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Significant damage reported from Thursday night blaze

Fire struck the race shop of the Leavine Family Racing organization Thursday night, causing "significant damage," according to officials with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.

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The team, which fields the No. 95 Ford for driver Michael McDowell, has been a part-time competitor in NASCAR’s top division since 2011. The team was on site Friday at Kansas Speedway in advance of Saturday night’s Spongebob Squarepants 400 (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM), the operation’s sixth race of the season.
 
"We can confirm there was a fire at our Concord, North Carolina, shop," LFR team officials said in a statement. "Luckily no one was injured. We are working with the fire department and local officials to determine what happened. We’ve heard from the fire department there was significant damage to the back of the race shop. As you can imagine, we are still working to assess the full situation."
 
Late Friday, the team issued another statement noting the team may need to move.

"After receiving more information from a restoration company that inspected the fire damage at the shop today, we were informed that structural damage may cause us to move our racing operations," LFR team officials said in a statement. "We are currently exploring all options.

"We do not anticipate this to impact the team’s competition schedule. Our next race is the Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Four race cars were damaged in the fire – these were primarily back-up cars.  A complete investigation is taking place to assess the overall damage and cause of the fire."

Car owner Bob Leavine said before the season that the small team — which employs 14 people, by his count — planned to compete in a minimum of 20 Sprint Cup events this year. The 2015 season marks the second year of Leavine’s partnership with McDowell and the second year of a technical alliance with Team Penske, which also fields Fords in NASCAR’s premier series.

Crew chief Wally Rogers said Friday morning at Kansas Speedway that the portion of the shop sustaining the most damage was a storage area in the rear of the building.
 
"We have four or five cars there, uniforms are stored back there," he said. "From the pictures I was sent, it looks like it was pretty intense. The cars are backup cars; the only primary was one we planned for the road-course races later this year."
 
As far as the next few races — the Sprint Cup Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Sprint All-Star and Coca-Cola 600 races before turning to Dover International Speedway — Rogers said cars for those events weren’t among those damaged.
 
Rogers said team personnel told him they arrived at the shop Friday morning and noticed "something smelled like it was burning."
 
"It wasn’t in the front (of the building)," he said of the fire, "but the good thing is the sprinklers and safety measures were working and no one was hurt."

— Kenny Bruce contributed to this story

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ISC CEO to be featured on ‘CBS Sunday Morning,’ May 10, 9 a.m. ET

RELATED: Join NASCAR in celebrating Mother’s Day

Lesa France Kennedy says 2007 was the toughest year of her life, but she and son Ben, who is closing in on his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win, have persevered. NASCAR Vice Chairperson and International Speedway Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer discusses her family and DAYTONA Rising, the $400 million reimagining of an American icon, on the Mother’s Day edition of "CBS Sunday Morning," this Sunday, May 10, at 9 a.m. ET.

Eight years ago, Lesa France Kennedy lost her father Bill France Jr., a member of the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, in June and her husband, Dr. Bruce Kennedy, in a plane crash in July.

Named "The Most Powerful Woman in Sports" by "Forbes" just two years after suffering these losses, Kennedy described a more personal side of her leadership as she helped her son and family through that difficult time.

"Ben was 15 so we focused on school and trying to get back into the groove with school was the first priority," Kennedy said. "And then as a mother, you can’t afford to take time out. You just have to get going again. My husband, and I [were] married for 20 years. He was a great dad. He was a great husband, and he loved NASCAR."

WATCH: Lesa France Kennedy discusses the challenges of 2007 as well as special moments with her son

Kennedy’s vision for the next 50 years of the Daytona International Speedway is taking shape in the most significant investment for the company and in the scale of the construction, which includes frontstretch grandstands nearly one mile in length. With technology at the forefront of DAYTONA Rising, the groundwork has been laid to offer the latest innovations when the "World Center of Racing" sets the bar for the industry as the first true motorsports stadium and welcomes the 2016 Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 58th running of the Great American Race, the Daytona 500.

The biggest challenge has been operating the facility during construction, and the traditional Fourth of July weekend will go on as scheduled with an additional 10,000 new seats for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Subway Firecracker 400 Powered by Coca-Cola on July 4 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola on July 5.

(Right to left) ISC CEO Lesa France Kennedy celebrates son Ben Kennedy‘s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victory in 2013 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with uncle and ISC Chairman and NASCAR Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President Jim France.

