Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Edwards steps away from NASCAR | Recap Suarez’s 2016

 

Daniel Suarez received a life-changing conference call from Coach Joe Gibbs during the offseason while he was having lunch with his girlfriend and family.

 

He stepped out to take the call — and did not return for 40 minutes.

 

When he finally reemerged, the 2016 XFINITY Series champion was wearing a huge smile and had a secret playing on his lips: He was going to drive the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017. It came a little sooner than expected, but Carl Edwards‘ decision to leave full-time racing expedited the move.

 

MORE: Top quotes from Edwards, Suarez

 

"It was just an amazing moment," Suarez said at a press conference Wednesday on the team’s Huntersville, North Carolina, campus. "I wasn’t expecting that at all. I was actually already working with (XFINITY crew chief) Scott (Graves) and the amazing team that I had in 2016 in XFINITY to be ready to open 2017 the same way that we closed in ’16, winning races. And then this came out. Very, very happy for this opportunity."

 

WATCH: Suarez describes getting the news

 

The Mexican-born driver has certainly been one of the young stars on the rise in his short time on the circuit; Suarez cut his teeth in NASCAR’s Mexico Series and K&N Pro Series, moving to the United States in 2012 to pursue racing. He joined the Joe Gibbs Racing fleet in 2015 full-time, earning XFINITY Rookie of the Year honors that season.

 

The next year, Suarez nabbed his first win at Michigan International Speedway, beating out his mentor — and now JGR teammate — Kyle Busch in the final laps. After that came two more wins then a series championship.

 

Suarez’s timeline to NASCAR’s premier series has been rapid, and he becomes the first Mexican-born driver to race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. But "fast" is nothing new for him — after all, he does drive a race car.

 

"If you think about it, my entire career in NASCAR has been very fast," Suarez told NASCAR.com. "I started racing ovals when I was 17, 18 years old … I feel lucky to be with the right team and with good sponsors to help me. The last couple years I feel like I’ve learned a lot in the NASCAR XFINITY Series to help me make this transition as smooth as possible."

 

WATCH: Suarez’s impact in Mexico ‘unbelieveable’

 

Team owner Joe Gibbs also believes in Suarez’s XFINITY experience will serve him well in the top series.

 

"I think the preparation, the good thing about XFINITY, you’re racing against some Cup guys," Gibbs said. "It’s limited — many times, there’ll be five or six, but you’re getting matched up. In other words, his race that he won at Michigan, he beat Kyle (Busch) in that thing. So they have been racing against the Cup guys; I think that’s the good thing about XFINITY.

 

"Now there’s not 40 of them," he continued with a laugh. "So now you go from five or six to 40. I think it’s a big climb, a big jump, and so we’ve got to have patience, but we’re trying to surround him with everything it takes."

 

His surroundings include committed sponsors, top-notch equipment and cars — and of course, veteran teammates Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, whom Suarez has especially leaned on for knowledge.

 

Maybe a little too much.

 

"I told Daniel when he came on board, which I tell all the young guys, ‘Hey, go to the Cup guys, go to the Cup guys, develop a relationship, ask them," Gibbs said. "You be the one that goes forward. And in particular I told him to go to Kyle. 

 

"So after four weeks of this thing, Kyle told me, ‘He’s driving me crazy; he calls me about five times during the week,’ " Gibbs said with a smile. "I think Daniel is kind of the only one that went after that in the right way."

 

That’s Suarez: dedicated and "all over it," Gibbs said. It’s the type of attitude, combined with raw talent that bodes well for the young driver’s future in the sport.

 

That being said, the No. 19 team — led by veteran No. 19 crew chief Dave Rogers, who called the shots for Edwards last season — will aim to keep expectations reasonable for a rookie in the big leagues for the first time.

 

"You have to adapt," Rogers said. "With Carl, your expectation is to win 8-10 races … I think Daniel is the next superstar and I’m excited to work with him. That’s really unfair though, to ask Daniel to win 10 races — it’s just not reasonable. So I think we’ve got to be very methodical about our season.

 

"We want to win, we want to make the Chase, we want to go further in the Chase than you guys are going to give us credit for. We are hungry, we’re committed and we’re competitors. But the game plan to do that with a rookie has to be much different than the game plan to do that with a veteran and I think the more we understand that and accept that, the better opportunities we’re going to create for Daniel."

 

The No. 19 lightning-fast pit crew will also remain with Suarez, Rogers said.

