Posted on by RJ Kraft

CONCORD, N.C. — Richard Childress has many titles to Ty Dillon: Team owner, hunting buddy, grandfather.

And now NASCAR Hall of Famer, thanks to a moment that Dillon and his family — including brother and fellow driver Austin — weren’t expecting Wednesday.

“I was actually standing with my mom when I got a text message, ‘Congratulations to your grandfather,'” Dillon said on Thursday during a media availability at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We were like, ‘No way!’ We weren’t even expecting this year. I’m so happy for him.”

Childress is part of the five-person 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame class that was unveiled Wednesday. Joining Childress in the Hall will be Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks and Benny Parsons. H. Clay Earles was named the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

“I think at first, I called him probably five minutes after I found out — I’m sure he was getting all kinds of calls — it seemed like it hadn’t set in for him yet,” Dillon said of his first communication with his grandfather after learning Childress had made the Hall of Fame. “He’s a hard worker so he’s always thinking about what’s going on next.

“I saw him this morning (at an appearance at Bass Pro Shops). First thing I did was just give him a big hug because I was proud of him. He’s very happy today and excited, and it’s well-deserved.”

Childress, 70, began his career as a driver, making his first NASCAR start in 1969, and he went on to score six top-five finishes and 76 top-10 finishes over 12 years and 285 starts. He formed Richard Childress Racing in 1969 and eventually teamed with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt for six championships.

In his storied history as an owner, Childress is the first to have owner championships in all three NASCAR national series, and his 11 driver championships are second all-time. RCR has 212 NASCAR national series victories: 105 wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, 76 wins in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and 31 wins in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

The bond Dillon and Childress share is much more than that of your typical grandfather and grandson.

“He’s my hero and glad that I get to spend time with him not only in our sport but every day at the shop and away from it, when we’re hunting and hanging out with family,” Dillon said.

RCR currently fields Chevrolets for three full-time teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Austin Dillon in the No. 3, Paul Menard in the No. 27 and Ryan Newman in the No. 31) and four full-time teams in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (Menard/Dillon primarily in the No. 2, Ty Dillon in the No. 3, Brandon Jones in the No. 33 and Brendan Gaughan in the No. 62).

“He’s such a focused individual about making this race team great again.” Ty Dillon said. “I think this is a moment that is going to be big for him for feeling like he’s finally made it. He’s the first one at the shop every single day and the last one to leave. Working hard like he did way back when he had a $20 race car. I think it’s finally a moment for him to sit back and realize what he’s accomplished and hopefully it continues to set in for the rest of the week.”

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RELATED: See the induction ceremony in photos

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three team owners accounting for 18 premier series titles and 349 victories in NASCAR’s top series headline the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s class of 2017.

Raymond Parks, Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick were named, along with drivers Mark Martin and Benny Parsons, Wednesday. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France made the announcement in the Hall of Fame’s Great Hall.

Parks, Childress, Hendrick and Parsons have been among the nominees on all eight previous Hall of Fame ballots. Martin was nominated for the first time this past year.

“That’s a load off my mind; I feel relieved, totally,” Vi Parks, widow of Raymond Parks, said afterward.

“It was a long time coming and I just wish he were here to appreciate it. It’s just a great feeling. NASCAR meant so much to Raymond. He loved racing, he loved to be with the people; he always went as long as his health would allow him to go.”

Parks, who passed away in 2010, became the first championship-winning team owner in 1949 when his driver, Red Byron, won what was then known as the Strictly Stock division.

A successful Atlanta businessman who was responsible for helping NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. move forward with the formation of the sanctioning body, Parks and Byron marched to NASCAR’s first Modified title as well.

Childress won six premier series titles with driver Dale Earnhardt, a member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class inducted in 2010. His Richard Childress Racing organization, located in Welcome, N.C., has earned championships in NASCAR’s XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series as well.

“I really didn’t expect to get in because I was told the only way you’re going to get in is to retire or be deceased,” Childress said via telephone Wednesday evening. “I sure like the first one better … I haven’t gotten plans to retire yet either.

“Just to be in there with the class that I’m in, it’s unbelievable.”

Often during speaking engagements, Childress said he would tell the crowd, “Only in America could a kid with a $20 race car and a dream be here speaking to a group like this today,” a reference to his humble beginnings as a young racer.

“Now I can say only in America could a kid with a dream be in the NACAR Hall of Fame,” he said.

Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won 11 premier series titles and 242 races. And the team owner said he has no plans for slowing down.

“You get tired to the point your body is telling you that you need to slow down,” Hendrick said, “but all the people that have worked there that are working there now … you want to keep it going; you want to see it continue.