As Lesa France Kennedy follows in the footsteps of NASCAR and ISC founder Bill France Sr. with the complete renovation of the track he built, Ben Kennedy follows in his tire tracks as he attempts to get his first NASCAR national series victory.

"His great-grandfather was a racer so [a win] would really carry it into the next generation," Lesa France Kennedy said.

"I think it would be just absolutely overwhelming, and I would love to see that day. I would absolutely love to see that day for him. When your child puts so much of himself into a particular passion, you want to see them succeed, and I think that would really make his career. It would set him in a really good place regardless if he continued on the race track or maybe took it in a different direction. But I think that’s the accomplishment he’s looking for. ‘I did it!’"

WATCH: Lesa France Kennedy talks about her son and his career on the track and off

"CBS Sunday Morning" is the 2015 winner of the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Morning Program, and Michelle Miller and her crew captured the full Speedweeks experience in February from attending the NASCAR Diversity Luncheon …

… to meeting actor and Daytona 500 grand marshal Vince Vaughn …

… to spending time with drivers …

… to taking selfies before the Great American Race with Lesa France Kennedy and the Harley J. Earl Trophy.

 

DAYTONA Rising will provide more opportunities for fans to share their experience with three new concourses and 11 football field-sized social areas, called "neighborhoods," which will feature open sightlines and dozens of video screens. Fans can sit, chat, eat, drink and access Wi-Fi, all while never missing any of the on-track action.

Tune in this Sunday morning, May 10, at 9 a.m. ET/PT to watch the entire feature on "CBS Sunday Morning."

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Jones after leading 151 laps: ‘We had by far the best truck’

RELATED: Jones’ Cup focus lies in Kansas start alone

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — No one had a faster truck than Erik Jones in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway.

But speed requires fuel, and with only a handful of laps remaining, the fuel cell in Jones’ No. 4 Toyota ran dry. His lead, and a dominating performance, evaporated.

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"It just sucks," a disappointed Jones said afterward. "We had by far the best truck; we were up to an 11-second lead at one point.

"It’s just so terrible for these (Kyle Busch Motorsports) guys when we bring that fast of a truck."

Jones, who finished 11th, wasn’t alone in his misery. Almost as soon as second-place Tyler Reddick moved into the top spot, his No. 19 Ford (Brad Keselowski Racing) began to sputter. He led seven laps and had the lead from 162-164 of the 167-lap race, before he too was out of gas. 

Incredibly, Daniel Suarez suffered the same fate – when Reddick slowed, Suarez, also in a KBM Toyota, inherited the lead. One lap later, and just two laps from the finish, the orange No. 51 entry’s tank ran dry.

All of which left two-time defending series champion Matt Crafton out front, and two laps later, headed to the winner’s circle. 

Jones, who started on the pole and will make his Sprint Cup Series debut in Saturday’s SpongeBob SquarePants 400, led five times. Before his fuel problems, he lost the lead only on pit road.

"No, I didn’t know how short (on fuel) we were," he said. "I knew the fuel window. I knew we had to save. I couldn’t give the lead up to the 19 (of Reddick) at that point, if a caution had come out (and knowing) how big track position is if we’d have lost the lead we’d never been able to get it back. 

"It’s just a shame, I saved as much as I could there later on and it just wasn’t enough."

Reddick’s charge to the front was almost as impressive as that of Jones. The winner at Daytona International Speedway in the series’ opener, Reddick and teammate Austin Theriault both started Friday’s race in backup entries after crashing during qualifying.

WATCH: Teammates crash in qualifying

"I wouldn’t say I’m frustrated," Reddick said. "All of our guys … they went above and beyond getting our backup out in a hurry and getting the thing prepared.

"Our backup truck was so good. It’s a testament of how much work our guys put in at the shop and how prepared we were in case that ever happened."

Playing it safe wasn’t an option, according to Reddick, who finished 13th. A potential top 10 wouldn’t be as satisfying as making the turn into Victory Lane.

"We played it right. Well, we thought we played it right," he said. "Just a little off at the end there."

Having such a strong truck wasn’t much consolation for Jones, even though he said later that he’d seen wins slip away before.

"Probably not that close to the end (of a race)," he said. "There have been races where I felt like we had the best car but it broke it early on. But eight laps from the finish? I guess it hurts even worse, especially when you lead as many laps as we did. 

