Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR Hall of Fame Class, Class of 2018

Robert “Red” Byron was there at the outset, to say the least.

Born: March 12, 1915
Died: Nov. 11, 1960
Hometown: Anniston, Alabama

Championships (2)
Premier: 1949
Modified: 1948

Premier Series Stats
Competed: 1949-51
Starts: 15
Wins: 2
Poles: 2

Byron won the sanctioning body’s first race in 1948, on the Daytona beach road course. He went on in 1948 to win NASCAR’s first season championship — in the NASCAR Modified Division. The following year, he won NASCAR’s first Strictly Stock title — the precursor to today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series — driving for car owner Raymond Parks. The Strictly Stock schedule had eight races; Byron won two of them.

Wounded in World War II, Byron drove with a special brace attached to the clutch pedal, to assist an injured leg — making his accomplishments even more impressive. That injury contributed to Byron’s relatively brief career, after which he continued to be involved in motorsports.

When he died in 1960 at the age of 45, Byron had branched out, striving to make more history, by developing an American car capable of winning the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car event.

In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers, recognition of a highly significant career, the relative brevity of it notwithstanding.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Statistics
Year Age Races Win Top 5 Top 10 Pole Laps Led AvSt AvFn RAF Miles LLF
1949 34 6 of 8 2 4 4 1 633 103 1.5 7.7 5 602.2 2
1950 35 4 of 19 0 3 3 1 634 85 2.5 7.0 3 878.9 1
1951 36 5 of 41 0 1 2 0 609 0 19.0 15.2 3 743.7 0
3 years 15 2 8 9 2 1876 188 7.7 10.0 11 2224.8 3

 

 

 

Posted on by Holly Cain

RELATED: NASCAR.com live stream announcement

CHARLOTTE — Voting members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame will gather at the Charlotte Convention Center on Wednesday to decide the next deserving class of honorees.

The panel will select five new members for the Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

This year’s eligible class of 25 potential Hall of Fame nominees includes a varied list of deserving candidates from NASCAR’s first driving champion (1948) Red Byron to championship crew chiefs Harry Hyde and Ray Evernham to four-time Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday and short track dominators, Larry Phillips and Mike Stefanik.

Former XFINITY and Cup champion Bobby Labonte is among five first-time nominees, also including championship team owners Roger Penske and Joe Gibbs, 1992 Daytona 500 winner Davey Allison and Allison’s fellow “Alabama Gang”member Red Farmer.

MORE: See the entire list of nominees

The five-person nominee list for the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR includes Jim France, Janet Guthrie, Alvin Hawkins, Ralph Seagraves and Ken Squier, the legendary broadcaster who is also a Hall of Fame nominee.

The voting panel, which includes members of the media, track operators, NASCAR executives and current Hall of Famers, will begin deliberations at 1 p.m. Wednesday, and the Class of 2018 will formally be announced at 6 p.m. in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Great Hall.

Posted on by Track Release

RELATED: Playoffs get a makeover in 2018 schedule | Official release

JOLIET, Ill. — Chicagoland Speedway announced today its 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race will take place Sunday, July 1, moving back to its longstanding, fan-favorite summer date and kicking off NBC’s live race coverage of the season.

“We’re incredibly excited about the return to July,” said Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock. “We always listen to our fans, and this is something they’ve asked for — a time when the weather in Chicago is perfect, kids are on summer break, and families look to enjoy memorable experiences together, especially around the Fourth of July holiday weekend.”

Since its inception in July 2001, Chicagoland Speedway, hosted its NASCAR weekend during the month of July through 2010, before moving to September. The world’s greatest stock car drivers will converge on the Magnificent Mile and a Half to the backdrop of fireworks, camping, tailgating and music as fans will enjoy four action-packed races: ARCA Racing Series, NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Weekend: 

Friday, June 29: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Saturday, June 30: NASCAR XFINITY Series
Sunday, July 1: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
For more information about Chicagoland Speedway, follow us on Facebook along with Twitter and Instagram @chicagolndspdwy.