“It’s kind of like when you build something and the momentum is there and you want to keep it going. When you sign a young guy like Chase Elliott, you (are) kind of committed to keep it rolling. You want to see Jimmie (Johnson) win his seventh (championship); you want to see Chase win his first, (Dale) Earnhardt (Jr.) win one, Kasey (Kahne) … .

“I’d love to see the 250 wins and maybe end up with another Cup championship or two. You know I’m super competitive; I don’t want to just go show up, I want to be competitive.

“We’ve accomplished so much. I’m very appreciative of where we are but the competitive side in me and with the team we have we want more. You just have to go dig every day.”

 

In addition to the five Hall of Fame inductees, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway track founder H. Clay Earles was selected as the recipient of the 2017 Landmark Award for Outstanding Achievement in NASCAR.

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RELATED: Meet 2017’s nominees | Live stream of reveal, 5 p.m. ET

 

Mark Martin will be one of 20 people considered for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame when the Voting Panel convenes in Charlotte on Wednesday to determine the 2017 class. (TV coverage: NBCSN, 5 p.m. ET)

Three of those on the ballot are former premier series champions — Red Byron, NASCAR’s first Strictly Stock champion in 1949; Benny Parsons, the 1973 winner who went on to enjoy a successful second career in the broadcast booth; and Alan Kulwicki, killed in a plane crash just four-and-a-half months after capturing the 1992 crown.

There was no championship trophy for Martin, who retired from competition at the end of the 2013 season. But that doesn’t diminish the accomplishments the Batesville, Arkansas, native garnered during a career that spanned more than three decades.

Martin, 57, won 40 times in the premier series, with victories coming at 21 different tracks.

He finished 10th or better 453 times, in more than half of his 882 career starts. He also won 56 poles.

 

RELATED: Live stream, 5 p.m. ET, Wednesday

In the battle for the championship, Martin placed second five times, a mark he shares with current Hall of Fame member Bobby Allison, and he scored 17 top-10 points finishes during his career.

“It makes me proud I was able to be as successful as I was and grateful for the opportunities I had,” Martin told Little Rock, Arkansas, radio station KABZ-FM recently. “To be real honest I didn’t enjoy a … significant part of my career because I was trying so hard to get that championship because I wanted it, and even more than that, the people who supported me wanted it for me so badly. I saw time running out.

“I spent too much of my time focused on that and not enjoying the opportunities I had. Today, when I look back on it I wish I hadn’t done that.”

Martin lost the 1990 title by 26 points to Dale Earnhardt and finished second to the Richard Childress Racing driver again four years later. Other runner-up finishes through the years came against Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson.

“My life would not be different one bit had I won one of those or not,” Martin said. “I had a great career. … I don’t think it would have changed a thing in my life had I won one of those trophies. I was very close. I got beat by only four of the greatest of all time in NASCAR in my opinion. …

“I’m not embarrassed.”

Earnhardt was one of five members inducted into the Hall’s inaugural class in 2010. Gordon, a four-time series champion with 93 career victories, retired from driving at the end of 2015 and won’t be eligible for Hall of Fame consideration until 2018 and possible induction until ’19.

Stewart, winner of three premier series titles and co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, will cease to compete full time in the series following the 2016 season. Johnson is a six-time champion and boasts 77 career wins, including two thus far this season.

In addition to his premier series exploits, Martin held the XFINITY Series record for career wins for 14 years and is also a seven-time winner in the Camping World Truck Series.

It is his second consecutive appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot.

First-year nominees for the 2017 ballot are former Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr., team co-owner Jack Roush, driver Ricky Rudd, noted crew chief and engine builder Waddell Wilson and broadcaster Ken Squier.

Rounding out the list of nominees are Buddy Baker, Richard Childress, Ray Evernham, Ray Fox, Rick Hendrick, Harry Hyde, Hershel McGriff, Raymond Parks, Larry Phillips, Mike Stefanik and Robert Yates.

Also to be determined by the Voting Panel is the 2017 recipient of the Landmark Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to NASCAR. The five nominees are Martinsville Speedway track founder H. Clay Earles, driver Janet Guthrie, team owner Raymond Parks, former RJ Reynolds executive Ralph Seagraves and Squier.

The Voting Panel is scheduled to begin the selection process Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. ET at the Charlotte Convention Center.

The announcement of those chosen will take place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Great Hall (5 p.m. ET, NBCSN). NASCAR.com will also live stream the event: You can watch it live here.

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR Hall of Fame Class, Class of 2017

Despite a legendary career as one of the best drivers of his era, Mark Martin never won a championship in NASCAR’s premier series. He came incredibly close on a number of occasions — finishing second in the standings five times.