"We had by far the best truck, just couldn’t bring it home."

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After Richmond fire, over-the-wall crews get head socks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Crew members going over the wall for Richard Childress Racing teams will be wearing flame resistant head socks when the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 gets underway at Kansas Speedway.

Some will also be wearing a new style helmet.

The changes come in the wake of a pit road fire at Richmond International Speedway last month that hospitalized two RCR crewmen and sent a third from another team off site for treatment as well during and XFINITY Series event.

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Mike Dillon, Vice President of Competition for RCR said Friday at Kansas Speedway that all over-the-wall crew members, "whether they’re working on the front of the car or the back, we’re requiring them to wear a (flame-resistant) head sock."

The new helmet features a "skirt" for additional protection but is not currently mandated by the organization for all over-the-wall crew.

RCR fields full-time Sprint Cup Series teams for drivers Austin Dillon, Paul Menard and Ryan Newman, as well as XFINITY Series teams for Brian Scott, Ty Dillon and Brendan Gaughan.

"We’re working on some full (face) helmets," Mike Dillon said. "You’ll see a dozen of them on pit road this weekend. The whole No. 3 team (of Austin Dillon) I think decided to wear them.

Gas men and anyone handling fuel cans on the non-active side of the pit wall are required by NASCAR to wear full-face helmets with face shields as part of their safety equipment.

"The biggest thing is their field of view; these (over-the-wall) guys want to see the cars coming at them, the cars coming in and out (of the pits)," Dillon said. The full face helmets "block your peripheral vision. That’s their biggest complaint."

It was Gaughan’s No. 62 Chevrolet that erupted in flames during a pit stop at Richmond International Speedway.

Anthony O’Brien, the team’s rear-tire changer, and gasman Josh Wittman, suffered burns when spilled fuel ignited during a pit stop on Lap 113. Wittman was kept overnight while O’Brien was released three days after the incident.

Clifford Turner (JGL Racing) covered O’Brien in an attempt to smother the flames when the tire changer jumped back across pit wall. He was treated and released after inhaling fire extinguisher chemicals.

Dillon said the fuel spill was due to a parts malfunction in the head of the gas can. "The … valve has a screw in it that holds it in and it pulled the threads out," he said.

"When that happened, it allowed it to open up and it was just a solid stream of fuel flowing out of the can. … It just dumped 5-6 gallons of fuel on the ground pretty quick."

To correct the situation, the valve pieces are now bolted in place.

"It’s probably just a case of you just (perform) maintenance on them so often, we’re shortening the life expectancy of them, too." he said. "So we’ve changed from that generation now on the Cup side … to a newer version.

"I think taking it apart, and in and out of the opening so often (led to the failure). Every time you tighten it, you’re stretching those threads."

The SpongeBob SquarePants 400 is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET start (FOX Sports 1, MRN, Sirius XM).

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18-year-old will make first official Sprint Cup start on Saturday

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Erik Jones will make his first official start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series here this weekend, filling in for the injured Kyle Busch in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota.

Beyond this weekend’s race, however, his status as a Sprint Cup driver is less certain.

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The organization, which fields four full-time Sprint Cup teams, hasn’t indicated when Busch will return from injuries sustained in the season-opening NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Jones, who competes part time for JGR in the XFINITY Series and full time for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, said Friday at Kansas Speedway the focus is on this weekend’s race and nothing more.

"Honestly, we haven’t really thought much past this weekend," Jones said. "We’re all hoping Kyle can come back; I know he’s ready to come back.

"Right now, it’s just Kansas and going out and seeing what we can do this weekend."

Saturday night’s SpongeBob SquarePants 400 (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM) will be Jones’ second Sprint Cup race. The 18-year-old stepped into the No. 11 of JGR driver Denny Hamlin in relief last month at Bristol Motor Speedway, finishing 26th.

"That was a tough situation to be put in, and I felt like if we could have started farther up front … that we could have possibly finished a little better than we did," he said. "I felt pretty comfortable in the car by the end of the day, which was nice especially at Bristol — that’s a place that I’ve never really feel 100 percent like I’ve got that place figured out."

That comfort makes this weekend’s start a little less stressful. In addition to his Sprint Cup duties, he’s also competing in Friday night’s Toyota Tundra 250 (8:30 p.m. ET) Truck Series event.

