Military Family Association to cover their Operation Purple Healing Adventure, a camp designed to prepare wounded veterans and their families for life after recovery. Keselowski recently hosted the inaugural Huntsman Shootout, an event which raised funds to support the building of a Fisher House location in Keselowski’s home state of Michigan, providing families of wounded soldiers with comfortable accommodations during their treatment. Finally, the driver has partnered with North Carolina’s Dr. Matt Lineberger to offer free orthodontic care to a veteran each time Keselowski wins a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. Following each victory, Keselowski carries the American Flag during his burnout to honor those who have sacrificed.

The Chip Ganassi Racing Pit Crew Department (Concord, North Carolina) has worked closely as a group to make a lasting, positive impact in the local community under the leadership of pit crew coaches Shaun Peet and Mike Metcalf. Once a month, the entire department gathers to participate in an offsite philanthropic event benefitting the community. Charities they’ve worked with over the years include Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, Charlotte Rescue Mission, Camp Care and Barium Springs Home for the Children. Activities range from cooking and serving meals, clothing drives, disaster relief cleanup, building cleanup and restoration, and trail building. The department has also led a yearly bicycle drive called the “Race to the North Pole,” which in 2016 donated more than 150 children’s bicycles to the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. They’ve also given back to the NASCAR community in times of great need; following the unexpected passing of No. 42 NASCAR XFINITY Series car chief Ryan Shea in March 2016, the Pit Crew Department not only collected Christmas gifts for his wife and two kids, but also helped with tasks around their home to provide care and support during a difficult time.

Posted on by Holly Cain

Two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso will be competing alongside the world’s best sports car drivers in the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway’s road course on Jan. 27-28, 2018, the United Autosports team announced Thursday.

Alonso will be part of the team’s two-car prototype effort in the WeatherTech Championship’s lead class, co-driving a Ligier LM P2 with Lando Norris, a McLaren development driver, and Phil Hanson, the reigning Asian LeMans Series LM P3 champion.

“What an exciting and interesting project,” Alonso said. “Learning about a completely new racing category, adapting to a different car and to another style of driving and everything that goes with it, is a new challenge for me and I can’t wait to test myself again as a driver.

“The Daytona 24 Hours is the most iconic U.S. endurance race and one of the world’s great races. Everyone knows it.”

This is not only Alonso’s first entry in the esteemed Rolex 24, it’s his first try in any of America’s premier endurance races. In May, the versatile driver earned Rookie of the Race honors in his Indianapolis 500 debut, where he started fifth and led 27 laps before his car’s engine failed, relegating him to a 29th-place finish.

The 36-year old Spaniard won back-to-back F1 titles in 2005-06 and has won 36 grand prix races since debuting in the series in 2003.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Fernando Alonso to IMSA competition in the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” IMSA President Scott Atherton said. “It’s not possible to overstate the significance of this news. There is no question that with his Formula 1 experience and how competitive he was at the Indianapolis 500, he will be an immediate contender for the Rolex 24 victory.”

Alsonso and the United Autosports team will participate in the annual Roar Before the Rolex 24 test days on Jan. 5-7, 2018 in Daytona Beach.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: See all the Martinsville paint schemes

This weekend at iconic Martinsville Speedway, the “Gray Ghost” will ride again. This time Dale Earnhardt Jr. will indeed be behind the wheel.

Junior’s personal history with this particular paint scheme dates back to 1980. Buddy Baker won the Daytona 500 that year in a black-and-silver entry that a young Earnhardt Jr. (he was 5 at the time of Baker’s win) never could quite get out of his head.

The car was named the “Gray Ghost,” a reflection of its color scheme, which blended in with the racing surface of the track and its apparent ability to appear out of nowhere, speeding past unsuspecting rivals at a moment’s notice.

“He just seemed to be a great match with the car,” Earnhardt Jr. said last year. “They were just so good, so fast. When they won the Daytona 500 after such a devastating loss after 1979 — they were the greatest thing down there, nobody could touch them throughout the entire weekend and then they didn’t even really get to race.

“And then they went back in ’80 and won, it was pretty neat; I know that was pretty special for Buddy to get that win. You can tell in some of the interviews from back then how important the Daytona 500 win was to him.”

Prior to the 2016 Darlington throwback race, Earnhardt Jr. unveiled a Nationwide-sponsored car that paid homage to the “Gray Ghost.”

He never got to run it.