Born: Jan. 9, 1959
Hometown: Batesville, Arkansas

Premier Series Stats
Competed: 1981-2013
Starts: 882
Wins: 40
Poles: 56

In 1990, Martin finished 26 points behind Dale Earnhardt, his closest run at the championship. He set career highs for wins (seven), top-five finishes (22) and laps led (1,730) in 1998, but was left with another second-place finish, this time to Jeff Gordon. He also finished second in 1994, 2002 and ’09.

Over the course of his 33-year premier series career, Martin compiled 40 wins (17th all time) and 61 runner-up finishes (sixth) in 882 starts (fifth). His 56 career poles rank seventh on the all-time list.

Martin saw success at every level of NASCAR. He won 49 times in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, holding the series wins record for 14 years. He retired with 96 wins across NASCAR’s three national series, sixth on the all-time list.

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NASCAR Hall of Fame, Class of 2017

Benny Parsons, a Wilkes County, North Carolina, native who called Detroit home after driving a taxi for a living during his years in the northern city, won the 1973 NASCAR premier series championship in one of the most dramatic fashions in series history.

Born: July 12, 1941
Died: Jan. 16, 2007
Hometown: Ellerbe, North Carolina

Championship
Premier: 1973

Premier Series Stats
Competed: 1964-88
Starts: 526
Wins: 21
Poles: 20

Parsons could be called an everyman champion: winning enough to be called one of the sport’s stars but nearly always finishing well when he wasn’t able to reach Victory Lane. He won 21 times in 526 career starts but finished among the top 10 283 times — a 54 percent ratio.

One of Parsons’ biggest victories came in the 1975 Daytona 500. He also was the first driver to qualify a stock car at more than 200 mph (200.176) in 1982 at Talladega Superspeedway. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Parsons also was known as a voice of the sport making a seamless transition to television following his NASCAR career. He was a commentator for NBC and TNT until his passing in 2007, at age 65.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Statistics
Year Age Races Win Top 5 Top 10 Pole Laps Led Rank AvSt AvFn RAF Miles LLF
1964 23 1 of 62 0 0 0 0 258 0   9.0 21.0 0 129.0 0
1969 28 4 of 54 0 2 3 0 568 0   12.5 13.3 3 1259.0 0
1970 29 45 of 48 0 12 23 1 9165 66   10.0 13.7 24 8898.0 1
1971 30 35 of 48 1 13 18 0 7981 144   10.7 16.2 18 7808.9 4
1972 31 31 of 31 0 10 19 0 7922 19   11.2 14.5 20 9601.3 0
1973 32 28 of 28 1 15 21 0 9311 375   7.7 10.1 21 10274.1 1
1974 33 30 of 30 0 11 14 0 8120 88   8.6 14.6 14 9067.4 2
1975 34 30 of 30 1 11 17 3 8528 479 4 7.5 14.4 17 8984.4 4
1976 35 30 of 30 2 18 23 2 8679 509 3 7.0 9.6 25 10516.2 5
1977 36 30 of 30 4 20 22 3 9410 1400 3 4.7 7.8 24 10899.5 15
1978 37 30 of 30 3 15 21 2 9609 824 4 4.7 9.4 26 11009.9 9
1979 38 31 of 31 2 16 21 1 9335 736 5 7.0 11.3 24 10749.5 7
1980 39 31 of 31 3 16 21 2 8676 659 3 5.8 11.4 21 10134.7 11
1981 40 31 of 31 3 10 12 0 6709 537 10 10.1 19.0 14 7688.2 6
1982 41 23 of 30 0 10 13 3 5631 253 18 10.0 14.6 13 7377.0 6
1983 42 16 of 30 0 4 5 0 2847 116 29 8.9 18.9 7 5293.4 3
1984 43 14 of 30 1 7 10 2 2877 407 27 7.1 12.6 11 5462.4 7
1985 44 14 of 28 0 1 6 0 2230 8 29 10.4 21.3 7 4288.1 1
1986 45 16 of 29 0 2 4 1 2620 13 30 9.4 23.1 5 5112.0 3
1987 46 29 of 29 0 6 9 0 6975 87 16 11.7 18.7 17 9040.4 5
1988 47 27 of 29 0 0 1 0 7420 71 24 23.5 23.0 18 8843.9 1
21 years    526 21 199 283 20 134871 6791   9.4 15.2 329 162437.3 91

 

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NASCAR Hall of Fame, Class of 2017 and Landmark Award nominee

Raymond Parks is one of stock-car racing’s earliest — and most successful — team owners.

Born: June 5, 1914
Died: June 20, 2010
Hometown: Dawson County, Ga.