"I feel really good about it honestly," he said. "Bristol was kind of a big test session for me, letting me get laps and knock some of that new-car, new-team rust off and get a good feel for it."

Jones is the third driver to fill in for Busch during his recovery. Fellow Toyota driver Matt Crafton, a two-time NCWTS champion, drove the No. 18 in the season-opening Daytona 500 while David Ragan, formerly with Front Row Motorsports, has been the driver of record for the team in the previous nine races.

Jones, third in points in the Truck Series, scored his first XFINITY Series win last month at Texas Motor Speedway.

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RCR driver disappointed in result but says it’s time to move forward

RELATED: Read about the original infraction, penalty

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman said he was "disappointed" his Richard Childress Racing team lost its final appeal earlier this week, but added "it’s all behind us now and we’ll move on."
 
"I don’t believe at all in the outcome of it," Newman, 37, said Friday at Kansas Speedway, site of Saturday’s SpongeBob SquarePants 400 (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM). "But at the end it doesn’t really matter. We have to be focused on this weekend and the Chase for the championship, it’s as simple as that."

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His team, he said, did nothing wrong.
 
"And that’s why we felt we had a compelling case to win. I’ll leave it at that," he said.
 
Following an approximately nine-hour hearing on Wednesday, National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer Bryan Moss upheld P5 level penalties against the No. 31 team, letting stand a six-points-race suspension and $75,000 fine for crew chief Luke Lambert, the loss of 50 championship driver and owner points for Newman and team owner Richard Childress, as well as six-race suspensions for team engineer Philip Surgen and tire technician James Bender.
 
The penalties stem from a tire audit conducted following this year’s Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Such audits have been done following several races this year as concerns for illegally "bleeding" air pressure from tires increased.
 
According to the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book, any device, modification or procedure to the tire or wheel, including the valve stem hardware that is used to release pressure, beyond normal pressure adjustments, from the tire and/or inner shield, will not be permitted (20.16: A).
 
Also, modifications to the tires, by treatment or any other means, will not be permitted (20.16: F).
 
NASCAR officials originally fined Lambert $125,000 and docked Newman and Childress 75 points. A three-person National Motorsports Appeals Panel later reduced those penalties.
 
RCR then appealed to Moss, the last step in the appeals process.
 
As a result of the ruling, Newman remains 14th in points.
 
With Lambert now on the sidelines, veteran crew chief Todd Parrott will step in on an interim basis, beginning with this weekend’s stop at Kansas. Lambert, Bender and Surgen are expected to return to the track in July when the series visits Daytona International Speedway for the second time.
 
"My focus has always been on (what’s going on at) the track," Newman said. "Obviously that changes just a little bit without having Luke and a couple of other guys here, but at the same time we’ve established a good B team that we have a lot of confidence in … there’s no doubt in my mind that the race car is going to be just as competitive as it ever has been."

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Vote through June 7 to name Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

VOTE: Choose a deserving hero to rename the Brickyard 400

Since NASCAR began running the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994, a select group of race winners including Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson have been brave enough to face the challenge and made their mark as kings of the historic track. This year, another name will join their ranks without ever finishing a lap… but don’t think for a second this person isn’t well versed in bravery.
 
As the grand prize winner of Crown Royal’s annual "Your Hero’s Name Here" program, a deserving hero’s name will be etched in history with naming rights to the NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2015.  This race will mark the ninth time Crown Royal has awarded race naming rights to an adult fan. The program focuses on all of the unsung heroes who make a difference in their communities, from firefighters and police officers to first responders and local volunteers. Every year five heroic finalists are nominated and through consumer voting, one winner is chosen to have their name cemented in sports history.
 
Beginning this week, adult consumers can go to CrownRoyalHeroes.com to vote for the hero they think is most deserving of naming rights to the race. Voting runs through June 7 and the grand prize winner will be announced early that month. See below for their names and bios or click here to read.
 
All five finalists will be flown to Indianapolis to attend the race, and the grand prize winner will be provided with a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which will include delivering the trophy bearing his or her moniker to the race winner in Victory Lane!