Lingering effects from a concussion forced the Hendrick Motorsports driver to sit out Darlington that year. Instead, Earnhardt Jr. watched as Jeff Gordon drove the No. 88 to a 14th-place finish in a substitute driver role.

For his final full-time season as a driver, Earnhardt Jr. and Nationwide held a fan poll to determine Earnhardt Jr.’s livery for the Martinsville fall race (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

The winner? The “Gray Ghost,” which would appear to delight Junior, who responded to a @NASCAR Instagram post in kind — check out his comment below (we’ve highlighted his user name).

“Martinsville this weekend should be a lot of fun. We’ve got the Gray Ghost — I appreciate everybody voting for that paint scheme so I can run it,” Earnhardt Jr. said earlier this week on his podcast. “I didn’t get to drive that car last year and I love that car, so I may have swayed the vote because I went on social media and said, ‘That’s the one I’d love to run.’ I’m excited to get the opportunity to drive that car this weekend. Martinsville is a great track for us. I love the short tracks and short-track racing.”

The old-school, black-and-silver scheme belongs perfectly at the oldest track on the NASCAR circuit, a facility that celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.

Imagine how it would look under the lights …

Posted on by Staff Report

The Round of 8 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs starts Sunday at Martinsville (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio), and it’s the first chance a driver will have to win his way into the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The field features four former champions in Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. But for the long-term future of NASCAR, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney offer a glimpse into the larger-than-life possibilities that could lie ahead.

The two young stars have turned heads all year and have the opportunity to do so again when they take their early-20s selves to the oldest track on the NASCAR circuit.

Which young driver is going to shake up the old guard, at the old track, and steal a spot in the season finale? George Winkler and Kelly Crandall have their picks and are ready to rough it up, short-track style.

Winkler: If “We’re going to Homestead!” is in play, it helps to have Jeff Gordon, who coined that phrase, in your corner. And that’s exactly what Chase Elliott has with the four-time champion giving him pointers at the recent Martinsville test. In addition to this, Elliott has enjoyed success at Texas Motor Speedway, the second stop in the Round of 8 where he grabbed his first career victory in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and has an average finish of sixth place in the Monster Energy Series. Three runner-up finishes in these playoffs have been frustrating for sure, but they also could be a sign that a big breakthrough win is just around the corner.

Crandall: Ryan Blaney is quietly getting the job done. Sure, Elliott has been the flashier of the two in the playoffs, but the No. 21 team has four top-11 finishes in six playoff races and 30 laps led in the last two weeks. More importantly, Blaney has the speed to run up front and has picked up stage points — and a stage win — in recent weeks. In other words, Blaney is coming on strong when it matters most, like when he rallied from the rear of the field at Kansas to finish third. Martinsville will likely be a battle for Blaney & Co., but they have momentum on their side.

RELATED: Hear Blaney’s latest podcast

Posted on by Nascar

It will be months before Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. makes his first official start for Richard Petty Motorsports as a full-time competitor in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Wallace, 24, was named the 2018 driver of the legendary No. 43 on Wednesday.

Announcing the hiring of Wallace was just one piece of the organization’s latest puzzle. Still to be determined are such top-shelf items as sponsorship, manufacturer support and potential team alliance.

On Wednesday, co-owner Richard Petty said announcements concerning sponsorship will be made “later on,” there are “options” as far as manufacturer alignment is concerned and that decision will dictate any possible alignment with another organization.

RPM officials announced in September that current driver Aric Almirola and primary sponsor Smithfield would not return to the organization for 2018.

On the manufacturer front, the group has fielded Ford entries since 2010.

“We are doing one thing at a time,” Petty, 80, said Wednesday. “We decided just to go ahead and get Bubba all signed up, get that behind us, so that we can then sit down and say, ‘OK, what is our next best move?’

“Bubba will be involved in that part of it, too, because he’s going to be a big, big part of RPM for the coming years. … Again, there’s a bunch of irons in the fire. There’s going to be a bunch of different things that we’re going to do. When you see us at Daytona … it’s going to be a completely different RPM than what it’s been in the past.”

Wallace made four starts in the No. 43 earlier this year while Almirola was recuperating from a back injury, recording a best finish of 11th (at Kentucky). He is a six-time winner in the Camping World Truck Series; he competed with Roush Fenway Racing in the XFINITY Series and was fourth in that series’ points standings when the team was shut down in June. 