Chicagoland Speedway & Route 66 Raceway

Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5-mile, paved oval race track located in Joliet, Ill.  The track has hosted racing events of the major U.S. racing series, and currently conducts races in all three NASCAR national series, including the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the NASCAR XFINITY Series, and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.   Along with Route 66 Raceway, a multimillion-dollar complex that includes a ¼-mile stadium-style drag strip and a ½-mile dirt oval track, Chicagoland Speedway is wholly-owned by International Speedway Corporation (ISC), a major promoter of motorsports activities.  ISC owns and/or operates 13 of the nation’s major racing venues, including Daytona International Speedway. For more information on Chicagoland Speedway, visit ChicagolandSpeedway.com.

Posted on by Track Release

RELATED: Playoffs get a makeover in 2018 schedule | Official release

Richmond International Raceway is one of the top stories of the 2018 NASCAR schedule as America’s Premier Short Track will host Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series playoff races and bring back spring Saturday racing “under the lights” to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Richmond will host the Toyota spring race weekend on April 20-21, 2018, and return in the fall with its first Monster Energy Series and NXS playoff race weekend on September 21-22, 2018.

The road to the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series championships will now lead through Richmond as the track has been added to the select number of tracks (10) who host a Monster Energy Series playoff race. This is a unique opportunity for the Commonwealth to host a pair of major league professional sport’s playoff races at Richmond and Martinsville Speedway.

The lights will shine bright once again as the Toyota spring race weekend goes back to Saturday racing at Richmond. With both race weekends “under the lights,” Richmond returns to the tradition it started with its first night race in September 1991 when “Handsome” Harry Gant took home the victory. With brake rotors glowing, sparks flying, and the stars shining bright, it has become the perfect combination for an iconic Richmond race experience.

“We heard from many fans about returning the spring race to Saturday and getting back ‘under the lights’ for both our 2018 race weekends,” said Richmond President Dennis Bickmeier. “A big part of our identity for 18 years is racing ‘under the lights’ as there is a different energy in the air on Saturday nights at Richmond. We look forward to bringing back the iconic race weekend experience generations of Richmond fans remember.”

Today’s announcement builds on the momentum of the current 2017 NASCAR season in Richmond, which concludes with the crowning of the regular season champion at the track as part of the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race.

“Richmond has always been a tremendously supportive market for NASCAR,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “Adding it to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, along with the return to Saturday night racing, only will enhance the competition at the track as fans continue to enjoy the iconic Richmond racing experience.”

The Action Track will now play a vital role in determining the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series champions with playoff races hitting the ¾ mile D-shaped oval for the first time in the history of the track. The fall Monster Energy Series race will be the second race in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday, September 22, 2018, with the NASCAR XFINITY Series race being the first race of the NXS playoffs on Friday, September 21, 2018.

“Hosting a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race is a testament to the importance and impact of Richmond to the sport,” said Bickmeier. “Richmond will now have the same feel as any playoff host city for a professional sport. With the fall’s Monster Energy Series race being the second in the playoffs and NASCAR XFINITY Series race being the first of the playoffs, our September weekend will play an even more important role in determining the champion in each series.”

Official start times for 2018 NASCAR races will be announced at a later date.

While the momentum is building for next year, there is still chaos to come this autumn as Richmond’s 2017 NASCAR season concludes with two nights of racing “under the lights” on September 8-9. The fall race weekend, presented by Who’s Your Driver, will see history on display as Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes his final career, two-race appearance at Richmond.

Fan Appreciation Weekend kicks into high gear early Saturday morning with a full schedule of interactive events for NASCAR’s best fans, including the return of Gridside Live, which moves to The Classic Amphitheater. Stay connected to Richmond’s primary social channels on Twitter and Facebook as more announcements are set for the coming weeks, outlining some new, unprecedented elements to the Richmond fan experience, giving our Richmond Nation season ticket holders unparalleled access.

Witness history in the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Saturday, September 9 as the regular season champion will be crowned along with Earnhardt’s final regular season Cup race at Richmond. Saturday night is also the last chance for many drivers to make it to the playoffs. The NASCAR weekend gets started on Friday, September 8, when the rising stars of tomorrow compete along with Earnhardt in the Virginia529 College Savings 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series race following practice and qualifying for both series.

Tickets are available now for both the Monster Energy Series and NXS races at Richmond. To purchase tickets, visit rir.com or call 866-455-7223.

Posted on by Pat DeCola

RELATED: Key changes | Official release | Schedule highlights

NASCAR unveiled a revamped 2018 schedule for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series on Tuesday.