Championship
Premier: 1949 (owner)

Premier Series Owner Stats
Competed: 1949-55
Starts: 18
Wins: 2
Poles: 2

Funded by successful business and real estate ventures in Atlanta, Parks began his career as a stock-car owner in 1938 with drivers Lloyd Seay and Roy Hall.

His pairing with another Atlantan, mechanic Red Vogt, produced equipment good enough to dominate the sport in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Red Byron won the first NASCAR title (Modified, 1948) and first premier series title (1949) in a Parks-owned car.

Though Parks’ team competed for only four seasons — 1949, 1950, 1954 and 1955 — his place in NASCAR history is secure. Parks’ team produced two premier series wins, two poles, 11 top fives and 12 top-10s in 18 events. Drivers Red Byron, Bob Flock and Roy Hall drove his cars during the 1949 season. Byron drove for him again in 1950. Fonty Flock drove for Parks in 1954, and Curtis Turner drove for him in 1955.

Parks retired from racing in the mid-1950s.

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NASCAR Hall of Fame, Class of 2017

The founder and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick’s organization is recognized as one of NASCAR’s most successful. A longtime racing enthusiast and driver himself, Hendrick owned drag-racing boat teams that won three championships before founding “All-Star Racing,” the team that would evolve into Hendrick Motorsports, in 1984

Born: July 12, 1949
Hometown: Palmer Springs, Virginia

Championships (14)
Premier: 1995, ’96, ’97, ’98, 2001, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’13, ’16 (owner)
Truck: 1997, ’99, ’01 (owner)

Premier Series Owner Stats (Through 6/18/17)
Competed: 1984-Present
Starts: 3,759
Wins: 248
Poles: 211

Hendrick Motorsports owns an all-time record 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner championship titles — seven with Johnson, four with Gordon and one with Terry Labonte. Hendrick also has 14 total NASCAR national series owner championships, which is most in NASCAR history. Gordon and Labonte combined to win four consecutive titles from 1995-98. In 2010, Johnson won a record-extending fifth consecutive championship.

Some of NASCAR’s most prominent drivers have driven for Hendrick. Geoff Bodine was the first, snaring the organization’s first victory on April 29, 1984, at Martinsville Speedway. The late Tim Richmond, three-time series champion Darrell Waltrip and the late Benny Parsons, the 1973 champion, also are Hendrick alumni.

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Class of 2017 Landmark Award winner

One of the original pioneers of stock car auto racing, H. Clay Earles played an integral role in the early years of NASCAR’s development. Earles built and opened Martinsville Speedway in 1947, and the short track remains the only facility to host NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races every year since the series’ inception in 1949.

Born: August 11, 1913
Died: Nov. 16, 1999
Hometown: Martinsville, Virginia

The speedway held its first race on Sept. 7, 1947 — three months before the creation of NASCAR. That initial race drew more than 6,000 fans to the track, which had just 750 seats ready.

Built as a dirt track, the .526-mile asphalt speedway has grown from a dusty, primitive operation into a multi-million dollar facility covering over 340 acres. The track’s unique paperclip shape makes it especially challenging with 800-foot straights and tight turns banked at only 12 degrees.

In 1964, Earles decided it was time for a “different” type of trophy for his race winners. He gave winners grandfather clocks, a tradition that continues today.

Earles passed away on Nov. 16, 1999 as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the speedway.

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NASCAR Hall of Fame, Class of 2017

Long before he became one of the preeminent car owners in NASCAR history, Richard Childress was a race car driver with limited means. Still, he persevered, which is what you do when you purchase your first race car for $20 at the age of 17.

Born: Sept. 21, 1945
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Championships (11)
Premier: 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93, ’94 (owner)
XFINITY: 2001, ’03, ’06, ’07 (owner)
Truck: 1995 (owner)

Premier Series Owner Stats (Through 2014)
Competed: 1969-present
Starts: 2,495
Wins: 105
Poles: 46

Childress, the consummate self-made racer, was respectable behind the wheel. Between 1969-81 he had six top-five finishes and 76 top 10s in 285 starts, finishing fifth in the NASCAR premier series standings in 1975.

Having formed Richard Childress Racing in 1972, Childress retired from driving in 1981. The rest, as they say, is history.

Much of that history is linked to one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, inaugural NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, who won six championships and 67 races between 1984-2000 for RCR.

But Childress has had other successes. In addition to Earnhardt’s championships, Childress drivers have given him five others. His total of 11 national series owner championships is second all-time. Childress was the first NASCAR owner to win championships in all three of NASCAR’s national series.

Posted on by Staff Report