 

"(When I told the team) I just said, ‘Hey guys, here’s the deal: Nothing changes.’ " Rogers said. "We’re going to change some vinyl above the door, we’re going to have a different driver — nothing else changes. We’re going to compete as hard as we can compete."

 

"That’s the great thing about this team. We were down-and-out at Martinsville (in 2016). We were done, Chase is over. We bounced back and won Texas. That’s the team. That same team is going to respond to Daniel."

 

Rogers’ speech was met with some fist pumps, some ‘Heck yeahs’ and ‘Let’s do this’ cheers. They’re ready for Suarez, part of the next generation of young drivers.

 

And he’s ready for them.

 

"We started all this dream 10 years ago with NASCAR, and right now to be in this position, to be in this opportunity is just something amazing for me." Suarez said. "… I know that it won’t be easy. We have a lot to work. I have a lot to learn. But I’m sure that it couldn’t happen in a better situation with Dave Rogers and the entire 19 group … I feel like it’s just a perfect place to be for a rookie like me that is really hungry to learn and to go out there and to perform well."

 

He looks to his shiny-new No. 19 Toyota Camry, his name printed above the door.

 

"I can’t wait to drive that car," he says with a smile. "… I wish I could take it to the street right now."

 

Posted on by Staff Report

WATCH: ‘Not saying the R-word’ | Reasons behind decision


The media center can be a tough place for drivers — or a place to celebrate. Reliving the key moments of a thrilling victory. Hard questions on hard days. 


Carl Edwards‘ decision to leave Joe Gibbs Racing and step aside from competing full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series brought a little of both at Wednesday’s press conference at the team’s shop.


And it was his own quote, published by NBC Sports’ Nate Ryan on Tuesday, that made Edwards choke up and tearfully whisper, "I just want to be a good person."


The quote from Ryan’s story was: "For me, the Midwestern mentality is pretty simple. It’s just do your job, do your work, be kind to people. Your reputation will follow. I’m really proud to be from Missouri."


It’s an accurate self-description, per the lauds from NASCAR writers and broadcasters heaped upon Edwards upon his exit. Here are some of the sentiments shared in print and online.


Tom Jensen of FOX Sports initially broke the story of Edwards’ imminent departure and wrote, "Whatever his next move, Edwards certainly has established an impressive body of work in NASCAR. He owes no one in the racing community anything, and his choice to step away — whether temporarily or permanently — that’s his right. And he’s exercised it. Good luck in the future, Carl. We’ll miss you." | Read more


Ryan added: "You always know what you will get in an interview with Carl Edwards — a professional take on whatever the question is, and answered with the measured intelligence and perspective of a man who once taught high school on the side." | Read more 


Bob Pockrass, ESPN: "(Edwards) likes his business to be handled neatly, and he believes any friction should be handled privately, leading to criticism that he wasn’t as genuine as other drivers. But that also has given him the persona as the ultimate professional publicly, and that is what has attracted fans and has allowed him to be a favorite of talk show hosts looking for a driver who can relate to fans and nonfans alike." | Read more


Jordan Bianchi, SB Nation: "As private as Edwards is, he is also among the more personable drivers in the garage. Any interview with him began with him removing his sunglasses so he could look the interviewee and camera straight in the eye. The gesture became such a trademark, sometimes other drivers would good-naturedly mock it." | Read more


The finish at Homestead repeatedly came up in conversations this week. One of the most illustrative moments in Carl Edwards‘ racing history was the way he left what may be his last race. After a heartbreaking wreck involving the No. 22 Team Penske car with 10 laps to go that cost him the 2016 NASCAR Chase championship, Edwards shook hands with Joey Logano‘s crew chief Todd Gordon and team members, rallied his own family and reached out to fans.


Jeff Gluck of USA Today told the tale on Nov. 20:


"On his way out of the garage, Edwards spotted one of his longtime fans. Rhianne Mitchell was standing silently nearby, with tears in her eyes. Edwards stopped in his tracks, turned around and returned to give her a hug. He pumped his fist at his loyal supporter, as if to try and pick up her spirits.


"This kind of exceptional conduct in the face of deep disappointment was something everyone in all walks of life should cherish. And NASCAR fans should certainly be proud Edwards is one of their own." | Read more


Lee Spencer of Motorsport.com reached farther back in her own memories to share a story that paints a picture of who Edwards was when he entered the sport, and who he remained. It occurred after Edwards’ victory in the 2004 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series opener at Daytona International Speedway.