The shuffle — which will see Charlotte Motor Speedway run its playoff race in part on its road course layout, among other highlights — injects added excitement into what was already a thrilling 36-race slate.

MORE: Charlotte road course news | Date changes for 2018

Here’s how NASCAR Nation is responding to the big news.


Posted on by Track Release

The 2018 NASCAR season will be an historic one for Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

LVMS’s spring NASCAR Weekend will run March 2-4, with a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race taking place on Friday, the NASCAR XFINITY Series’ Boyd Gaming 300 following on Saturday and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ Pennzoil 400 anchoring the tripleheader on Sunday. The speedway’s fall weekend will be Sept. 14-16 and consist of a Friday NCWTS race, an XFINITY Series race on Saturday and a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday.

LVMS will kick off the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in September and be the first track in NASCAR history to host two tripleheader weekends in the same year.  In addition, the speedway’s September XFINITY Series race will serve as the cutoff for qualification into the XFINITY playoffs, and the Truck Series race will be the second playoff event for that series.

“We’ve waited a long time to be able to host two major NASCAR event weekends at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and to see the official dates on the schedule is exciting for everyone here at the speedway and in our community,” LVMS President Chris Powell said. “Our spring NASCAR Weekend has been a thrilling experience in Las Vegas for more than two decades, and we’re eager to begin another chapter with our fall tripleheader. To kick off the Monster Energy Cup Series playoffs and be a key factor in the other series’ postseasons will be an incredible way to cap off what promises to be a monumental year for LVMS.”

LVMS was awarded a second NASCAR Weekend and signed Pennzoil as title sponsor of its spring Cup race in March of this year. The speedway first hosted a Truck race in 1996, then followed with an XFINITY event the following year and added a Cup race in 1998.

Next up for LVMS is its fall Truck race on Saturday, Sept. 30, which will be part of the NCWTS Playoffs for the second consecutive year. Fans can purchase annual passes for LVMS’s 2018 events at a deep discount off individual weekend tickets by calling 1-800-644-4444 or logging on to www.LVMS.com.

Posted on by Track Release

RELATED: Playoff makeover highlights 2018 schedule | Official release

The Brickyard 400 will enter a new era of excitement in 2018, as the annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will move to Sunday, Sept. 9.

The 400 will serve as the final race of the regular season, determine the regular season champion and set the field for the NASCAR Playoffs, which begin the following weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“The Brickyard 400 has been one of NASCAR’s premier events for 25 years, and we’re thrilled the race is moving to one of the most important dates on the NASCAR calendar,” said J. Douglas Boles, IMS president. “Our fans will love the excitement that comes with crowning a regular season champion at The Racing Capital of the World, and the cooler temperatures of early September will make the race more enjoyable for everyone.

“The IMS team is focused this week on delivering a successful 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500, but we’re eager to continue working with our partners to make the Brickyard 400 a great experience for our fans, competitors and community.”

More details about the 2018 Brickyard weekend schedule, including the Lilly Diabetes 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series race, will be released soon.

The Brickyard 400 has taken place in late July or early August every year since the inaugural race in August 1994. The 2017 Brickyard 400, which includes the Lilly Diabetes NASCAR XFINITY Series race, is scheduled for July 21-23 at IMS. Tickets are available at IMS.com.

For more information about the Brickyard 400 and other IMS events, visit IMS.com.

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Playoff makeover, Daytona’s return to history highlight schedule

TRACKS RESPOND: Chicagoland | Richmond | Indy | Las Vegas

The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule includes two key date changes for Daytona International Speedway.

For the first time since 2010, the season-opening Daytona 500 will return to its former weekend date leading into President’s Day in mid-February. The 2018 race, which kicks off the 36-race season for the Monster Energy Series, is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 18.

Also, the Advance Auto Parts Clash, the annual non-points event for Monster Energy Series teams, now will be on Sunday, Feb. 11, the same day as Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500.

The date change for the 500, initially announced by track officials in July of 2016, moves the season’s first points race up one week on the calendar. It has been the first stop for the series since 1982 and has been run as late as Feb. 27 in previous seasons. This year’s 500 was held Feb. 26.

The 2.5-mile superspeedway has hosted NASCAR events since 1959.

“Certainly it’s the traditional spot on President’s Day weekend,” Daytona president Chip Wile told NASCAR.com. “It gives folks an opportunity to have a day on the backside of the Daytona 500 to travel home. That works in our favor.