“If you look back through NASCAR history, you’ll find out that (every) 10 or 12 years a crowd comes through,” Petty said. “You know, [David] Pearson, [Cale] Yarborough, [Richard] Petty came through. Then the next crowd comes up with Darrell [Waltrip], [Dale] Earnhardt. Then Jeff Gordon comes through, Jimmie Johnson’s crowd comes through.”

NASCAR is going through another cycle, he said, and “We wanted to be part of that change this time. 

“We felt like then you have the new drivers, a bunch of new drivers, coming into Cup … that Bubba has already raced with for the last 10 or 12 years,” Petty said. “There are probably six or eight of them to come up together. Now they’ve made it to the Cup Series.

“We wanted to be involved in that part of it, felt like that Bubba was going to be our best bet to be right up to the cutting edge of what’s going on.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Like father, like son?

Brexton Busch, son of Kyle Busch, is wheelin’ and dealin’ just like his dad … except instead of a race track he’s burning rubber in his neighborhood. He even checks under the hood to make sure everything is in order.

The toddler is already a crowd pleaser, and it’s clear he has the whole ‘celebrating a win’ down in his Lightning McQueen car.

Will we see Brexton Busch holding a trophy in Victory Lane one day? From this video, his technique might even be better than some of his dad’s competitors — let the ‘Rowdy’ legacy live on.

Posted on by Darrell Wallace Jr.

RELATED: Bubba Wallace to drive iconic No. 43 | Drivers of the No. 43

No. 43.

There’s just so much history behind it.

But beyond that, it’s a family.

Ever since I got the call that I was going to drive the No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2018, it’s been totally different than any other team I’ve been with. Brian Moffitt is the CEO, and he’s Richard Petty’s son-in-law, and his daughter Rebecca helps run the deal — and I’ve already met their kids. Pretty much everybody at RPM is a Petty and I’m loving it.

Even my girlfriend Amanda got to witness that dynamic. We went up to a team dinner the other night and she told me after, ‘Wow, it’s crazy how they’re already kind of taking you under their wing.’

It makes you feel good and it’s special, for sure. It’s more like a family that just happens to own a race team.

• • •

It’s been a roller coaster ride to get to this point.

Sponsorship talks had me going from Cloud 9 to the lowest low, which my mom and Amanda got to hear all about. When a sponsor deal fell through, I felt like someone just punched me in the gut. It kind of just took all the breath out of me.

So, getting the call a few weeks ago that we were back to a full season in the No. 43 was huge. It’s a great opportunity for me, but it was also a huge decision. I had a couple options on the table and was trying to figure out which path to follow. Before signing the deal, I dialed up three guys who know racing pretty well; Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.

They gave me some great advice; Kyle and Jimmie were trying to figure out the logistics of it all and encouraging me to do some research. Harvick has been a support system for a while. He actually reached out to me two years ago to say he was there for me and that I had some support when the times were a little tough.

When I was in the midst of figuring out my next steps, I remember telling him, ‘Man this is just a risk.’ But then he said, ‘Whoa, you already took the risk, buddy, years ago when you left Joe Gibbs Racing — that was your risk right there. If you hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t be on this phone call with me right now, so don’t think this is a risk – it’s just the next step and it’s all going to unfold for you right here.’

Bubba Wallace
Scott Hunter | NASCAR

Nothing like a Monster Energy Series champ to bestow some words of wisdom on ya like that!

I thought it was pretty special for him to say that. He’s been a big influencer on me and it has been awesome to have him in my corner. (I’ve just got to make sure I don’t get into him on the track come next season because that friendship might go away.)

• • •

Looking ahead to 2018, I’m really hoping that I can do some great things in the car. But I’m also hoping to do some good outside the car, as well.

As the first full-time African-American NASCAR driver in the premier series since Wendell Scott drove in the ’60s and ’70s, I hope this really opens the eyes and the ears of African-American business owners and the African-American demographic in regards to racing.

I’m biracial. I have black in me and that will never go away, that will never change. I’m always different, and I’ve embraced that.

It’s special that I have an opportunity to make a difference in the sport — not everyone has that platform.  I really hope this step will help NASCAR grow as a sport and really just take off from there.

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

So, when the Daytona 500 rolls around in February, it’s going to be a big day for me, one that I’ll probably always remember for many reasons. I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself, because that’s what I’ve always done with season debuts and it tends to bite me.

