Hall of Famer White short in stature, tall in talent

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Zack Albert

Oldest living premier series champion gives his thoughts on induction, Abreu

Rex White, still keeping busy at age 85, reigns supreme as NASCAR’s oldest living champion. He might also rank as its shortest.

But White, who stands just a few inches above five feet, never saw his height as any sort of disadvantage, even in the rough-and-tumble days of stock-car racing’s infancy.

"I really wasn’t built or the size for fighting, so I kind of avoided any physical contact with any drivers," White said. "In the race car, though, I was probably about the same height as all of them."

White’s stature will take another step up come Friday night, when he’ll be enshrined as part of the sixth class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He’ll be inducted with three drivers he competed against — Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott and Joe Weatherly — and latter-day star Bill Elliott.

It’s an honor that left the 1960 champion of NASCAR’s premier series at a loss for words.

"It’s just unbelievable because I didn’t really think I was going in that early," White said of his emotions upon hearing the news. "Just unbelievable — I don’t even know the correct word to use for it, but I was really flabbergasted."

White won 28 races in NASCAR’s top division, all but two of which came in a four-year heyday from 1959-62. He never regarded his diminutive size as a hurdle, a point that was underscored just last weekend with a modern-day corollary.

A popular victory by Rico Abreu, who stands 4-foot-4, in the Chili Bowl Nationals sprint car showcase has opened the doors for a driving opportunity in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. White said if Abreu’s talent speaks for itself, all other factors should remain equal.

"If they build the race cars and get him adjusted and sitting in there where he can operate everything," White said, "I would say he’s just as capable of winning races as any other driver."

White’s ascension to the top of the NASCAR ladder came during a time when the sport was expanding its reach, growing beyond the dirt bullrings and entering a major speedway boom. Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway opened in the year White was crowned, and Daytona International Speedway‘s 2.5-mile high banks debuted for business the previous year.

Though he could see the sport transforming, White said he couldn’t have envisioned what NASCAR would look like in 2015.

"No earthly idea that it was going to grow to where it is today and be as popular as it is, and draw the money and pay the purses that they’re paying," said White, who picked up a $13,000 check for winning the 1960 title. "I’m not even sure that Bill France had enough foresight to see that. I don’t know. He may have, but I sure didn’t."

If White happens to cross paths with current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick during the Hall of Fame ceremonies, a link between the two will come full circle. White — who drove a "Gold Thunder" car noted for its pristine gold and white paint scheme — was the last champion to carry the No. 4 before Harvick accomplished the feat last season. White, like Harvick, was particularly loyal to driving for Chevrolet.

The story goes, White needed to change his number from No. 44 once he stopped driving Chevrolet factory cars. Noting that Billy Myers — an early star driver from Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina — was a hero of his, it made White’s choice all the easier.

"Naturally, I grabbed it," White said. "It was a great number. Still is today."

Though White hung up his helmet after a part-time schedule in 1964 and retired from his job at a car dealership in 2003, he said he’s yet to slow down. His active schedule has picked up recently with appearances and interviews ahead of his Hall of Fame induction.

Come Friday night in Charlotte, his stature as one of the sport’s all-time greats will be secured, complete with a personalized blue blazer and the presentation of his NASCAR Hall of Fame ring. White says he’s looking forward to the festivities, even if there might be the potential for stage fright.

"Probably as ready as I’ll ever be," White joked. "I’m sure there’s something that I’ll screw up on, so anyway, I’m going to do the best I can. It’s a great honor, and it’s a pleasure to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame."

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Zack Albert

Gordon wears fatherhood, philanthropy well as driving days wind down

It’s easy to think of Jeff Gordon as stock-car racing superstar, the driver who broke into the sport with a certain Madison Avenue polish in the 1990s. Back then, the knock against him was that he hadn’t paid his dues. After 23 amazing seasons, no one will be able to make that claim when the curtain falls on Gordon’s career.

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But portraying Gordon solely in terms of his driving ability as the face of NASCAR fans’ adulation and as a four-time champion at the sport’s highest level sells the man short. Nowhere is that point more evident than when he taught 7-year-old daughter Ella Sofia one of life’s lessons in a touching Thursday morning heart-to-heart, just hours before he announced the 2015 season would be his last full ride in NASCAR.

"Today is an emotional day," Gordon said Thursday afternoon with a chuckle that emphasized the understatement. "I had to tell my daughter this morning when I was explaining to her that I was going to be telling the team and people this and talking about it, and she saw me get very emotional when I was telling her. And I saw a look that I’d never seen in her eye before where she had never seen me like that, and I had to explain to her. Because most kids see when tears are flowing, it’s sadness, and it wasn’t for me. It was pride."