Jeff Kyle — Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant

Jeff Kyle, 37, of Lorena, Texas is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant who served for eight years from 2000-2008 in the infantry and reserves. While serving with the 3rd Marine Division, Kyle received the Navy Achievement Medal for leading the first Marine detachment to transport a nuclear submarine through hostile waters. During his time in the military, Kyle was deployed to Iraq twice, Africa and several other locations overseas. When Kyle retired from the Marine Corps in 2008 he says, "My military career didn’t start until I left because now I am able to truly serve my country through helping my fellow brothers." As one of the founders of Texas Elite Tactical Academy, Kyle trains individuals about firearms safety through his passion to educate those in a safe environment. As a board member for the Guardian For Heroes Foundation, Kyle helps to oversee the organization’s mission — to provide free, in-home fitness equipment, facilitation of donated health club memberships, individualized programs, personal training, as well as life coaching and comprehensive support to in-need veterans with disabilities. In addition, Kyle plays a large role as a board member of American Valor, the foundation which runs the memorial benefit to honor his brother, CPO and U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Nominated by the person he considers one of his heroes, former 2014 "Your Hero’s Name Here" race namesake John Wayne Walding, Kyle continues to dedicate his efforts to champion for military veterans and their families.  

Margy Bons — Community Leader

Margy Bons, 59, of Phoenix, Ariz. is the CEO and Founder of the Military Assistance Mission (MAM). In 2005, her oldest son Michael was serving his country in Iraq when he was killed in an ambush by a suicide borne vehicle filled with IEDs. In an effort to honor her son and continue what he started, Bons created an organization with a name that contains Michael’s initials. Formed in 2012, MAM’s mission is to provide financial and moral aid to Arizona service members, wounded warriors and their families. MAM offers a number of programs to meet their needs including paying for items like rent, utilities and car payments and offering classes on resume writing. Last year alone the organization was able to help over 7,000 Arizona families. "There are so many true heroes out there. I get to support them every day, so I am very honored and humbled to be considered a hero," said Bons. When Bons is not working at her organization, she can be found riding her motorcycle or enjoying her newfound hobby of target shooting.

Brendan Marrocco — Retired Army Sergeant

Brendan Marrocco, 28, of Staten Island, N.Y. is a retired Army Sergeant who was deployed in 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009, Marrocco’s vehicle was hit with an Explosive Fired Projectile (EFP). This attack left Marrocco a quadruple amputee and the first ever U.S. soldier to survive such injuries sustained in the war. He credits his lieutenant and medic for his survival and looks up to them as his personal heroes. A determined individual, Marrocco set a goal for himself to greet his fellow soldiers returning from Iraq just four months after his injury. "It was a huge goal for me and it was an once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will cherish forever," said Marrocco. In December 2012, Marrocco underwent transplant surgery and was the first bilateral arm transplant recipient at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Since the surgery, he continues to receive intensive arm therapy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. An avid race fan and car enthusiast, Marrocco went to the Daytona, Bristol, Richmond and Dover races last year and would have gone to more if not for touring Afghanistan for Operation Proper Exit. Marrocco has yet to attend the "Your Hero’s Name Here" 400 in Indianapolis and is excited for the opportunity to take the trip in July and see his favorite driver and friend, Brad Keselowski.
 
Hector Manley — Community Leader

Hector Manley, 26, of Bonita Springs, Fla. lost both legs at age 11 in a tragic accident when a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck his birth country, El Salvador in 2001. Soon after, Manley was adopted and brought to the United States where he has flourished as a community leader, volunteer and teacher. In 2012, Manley became the first double amputee to kayak the entire length of the Mississippi River. This summer adventure took Manley 93 days and, through a partnership with Rotary Clubs, he was able to raise $70,000 dollars for the Wheelchair Foundation. As a result, in 2013 he and a group of others were able to distribute over 450 wheelchairs to people in need in El Salvador and Honduras. Manley continues to raise money for charities through events including Tough Mudder races. "If I could describe myself in one word it would be driven. I look at the challenges in front of me and put a plan in place so that nothing seems impossible," said Manley. Introduced to NASCAR at age 13, Manley has been a fan ever since and a follower of his favorite driver, Tony Stewart.