"But it was after that Daytona win that Edwards would forever endear himself to this writer. After a typical, hectic Speedweeks, I was battling the flu and was forced to leave the track and follow the race on TV. Edwards was kind enough to call me from Victory Lane to offer fresh quotes for my story. Edwards’ graciousness was not lost on me." | Read more


Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: NASCAR Nation reacts to Edwards’ announcement

 

Carl Edwards walked onto the stage all alone at the Joe Gibbs Racing shop Wednesday morning then briefly took the fixed microphone into his hand and began interacting — smiling and joking — with the large crowd gathered to hear this popular driver’s big news.

 

After putting his audience at ease, Edwards delivered one of the most stunning announcements in recent NASCAR history. This fantastically talented, fiercely driven 37-year-old championship contender is stepping away from NASCAR competition — effectively immediately, a little more than a month before the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500.

 

As other NASCAR greats Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart have done in the past two years, Edwards was also careful to reiterate he was not "retiring" — and went so far as to leave the door open to NASCAR competition should the right situation arise.

 

Still, Edwards’ decision not to compete is both gripping and grappling.

 

Edwards is in the prime of his career, seven weeks removed from coming within a few laps of securing his first premier series title. So to quite suddenly announce he is climbing out of the car is relatively unprecedented. No one saw this coming.


RELATED: Lasting image of Edwards is all class

 

He has certainly not "aged out," assuring the masses Wednesday that he is not injured. And although the well-spoken Edwards said he’s absolutely open to doing some television work, NASCAR’s broadcast partners were as stunned with his news as everyone else. They say no plans currently exist to use him on air. Yet.

 

Edwards reiterated frequently that he has no formal "Plan B" after hanging up his helmet, saying only, "I’m not sure and that’s OK."

 

He confirmed politics was something he was interested in, reminding us that he enjoys driving tractors on his Missouri property and stressed that family is his No. 1 priority.

 

The former substitute teacher-turned-NASCAR star gave the gathered press three distinct reasons for stepping away.

 

First, he said, he was absolutely satisfied with his career, insisting "I don’t race just for the trophies."

 

Secondly, he said he wanted to "devote time to the people and things that are important to me, things I’m passionate about," such as his family (his wife, Katherine, and young children, Anne and Michael).

 

And third, he said, "I can stand here healthy," — insisting this move is not a result of injury but of introspection.

 

His team owner Joe Gibbs said he was as surprised by Edwards’ decision as anyone.

 

"Honestly, it was a total shock," Gibbs said. "I could really tell in his face that it was something he’d really thought about, but he was kind of emotional and it was something he really felt like he needed to do. So I sat there and looked at him and said let’s take some time here because if we start down this path, there’s not a turning back on this. When you start visiting sponsors and stuff, it’s going to be huge.

 

"We did that. We spent four days, but I could tell. I think Carl’s very much — out of anybody in our NASCAR world — he’s his own man, and you could tell he’d thought through it."

 

Throughout Wednesday’s nearly 35-minute press conference, Edwards quoted the movie Forrest Gump, dropped sponsor references and thanked a literal lifetime of people from his earliest supporters in the Midwest to his current Joe Gibbs Racing teammates.


MORE: Edwards’ 2016 season in review

 

Most touching, an emotional Edwards had to step back from the podium at one point when asked about how he thinks he will be remembered. He wiped away tears as his voice cracked, finally offering up a joke while composing himself.

 

His absolute sincerity throughout was both telling and compelling. Edwards was at ease — introspective and wide-open at varying times.

 

"Going through that whole process and becoming a better person, a stronger person, a better competitor, a better teammate, a better friend to people, that’s a big deal to me and I feel accomplished," Edwards said of his 15 total years of NASCAR competition.


"I know when I sit in that race car that I am the best race car driver I can be. So whether or not I have a championship, I’m really satisfied with that."

 

As he should be — Edwards‘ is a popular and admirable tale of determination and grit, earning entry into the NASCAR garage by working on a truck series team before getting the chance to drive himself. And he wasted no time making good.

 

Edwards won six times in the Camping World Truck Series and 38 times in the XFINITY Series, including the 2007 championship sandwiched among four championship runner-up years.

 

His ascension in the Cup ranks — first driving for Jack Roush and then Gibbs — included 28 wins highlighted by an amazing nine-win 2008 season when he finished runner-up in the championship. He lost the 2011 Cup title in a heart-wrenching tiebreaker with Tony Stewart and this year led 47 laps and was challenging for the trophy when he crashed out in the season finale, nine laps from the checkered flag.