Gordon was in a reflective mood on what turned out to be a whirlwind offseason day, one that gave the sports world a brief respite from the finer points of football inflation. He talked about how his illustrious NASCAR career elevated him from a short-track upstart to a household name. But there are many more opportunities that racing has afforded him, and their reach extends beyond the racetrack.

On Thursday, Gordon recalled a visit he made during the 1990s to Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and how lost he felt upon meeting a family whose child was undergoing treatment for cancer. From that experience early on in his career, Gordon found the inspiration and purpose for helping the cause, and he was determined that his higher calling would entail more than just breezing in for autographs and photo ops.

Some 15 years after its birth, the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation has raised more than $14 million for pediatric care organizations, has helped to fund cancer research and has opened children’s health centers both locally (Concord, North Carolina) and abroad (Rwanda, Africa). His car owner, Rick Hendrick, has also helped support those good works; he sits on the governing board of directors for Gordon’s foundation.

"It’s given me something also to be very proud of beyond just driving a race car," Gordon said, "but also I know there is so much more that needs to be done for pediatric cancer that I want to be a part of in the future."

While Gordon said he welcomed how his impending career change would free up more time for his philanthropic pursuits, he told the Associated Press in a Thursday interview that he also looked forward to spending more time with his family — wife Ingrid Vandebosch, daughter Ella Sofia and his 4-year-old son, Leo.

The family of four was a frequent visitor to Victory Lane in 2014 as the patriarch enjoyed one of his most rejuvenating seasons to date. And just last spring, his daughter suited up for a test run in a Quarter Midget racer, sparking speculation that the advent of the next generation of drivers named Gordon wasn’t far away.

Regardless of what direction his post-driving career takes, Gordon will remain a global star. Thursday morning’s announcement triggered a flood of memories and heartfelt salutes from his fellow competitors, others within the motorsports industry and his devoted abundance of fans about his place as one of the most decorated drivers in the history of the sport. After the staggering news unfolded, many came forward to call him a champion, an ambassador, an icon.

Earlier Thursday morning, Gordon was called something far more important: Dad.

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Zack Albert

Can veteran make it three straight NCWTS championships in a row?

Team: ThorSport Racing No. 88 Toyota

Rank in final 2014 standings: First

Wins: Two (Martinsville Speedway in March and Texas Motor Speedway in June)

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Strides: Matt Crafton found paydirt early in the season, crossing off a career goal with his first-ever victory in 25 tries at Martinsville Speedway. Four races later, he scored a dominant triumph at Texas Motor Speedway, covering the field in both horsepower and fuel economy for win No. 5 in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career.

Though his 2014 season lacked the stellar start from the previous year, when he opened with top-10s in the first 16 races, Crafton was more frequently found in the top five, where he finished a career-best 13 times. Moreover, his closing kick — eight top-fives in the last 11 races — helped him re-take the points lead in September and hold it down the stretch.

Though he kept mum about his title hopes over the season’s latter stages, Crafton was finally able to let loose after a ninth-place finish in the Homestead-Miami Speedway finale clinched his second straight championship, the first repeat in series history.

"I think I’m the luckiest man on earth without a doubt," Crafton said. "I get paid to do what I love to do. I mean, there’s not a whole lot of people that can say that. Every day I wake up, I feel very blessed."

Setbacks: Though Crafton’s No. 88 ThorSport entry, helmed by crew chief Carl Joiner Jr., was among the most bulletproof trucks in the garage for most of the season, the path to the championship came with some bumps. His Texas victory was bookended by the season’s only two DNFs, a pair of crashes that sidelined him in May at Dover and in June at Gateway. Crafton also placed outside the top-10 in both restrictor-plate races (Daytona, Talladega).

But Crafton seemed just as irked — if not more — at the races that came oh-so-close to landing him in Victory Lane. With five runner-up finishes and four more third-place efforts over the course of the year, some sore feelings lingered about what could have been.

"I made a promise to Junior that — this last winter that we were going to go out and lead more laps and win more races. And like I said, we led a ton more laps and we won two races and definitely had the capability to win more if we didn’t have the bad luck that we had there in the middle part of the season. It’s a damn shame because I feel like we should have at least won five races without a doubt."

Quoteworthy: "There’s been spots and points of brilliance and we’re going to get to the top of this hill, and I knew we would eventually, but there was definitely a lot of times there was a lot of aggravation and stuff that we had to go through to get here, to get the perseverance to get here. That makes it that much sweeter."

What’s next: Why mess with success? Crafton will be back with ThorSport, working again with Joiner atop the pit box and with the familiar day-glo yellow colors of sponsor Menard’s on the No. 88.