Benjamin Parker — Retired Army Staff Sergeant

Benjamin Parker, 28, of Cincinnati, Ohio is a retired Army Staff Sergeant who was deployed to Afghanistan twice as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team Leader. Safely disarming more than 300 IEDs and saving countless lives during his tours of duty, Parker received two bronze stars for his bravery. "I don’t consider what I did heroic. I was just doing my job," said Parker.  "I am deeply honored and humbled to be a finalist." After his second tour, Parker returned home and was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Devastated to have to end his army career, Parker decided to pursue another passion. Against all odds, he received his pilot’s license and now works as an aircraft mechanic. Born in Indianapolis, Parker is an avid NASCAR fan who used to set alarms and call his dad from a satellite phone overseas so they could watch races together. Parker looks forward to returning to the "Your Hero’s Name Here" 400 as a finalist to watch his favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Posted on by Holly Cain

Cain: Reaction to Talladega victory was one to remember

SEE IT AGAIN: Junior’s press conference | Final lap at Talladega

Turns out NASCAR’s perpetual most popular driver, two-time Daytona 500 champ and most recent Sprint Cup Series winner may be more like the rest of us than we ever considered.

Watching and listening to Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrate his win last Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, there were unmistakable elements of humility, relief and joy.

Earnhardt was off-the-charts happy to win for the first time in 11 years at the track that flies his Junior Nation flag higher than anywhere else NASCAR visits. But even before he hoisted the trophy, he spoke of the effect the victory had on his heart and his pride.

And he sounded a lot like any other "kid" so desperately wanting to please everyone else — and in the moment, very much pleased with himself, too.

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He is someone who persevered through occasional doubt and high expectations. And in Earnhardt’s case as the son of a NASCAR legend, he carried the immense weight of a vast fandom on his shoulders, which has now become more blessing than burden.

"I felt like we had a lot of supporters here because of dad’s success, he won so many races here," Earnhardt said. "I think about all the races he won here and at Daytona. I love when we go to Victory Lane because I feel like I add to his legacy there. All I ever want to do is make him proud. I feel like when we win at those tracks where he was successful, that’s exactly what we’re doing.

"I don’t really get to think about him that much. His birthday (April 29) came and went. Today, it made me think about his birthday, how much I miss him, how much he meant to me and so many more people that I can’t even fathom the number of folks that he had a relationship with in this sport, a connection with, all his fans out there really enjoyed seeing him compete here."

Earnhardt has always acknowledged that a large portion of his massive fan base were natural crossovers to him once his legendary father, seven-time champ Dale Earnhardt died from a fatal crash in the 2001 Daytona 500.

So even from his earliest days developing as a Sprint Cup Series driver, he has carried the extra duty of being the son of an icon.

That’s a lot to ask of anyone and at times, Earnhardt candidly conceded, he felt extreme pressure to the point of doubting himself when the results weren’t as good, when the success was harder to come by.

"I think the part I feel I don’t think I deserve is the racing side of it," a contemplative Earnhardt said Sunday. "There’s just not many second chances. I feel like if my name wasn’t Earnhardt that I wouldn’t have had the second chance. I feel like I owe my second chance to my dad, his legacy, because the way I ran from ’09 through those years till 2011 or so, I feel I didn’t deserve to be kept around or hung onto.

"But I’m glad that it worked out. I certainly felt like in the right situation I could have success. But you just don’t know whether you’re going to get that opportunity.

"I watched a lot of sons follow a lot of fathers, regardless of the profession, and just have a real challenge of it. That is the part I feel like I’m fortunate about."

Over the years, these fans have become his, not just his father’s.

In a far different era than his father existed, Earnhardt has proven himself a capable corporate spokesman and dedicated philanthropist away from the race track; a hugely popular celebrity and fan attraction for the sport in general. But he’s never gotten the respect he deserves on the track.

Earnhardt’s victory at Talladega — his sixth — ties him with Jeff Gordon for most among active drivers. And who holds the record for wins (10) here? His dad.

The win also produces a ticket into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship for the fifth consecutive season.

It also gives Earnhardt a well-timed confidence boost and as we’ve learned, confidence is something he has to earn and renew just like most of us despite his fame, pedigree and opportunity.

A Dale Earnhardt Jr. win is good for the sport — television highlights, bigger headlines and huge amounts of Twitter buzz.

But an Earnhardt win — particularly at place like Talladega — is also good because everyone comes away feeling better.

Need to have your faith restored in athletes and sports?

Watch Earnhardt celebrate a win. Listen to what he says. Look at the genuine emotion on his face.

It’s true and heartfelt joy in accomplishment. And we don’t see that often enough.