“We’re always thinking about how we can enhance the experience for our race fans, whether they are here on site or traveling to and from the race track. I think it’s important to think through those things.”

Said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Operations: “A lot went into it, obviously. From Chip’s standpoint on attendance, that’s right: There’s an opportunity for folks to extend that weekend, and all the pieces fit together, just as they did with the opportunity to move the Clash to Sunday and have a day race with qualifying for our biggest race of the year.”

NASCAR officials released the 2018 schedule for the Monster Energy Series on Tuesday, along with schedules for the XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series.

MORE: Key schedule changes | A look at each date | Official release | Reactions

The Clash has been run under the lights at the 2.5-mile track each year (barring weather issues) since 2003. Except for two occasions, the race was contested on a Sunday from its debut in ’79 through 2002, and held on the same day as Daytona 500 qualifying.

Weather forced the race to be moved to a Monday in 1983 and it was moved to a Saturday race for one year (1992).

“We brought back the name last year, now we’re bringing back the tradition, running it on Sunday afternoon,” Wile said. “So it will be a doubleheader — it will set the front row for the Daytona 500 and then we’ll run the Clash immediately following.

“It will be a great afternoon here at the Daytona International Speedway, enjoying the $400 million renovated stadium and seeing some great racing.”

The Clash field consists of pole winners from the previous season, as well as former Clash winners, playoff drivers from the previous season and any former Daytona 500 pole winner who competed full-time the previous year.

“Last year we got to see it on Sunday afternoon because of the weather,” Wile said. “It was just so well received by the industry and the fans we thought what the heck, let’s give it a go.

“I think it differentiates that race, too, because it’s not being raced under the lights where a lot of the activity now during Speedweeks is run under the lights. It gives it a little bit different flavor and a little bit different feel. And it gives our great race fans an opportunity to come out and see the cars battle during the afternoon.”

 

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: 2018 schedule released | Key changes |  Official release

TRACKS RESPOND: Chicagoland | Richmond | Indy | Las Vegas

For the first time since its debut in 2004, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs will include a road course in the 10-race championship-determining format in 2018.

Included as part of Tuesday’s 2018 national series schedule announcement, Charlotte Motor Speedway’s playoff race, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 30, will include use of the track’s infield road course.

The 2018 playoffs will consist of four races contested on 1.5-mile intermediate tracks (Las Vegas, Kansas, Texas, Homestead-Miami), two 1-mile venues (Dover, Phoenix), two short-track stops (Richmond, Martinsville), and one superspeedway (Talladega) in addition to the Charlotte road course.

MORE: Date changes for 2018 | Reactions

Driver AJ Allmendinger tested on the road course earlier this year.

“Here’s the deal … I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said during the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour in January. “I thought it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it.

“You can bring something new to the schedule and something new if it was done. I’m all for it. I’m probably biased toward that. It’s kind of like the new (stage) format. Change can be good and it can be a little scary. We have to see how it plays out. But could it be successful? I think it would be a fantastic race and something the fans could truly enjoy.”

Allmendinger, driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet for JTG Daugherty Racing, has one career win in the series and it came at Watkins Glen, which along with Sonoma Raceway make up the only two road-course stops currently on the Monster Energy Series schedule.

Use of the road course will increase the individual lap distance from 1.5 miles to approximately 2.4 miles. That change means the race will consist of fewer than the 334 laps that currently make up the race distance for a 500-mile event.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

RELATED: 2018 schedule | In-depth schedule analysis | Key changes | Reactions

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 23, 2017) – NASCAR today announced sweeping changes to the lineup of tracks that make up the playoffs as part of its 2018 national series schedules.

Next season, the final regular season race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be contested at iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Round of 16 kicks off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR has added a second short track to the playoff slate, as the historic ¾-mile Richmond International Raceway hosts the second playoff race for the first time, and Charlotte Motor Speedway serves as the first cutoff race, with an intriguing twist — and turn. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will race on the road course oval at Charlotte, marking the first time the playoffs will see a road-course layout among its 10 races.

TRACKS RESPOND: Chicagoland | Richmond | Indy | Las Vegas

With Charlotte moving to the cutoff of the Round of 16, Dover International Speedway now hosts the first race of the Round of 12 — another playoff first.