The pressure now rests on Crafton’s chances of securing a three-peat in one of NASCAR’s most competitive and balanced series. Only two drivers in NASCAR’s top division have ever accomplished such a streak — Cale Yarborough, who is already in the NASCAR Hall of Fame; and Jimmie Johnson, a first-ballot lock for enshrinement.

"I feel very good about going into 2015 and maybe making it three in a row," Crafton said after hoisting the championship trophy at Homestead. "That would be — there’s no doubt that we can. I’ve said it’s all about these guys that build these trucks up in Sandusky, Ohio, and having the owners that give us all the tools, Duke and Rhonda Thorson."

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Nascar

There were temptations to leave, but Jeff Gordon always knew he’d stay

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There are many remarkable aspects to Jeff Gordon‘s career in NASCAR. That he has competed for the same team owner throughout his stay is only one of them.

Gordon announced Thursday that the 2015 season would be his last. It will be the 23rd year of full-time competition as driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet.

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During that time, he has won four championships and 92 races, totals that very few others have achieved.

Thursday, team owner Rick Hendrick told NASCAR.com that there was only one occasion when he was concerned he might lose the services of his talented driver.

"The only time that I thought that could happen was when (former crew chief) Ray (Evernham) did his (Dodge) deal," Hendrick said. "I talked to Jeff and he said, ‘No, I want to be with you.’ That was the one that I was sweating because they had been together. Between Chrysler and everybody involved, they made it really attractive to him."

No surprise there. From 1995-99, the duo of Gordon and Evernham was nearly unstoppable, winning three NASCAR premier series titles and 47 races. Beating the No. 24 was considered an achievement in itself.

But by the end of that final year, Evernham had already departed, choosing instead to become a team owner and to help usher Dodge back into the sport.

Would the run of success and the potential for a huge financial gain be enough to turn Gordon’s head?

"That’s when we said we’d do the lifetime deal," Hendrick said. "We put it to bed and never had to worry about it again."

In October of ’99, HMS announced it had signed Gordon to a lifetime contract while making him an equity partner in his No. 24 Chevrolet team.

"I can’t say that I was ever serious about it," Gordon said of the opportunity to leave Hendrick. "There were a lot of things going on at that time. I was getting asked to do some Formula One racing, some Indy Car racing.

"Because of the three championships out of four years, I was really, like Ray, being very sought after. I remember (Chip) Ganassi reached out to me, Jerry Jones reached out to me at one point when they were talking about starting a team. … And I didn’t even really speak to them seriously. I said, ‘No, I’m pretty happy with where I’m at.’ "

"But I do remember having some serious conversations with Jacques Villeneuve’s group, the BAR Team, about doing Formula One. The problem was, it wasn’t just to go do Formula One. It was you’ve got to go do Indy Cars, go do a lot of testing, and then maybe, maybe you might have a shot. It was just too many steps backward to move forward. Things were going too well at Hendrick Motorsports.

"I knew where I wanted to be. I knew if I wanted to be successful, Hendrick Motorsports was the place for me."

Eventually, Gordon did find himself in a Formula One car, although the opportunity was a one-day promotional ride swap with Juan Pablo Montoya in 2003 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And just last month, Gordon was given the steering wheel from that particular F1 car as a Christmas gift.

Two years after Evernham’s departure, Gordon won his fourth title, this time with crew chief Robbie Loomis. It was, he said, "one of the most rewarding years I’ve ever had."

With six victories and 24 top-10 finishes, he ended the 2001 season with a whopping 344-point advantage over runner-up Tony Stewart.

"When I talk to Ray — I think he understands it when I tell him this because we’re good friends still — to be able to win that championship with Robby Loomis, without Ray, in 2001 was very rewarding to me," he said. "You go through a time where people go, ‘Oh, well it’s Ray,’ ‘it’s the car,’ it’s this or that and you want to get credit for it. While I got a lot of the credit (before), I got a lot more after winning that championship in 2001."

Gordon has won races with all five crew chiefs that have called the shots for the No. 24 team, from Evernham to Brian Whitesell (who filled in as interim crew chief after Evernham’s departure), Loomis, Steve Letarte and current crew chief Alan Gustafson.

"I think if you’re a good race car driver, you should be able to work with other crew chiefs," Gordon said, "As long as you have good equipment.

"A good crew chief can make a difference in how you get through the race, prepare for the race and the difference between maybe winning and finishing second. But your equipment, that’s what gets you into that position. There are teams out there, it doesn’t matter how good their crew chief or driver is, they’re not going to be any better than 15th."

Forty-five of his wins and one championship came with someone other than Evernham in his corner. But Gordon said had the two worked through their issues of ’99, it’s likely more success would have followed.