Winning is never just "part of the job." It’s the best part of the job.

MORE JUNIOR: Race recap | Did Jimmie let him win? | Shop

Posted on by Holly Cain

18-year-old making first premier series start at Kansas on Saturday night

RELATED: Jones to make first Cup start at Kansas

Erik Jones sat on the stage in the Talladega Superspeedway Media Center last Friday morning looking every bit his 18-year age — boyish and wide-eyed — but at the same time, polished and confident.

He smiled and conceded, this wasn’t the way he ever expected to walk into the racing spotlight. But he is not only looking forward to his first true NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start Saturday night at Kansas Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1) filling in for the injured Kyle Busch, Jones has set high expectations.

And he has every reason to.

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A win (at Texas), three poles and five top-fives in nine XFINITY Series starts plus two top-three finishes in three Camping World Truck Series races this season have proven this prodigy is as good as promised. He says all the right things about tempered expectations but truly, he expects a lot out of himself — as do a lot of others.

"For me, it’s really all seat time and experience," Jones said over the weekend. "I think keeping our expectations realistic is a pretty big thing for us. If we can go run top-15, I’d feel like that would be a pretty big win for us. It’s a big step.

"We’ve talked a lot about it. I’ve talked with Adam Stevens (No. 18 crew chief) a lot about it and kind of what the jump is and talked to Kyle (Busch) about it. It’s not going to be an easy step for anybody, but I really believe we can go run top-15 and if we can do that, I think that would be a good day."

Jones is on an accelerated learning curve. Instead of easing into NASCAR’s marquee Cup ranks, he made his debut last month at Bristol — a literal last-minute fill-in for another Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin who suffered neck spasms during the early laps of the race and called for a relief driver during an extended red flag period for rain.

As the story goes, Jones arrived at the track with less than 10 minutes before the race re-started and brought Hamlin’s car home safely in 26th place.

Now Jones has been tabbed to drive Busch’s No. 18 Toyota after the car’s previous substitute David Regan vacated the seat to instead substitute for Brian Vickers at Michael Waltrip Racing.

"It seems like the last three years of my life have been a lot of right place opportunities starting with Kyle (Busch) and the Snowball (Derby) and from there on," Jones said. "It was really a shame to see Kyle get hurt at Daytona — I consider Kyle to be a friend of mine and it’s never fun to see something like that. Definitely not the circumstances I wish I could have done it in, but I’m excited for the opportunity no matter what else happens.

"It’s a cool thing for me to be able to make a Cup start at this point in my career. If you would have asked me two years ago if I would be making a Cup start when I was 18 – no, I really don’t think I would have. It’s an awesome opportunity that I never would have dreamed of to get to do at such a young age and definitely going to take it in stride and see what we can do."

Jones said he was grateful to at least get that first Cup race under his belt. The experience will be helpful on many levels. 

"Anytime you get into a new car in a new series, it’s kind of nerve wracking starting your first race," Jones said. "Its nerve-wracking starting any race, but especially your first one. That did take away some of the I guess unsureness of what’s really different about the Cup Series and I definitely think that knocked some of that stuff out of the way, which is nice.

"I don’t know if it will take away all the pre-race jitters by any means – it will still be nerve wracking starting your first official Cup race any time — but definitely took some things away for me that when I get in the car at Kansas for practice, I’ll feel more comfortable with what I have and what the car’s going to do and know a little bit better some of the differences in the car and what I need to prepare for."

The comparisons between the young Jones and another former 18-year old JGR prodigy, Joey Logano came immediately and have been constant. Fair or not.

"They’re there and I guess I’ve heard them along the way," Jones said of the comparisons. "I try to just kind of separate the situations and it’s just a lot different situation all together. I’m stepping in as a fill-in role and I’m running one race right now at Kansas, which is entirely different from Joey’s (Logano) role of stepping in and trying to fill a full season.

"I feel pretty comfortable with that. I feel like there’s a point where you have to make the jump at some point in your career. Whether it’s now or a year down the road or two years down the road, I’d have to do it. I feel like this is probably the best situation I could be in to make that jump in a part-time situation like it is.

"It’s a great opportunity and it’s a great car – it’s a top-flight car so obviously there are expectations to run well. As long as I can keep my mentality that I’m just here to learn and make laps then I feel like it’s not going to hurt my development in any sort of way."