WATCH: Classy Edwards takes blame for Homestead wreck

 

"This is the same way people looked at me 20 years ago when I said, ‘Hey, I’m going to drive a race car for a living,’ like, you’re crazy," Edwards recalled. "Literally, people laughed at me. 

 

"But that same way of thinking applies now. I really believe this is the right thing. It’s a personal thing. I feel strongly about it. I’m very confident in it.

 

"I’m sure it’s the right direction for my life."

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Edwards steps away from racing, Suarez to wheel No. 19

On Wednesday, Jan. 11 Carl Edwards announced he was stepping down from Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition. Joe Gibbs Racing revealed that 2016 XFINITY Series champion Daniel Suarez would wheel Edwards’ No. 19 Toyota Camry in NASCAR’s top series. Here’s a step-by-step account of the breaking news, and its impact, with the most recent stories at the top. 

Where could Suarez win first?
Pat DeCola breaks down the numbers to assess where Daniel Suarez may grab his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win. | Full story

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR executives and team owners stood together on Feb. 9, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina, to announce a landmark long-term agreement on an owner Charter system.

The agreement provided teams with an increased business certainty and the ability to work more closely with NASCAR to continue to produce best-in-class racing.

Below are fast facts about the comprehensive agreement.

• This was announced in 2016 as a long-term agreement. Earlier this year, NASCAR President Steve Phelps announced an extension of the Charter system through 2024. “The Charter agreement is delivering stability and long-term value to existing team owners while providing a clear path for ownership in the NASCAR Cup Series,” Phelps said.  ” … A healthy ownership structure ensures strong, competitive racing for our fans, which is a goal the industry collectively shares.”

• There are 36 Charter teams. The number 36 was not pre-determined — back in 2016, NASCAR analyzed which teams showed a long-term commitment to the sport by attempting to qualify every week for the past three years. That criteria yielded 36 Charters. 

• A Charter guarantees entry (and therefore, a portion of the purse) into the field of every NASCAR Cup Series points race.

• Teams may sell their Charters on the open market.

• Charter owners may transfer their Charter to another team, for one full season, once over the first five years of the agreement.

• Charter teams are held to a minimum performance standard. If a Charter team finishes in the bottom three of the owner standings among all 36 Charter teams for three consecutive years, NASCAR has a right to remove the charter.

• Organizations now have a hard cap of four cars; there no longer is a the ability to run a fifth car for rookie drivers.

• NASCAR Cup Series fields consist of 40 cars — a change made, from 43 cars previously, when the Charter system was initially announced. That means 36 Charter teams are guaranteed to make every points race, and four non-Charter (or “open”) teams will complete the rest of the field.

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Clemson took down perennial powerhouse Alabama on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship game in stunning fashion, defeating the Crimson Tide 35-31.


Drivers across NASCAR were paying attention, and took to Twitter to offer their thoughts on an instant classic.


Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Learn more about the Class of 2017
MORE: Photos from Voting Day

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — As one of early stock car racing’s most successful car owners, it is appropriate that Raymond Parks captured the first two championships offered by the fledgling National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, an organization Parks helped form in 1947.


Parks and his driver, Red Byron, won NASCAR’s modified title in 1948. The pair, along with mechanic Red Vogt, became the sanctioning body’s 1949 Strictly Stock champions — the initial season of what is now the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.


The Dawson County, Georgia, native and his racing team were gone from NASCAR after 1955, winning just twice. But Parks, who died in 2010 at the age of 96, was seen as one of the sport’s seminal figures and a visionary.


"He set the standard. Mr. Parks brought the sport class," said NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty in a speedwaymedia.com interview shortly after Parks’ death. "It took people like Mr. Parks to lay the foundation we’re living off of.


"And without him, we wouldn’t have the history we have and we wouldn’t be where we are today."


Parks’ contributions will be celebrated Jan. 20 in Charlotte, North Carolina, when he will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame (8 p.m. ET on NBCSN). His fellow inductees among the Hall’s Class of 2017 are Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin and Benny Parsons.


Parks was born in the north Georgia mountains in 1914, the eldest of his father’s 16 children. By age 14, Parks had run away from home, landing in Atlanta where he worked at a still and later went into business for himself, bringing liquor from Dawsonville to Atlanta restaurants. He later branched out into legitimate enterprises supplying businesses with vending machines and jukeboxes.


"He always kept his dignity and his kindness, always behaved more like one of Atlanta’s most sophisticated businessmen, always was dapper in his finest hats and tailored suits," wrote Ed Hinton for ESPN.com in June 2010, shortly after Parks’ passing.