But the close-knit atmosphere at Richard Petty Motorsports lets me know that even if I do have a bad race or day, they’ll be there for me.

Because that’s what family does.

MORE: Bubba’s career highlights | Wallace will keep dazzling us

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: More on Champion’s Week

The full Champion’s Week schedule from Nov. 28-30 is out, and sharp-eyed fans will notice a different type of event this year.

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will host an Appreci88ion event with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Presented by Nationwide, the evening with Junior is a special celebration of Earnhardt Jr.’s storied driving career.

Taking place at Rose. Rabbit. Lie., the event is exclusive to fans and starts at 9 p.m. local time and will feature surprise guests from Earnhardt’s career, a fitting final week for a man whose legacy includes a bevy of fans that make up Junior Nation.

MORE: Get tickets for this event

“I can’t imagine a better send-off than by spending time with people who made this career possible,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “That’s what this night in Las Vegas will be about. We’ll laugh. We’ll reminisce. We’ll be surrounded by fans. It’s the perfect finale made better in that 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Nationwide Children’s Hospital.”

Fans attending Champion’s Week also will see a retooled NASCAR After the Lap program on Wednesday, Nov. 29 (the show runs from 8-11 p.m. local time at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan). The yearly show is a fan favorite, with drivers rolling up their sleeves and letting their collective guard down. There are sure to be multiple moments that go viral on social media — maybe you’ll be in one of them.

After the Lap takes on added meaning this year with all ticket proceeds from the event benefiting the Vegas Strong Fund, which assists victims of last month’s shooting and strengthens the Las Vegas community.

This year, the fan event will feature a concert by country music star Lee Brice, along with a live, on-stage episode of the Glass Case of Emotion podcast, hosted by Ryan Blaney.

The full Champion’s Week schedule is available here. Highlights include the return of the NASCAR Fan Lounge at Beerhaus, the champions’ meet-and-greet on Tuesday where all three national series champions meet for a fan Q&A, NASCAR Victory Lap Fueled by Sunoco for some burnouts on the strip and the culmination of the week Thursday, Nov. 30, with the annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards.

Posted on by Holly Cain

RELATED: Bubba Wallace to drive iconic No. 43 | Petty puts faith in Wallace Jr.

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. has been considered one of NASCAR’s top young talents for years now — well before the sport’s biggest icon, Richard Petty, signed the 24-year-old driver to a contract this week for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

Long before he was showing off his goods in a Monster Energy Series car as a substitute driver for Aric Almirola, he was stunning fans and dropping the jaws of his competitors, moving up the stock-car ranks from the K&N Series to the Camping World Truck Series to the XFINITY Series.

I remember interviewing him four years ago at Dover International Speedway. He was racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and its garage was a good walk away from the Cup stars, the television cameras and media stomping grounds that dominate the weekend.

Standing just outside his truck was a smiling Wallace, excited about some opportunities he had just earned. It seemed at the time his rise would be swift.

He won the pole and finished runner-up in the K&N race that day. Then getting a huge opportunity in one of Joe Gibbs Racing’s XFINITY cars, Wallace won the pole as a rookie at Dover, too.

RELATED: Key players in NASCAR’s Silly Season | Drivers of the No. 43

Like nearly anybody at all who has had a conversation with Wallace, watched his interviews and appreciated his talent, I always knew it would simply be a matter of “when” he got his big break.

But he’s earned his big chance, and it will be good for him and good for NASCAR — not just because he provides diversity as an African-American young man, but because he is talented and can win.

Blessed with great potential and a big personality, Wallace has never seemed to be wrapped up in social condition. He has always just wanted to race, content to earn his way into stock-car racing’s big time, never “expecting” anything based on anything other than what he did with a stock car or — given the right situation — what he could do with a stock car.

He’s candid, emotional and honest after a race — win or lose. And his ability to drive a race car has absolutely nothing to do with the color of his skin.

RELATED: Wallace opens up about 2017 season

If his presence in NASCAR inspires others, then that is truly the cherry on top.

Wallace is a sponsor’s dream — extremely competitive and also young, hip, fun and eloquent. And especially this year, he will likely garner attention because of the historic nature of his presence.

The good news for him and for the Petty team is he will earn that attention because he is first and foremost, a talented race car driver with plenty of good things ahead.

He has earned this opportunity. It’s going to be fun watching him make the most out of it.