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Great American Race, the Daytona 500 returns to its traditional Presidents Day weekend on Sunday, February 18.

Speedweeks kicks off with an action-packed Sunday, February 11 at Daytona International Speedway, with a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season-opening double-header featuring the Clash and Daytona 500 pole qualifying.

“Fan feedback was a major driver in developing these schedules, and we worked very closely with the industry to set the stage for an exciting 2018 season,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “This season has delivered more dramatic moments to fans, and with the adjustments to the 2018 schedules we’re in a great position to build upon that success.”

MORE: Download 2018 schedule

Richmond’s spring race returns to Saturday night, and the spring triple-header at Dover moves to the first week in May.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series joins NASCAR Goes West, the annual three-race trek to the West Coast, making March 2-4 a triple-header weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The fall weekend at Las Vegas serves as the final regular season event for the NASCAR XFINITY Series, with a three-race opening round of Richmond, Charlotte and Dover. The fall Bristol race will finalize the playoff field for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, with Round of 8 races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Las Vegas and Talladega.

All races will air on either the FOX or NBC family of networks, MRN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

See below for all three NASCAR national series schedules.

 

2018 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES SCHEDULE

Feb. 11: Daytona International Speedway (Clash / Daytona 500 Qualifying)
Feb. 15: Daytona International Speedway (Duel)
Feb. 18: Daytona 500
Feb. 25: Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 4: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 11: Phoenix Raceway
March 18: Auto Club Speedway
March 25: Martinsville Speedway
April 8: Texas Motor Speedway
April 15: Bristol Motor Speedway
April 21: Richmond International Raceway
April 29: Talladega Superspeedway
May 6: Dover International Speedway
May 12: Kansas Speedway
May 19: Charlotte Motor Speedway (Monster Energy All-Star Race)
May 27 : Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 3: Pocono Raceway
June 10: Michigan International Speedway
June 24: Sonoma Raceway
July 1: Chicagoland Speedway
July 7: Daytona International Speedway
July 14: Kentucky Speedway
July 22: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
July 29: Pocono Raceway
Aug. 5: Watkins Glen International
Aug. 12: Michigan International Speedway
Aug. 18: Bristol Motor Speedway
Sept. 2: Darlington Raceway
Sept. 9: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sept. 16: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sept. 22: Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 30: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 7: Dover International Speedway
Oct. 14: Talladega Superspeedway
Oct. 21: Kansas Speedway
Oct. 28: Martinsville Speedway
Nov. 4: Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 11: Phoenix Raceway
Nov. 18: Homestead-Miami Speedway

 

2018 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SCHEDULE

Feb. 17: Daytona
Feb. 24: Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 3: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 10: Phoenix Raceway
March 17: Auto Club Speedway
April 7: Texas Motor Speedway
April 14: Bristol Motor Speedway
April 20: Richmond International Raceway
April 28: Talladega Superspeedway
May 5: Dover International Speedway
May 26: Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 2: Pocono Raceway
June 9: Michigan International Speedway
June 17: Iowa Speedway
June 30: Chicagoland Speedway
July 6: Daytona International Speedway
July 13: Kentucky Speedway
July 21: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
July 28: Iowa Speedway
Aug. 4: Watkins Glen International
Aug. 11: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Aug. 17: Bristol Motor Speedway
Aug. 25: Road America
Sept. 1: Darlington Raceway
Sept. 8: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sept. 15: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sept. 21: Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 29: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 6: Dover International Speedway
Oct. 20: Kansas Speedway
Nov. 3: Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 10: Phoenix Raceway
Nov. 17: Homestead-Miami Speedway

 

2018 NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

Feb. 16: Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 24: Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 2: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 24: Martinsville Speedway
May 4: Dover International Speedway
May 11: Kansas Speedway
May 18: Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 8: Texas Motor Speedway
June 16: Iowa Speedway
June 23: Gateway Motorsports Park
June 29: Chicagoland Speedway
July 12: Kentucky Speedway
July 18: Eldora Speedway
July 28: Pocono Raceway
Aug. 11: Michigan International Speedway
Aug. 15: Bristol Motor Speedway
Aug. 26: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Sept. 14: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Oct. 13: Talladega Superspeedway
Oct. 27: Martinsville Speedway
Nov. 2: Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 9: Phoenix Raceway
Nov. 16: Homestead-Miami Speedway