In the 1930s, Parks added stock car racing to his resume, fielding some of the region’s fastest cars with a driver’s roster that included Byron, Lloyd Seay, Roy Hall, Bob and Fonty Flock and NASCAR Hall of Famer Curtis Turner. He was instantly visible at the track, always dressed in wool suit, tie and fedora hat.


A famous photograph shows Park changing tires on one of his cars during the inaugural Southern 500 at Darlington, South Carolina, still wearing his white shirt and tie.


Parks served with the U.S. Army’s 99th Infantry Division during World War II, fighting in the 1944-45 Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. Returning home, Parks resumed racing, frequently fielding two and three cars. His team won all five Daytona Beach beach-road course races in 1945 and 1946.


"He came back with a vengeance, more determined to do and accomplish things he felt like he already should have done," said Ray Fox, a master mechanic, engine builder and NASCAR official.


Parks was among some three dozen racing figures who gathered in December 1947 at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach to create NASCAR, under direction of fellow driver and race promoter William "Big Bill" France.


Like France, Parks believed that a rough and tumble, frequently disorganized activity could become a nationally recognized sport like baseball or football. Parks financially supported the organization during its early years and boosted NASCAR’s image apart from jalopy racing.


"He kept his cars clean and neat like they do today," said NASCAR Hall of Famer Glen Wood in 2010. "The rest of us just kind of beat them out if they got banged up. He would have still been around today if he had kept on until the factories got into it.


"He opened a lot of doors and windows to how to do things and taught a lot of racers how to do it better."


Fellow NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Junior Johnson concurred.


"Anywhere he showed up, he had the best cars," said Johnson in the ESPN.com obituary. "He’s been an asset (to the sport) all his life to it."


Parks left NASCAR to become a successful developer and owner of service stations and convenience stores.


Parks was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2009. He also was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Click here to bookmark the live-stream link

 

Joe Gibbs Racing will hold two separate news conferences starting at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, from its headquarters in Huntersville, North Carolina.

 

Both press conferences will be live-streamed on NASCAR.com. Check back tomorrow to watch the events and for full coverage.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: See all of last year’s paint schemes

 

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (Jan. 10, 2017) — It’s now official! Darlington Raceway and its Labor Day race weekend are now being recognized as “The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR."

 

The designation ensures that the official historical celebration of the sport will continue to take place at the famed 1.366-mile superspeedway in Darlington, South Carolina.

 

"We have worked closely with NASCAR to ensure that Darlington Raceway now has the exclusive rights to the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR for promotions and advertising of our event," said Kerry Tharp, Darlington Raceway president. "Our return to Labor Day weekend, coupled with the Throwback theme has elevated our event across the entire sport and this move only solidifies that among our fans, race teams, sponsors, broadcast partners and media, among others."

 

The track’s award-winning throwback campaign has earned rave reviews throughout the industry since its inception in 2015. The campaign has aligned all key stakeholders in the sport and provided a historical celebration that has earned much praise from fans and corporate partners.

 

It was because of this collaboration over the past two seasons that NASCAR recognized the importance of the track’s throwback weekend and in turn will now celebrate The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR at the sport’s original paved superspeedway, which opened and began hosting NASCAR events in 1950.

 

The track’s 2016 throwback campaign last season featured a celebration of 1975-84 including the following highlights:

 

• Over 35 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race teams competed with throwback paint schemes for the Bojangles’ Southern 500, the most in any single NASCAR event in the sport’s history.

 

• Over 18 NASCAR XFINITY Series teams competed with throwback paint schemes.

 

• Use of NASCAR’s famed "NASCAR International" logo for the second consecutive year.

 

• For the second straight year, Goodyear put the original white lettering on its race tires specifically for the Bojangles’ Southern 500.

 

• NBC did another throwback broadcast of the race featuring old station logos and graphics. NASCAR legends Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett and Dale Jarrett did a special throwback broadcast during the race for the second straight year.

 

• Honored 14 NASCAR Hall of Fame members at the Bojangles’ Legends Breakfast.

 

• 2017 NHOF inductees Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress and Mark Martin served as the Bojangles’ Southern 500 grand marshals.

 

• Unique food offerings from the 1975-84 time period, including the pimento cheese sandwich.

 

• Pre-race concert by rock legends KANSAS and national anthem performance by Barry Williams (of Brady Bunch fame).

 

The Tradition Continues on Labor Day weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500® is set for Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017. The NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 will race on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. You can keep up with all of the latest news from Darlington Raceway at DarlingtonRaceway.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and on Twitter at Twitter.com/TooToughToTame.