"He was getting all the offers and I was making the decision to stay at Hendrick or go with him — I knew it wasn’t going to happen because it was a great opportunity for him … we could have won more races and championships even though we weren’t getting along that great that year," he said. "We were butting heads a little bit."

Gordon’s success with a variety of crew chiefs underscores his talent as well as his ability to adjust to the situation.

"That says that Jeff is adaptable and he’s very unselfish," Hendrick said. "He carried the team a lot. He made the team look better than they were. Then when we got the team as good as he was, he’d shine.

"He’s not a complainer and he’s willing to do whatever he needs to do. That’s the part I guess I admire so much about him. … He’s a team player. It’s hard to find (someone) that has all of the traits that he’s got — his loyalty, his honesty, his integrity … it spoils you."

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Fraser Nye

What he told his team and what’s next for him? Maybe broadcasting

MORE: NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France statement on Gordon | Gordon hub page
RELATED: Drivers react to Gordon’s announcement | Fans share favorite Gordon memories

The end began with a tweet seen ’round the motorsports world and had ramifications well beyond.

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As Jeff Gordon‘s 23rd season at Hendrick Motorsports starts, the four-time NASCAR premier series champion broke the news to the organization that 2015 would be his final full-time Sprint Cup season as a driver.

Letting team know this will be my final year competing for a championship. pic.twitter.com/s7aH8OpGQZ

— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) January 22, 2015

"I went off the cuff and from my heart," Gordon said Friday on "The Morning Drive" on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "I didn’t have anything written down so I don’t know if I can remember all of it, but that was a tough moment.

"When you’re looking at the folks that worked so hard for you for all these years, that you’ve known for so many years, you go into that battle with on the race track every weekend and to tell them that this is going to be your final year was tough, very tough emotionally. I definitely had a lot going through my mind yesterday as I was telling my family and they’re like my extended family over there."

As an equity owner, Gordon plans to stay involved with the team for whom he’s won 92 races when his driving career is over. While he’s looking forward to the next chapter, his talk only inspired his No. 24 team to make Gordon’s drive for five championships a reality in his final season.

"Afterwards, (crew chief) Alan Gustafson and I had a conversation, and we were both really fired up because he was like, ‘man, what you just did just motivated this team to do even more than we were already doing to go have a great year,’ and that made me feel really good."

More than words, though, Gordon’s actions in the shop throughout his career created the strong connection that he and the Hendrick employees felt on Thursday.

"I didn’t have to say anything," Gordon said. "They saw my face and the look in my eyes, how much racing has meant to me and how much Hendrick Motorsports has meant to me and how much those people that I was talking to on my team, how much it’s meant to me."

As he has in recent years, Gordon continues refrain from using the word "retirement." That’s especially true now as he transitions away from being behind the wheel.

"I’ve earned that ability to be able to go to that next stage and enjoy whatever it is that I’m doing, but I’m realistic to know that it is going to be a lot of work," Gordon said. "And that’s why I don’t use the "r" word. I’m not retiring because I’m actually going to start working."

One job that he said he was open to considering was a television analyst.

"I love the sport," Gordon said. "I’m very passionate about it. I love to critique it, and I think that I could do a good job. I don’t think it’s an easy job, to be honest. I have a lot of respect for those like yourself that do it from radio or television.

"I would entertain it. I don’t know if it’s at the top of my list right now, and I think it’s because throughout this year, one of things that I’m going to have to get acclimated to is actually having a real job."

Later in the conversation, Gordon said he would appreciate the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in a new job behind the mic.

"If I go into broadcasting, I’m going to be very thankful of this new points system because of the excitement and entertainment that it brings," Gordon said.

Gordon’s final season begins a new era of television for NASCAR as FOX and NBC will televise NASCAR’s national series for the next 10 years.

Take a look at video of Gordon talking to the team on Thursday.

Posted on January 22, 2015 by

Negri turns fast lap for team that includes Sprint Cup driver AJ Allmendinger

Photo: Courtesy of IMSA

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A brand-new car, a brand-new engine — that’s typically not the prescription for a pole-winning run for a 24-hour race. But Michael Shank Racing defied the odds, as driver Oswaldo Negri Jr. dominated Prototype qualifying on Thursday for the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona with a blistering lap of 1 minute, 39.194 seconds, and 129.201 mph.

This early success for the MSR No. 60 Ligier JS P2 car, powered by a Honda engine, could be bad news for the competition, but there could be even worse news: "We’re still learning the car," Negri said. If they can eliminate a little understeer, he said, he thinks they’ll be even faster.

In second was IndyCar regular Scott Dixon in the No. 02 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Riley DP, powered by a Ford EcoBoost engine, followed by the No. 01 Ganassi team car driven by Scott Pruett. In fourth was the No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP — the defending champion of the race, as well as the 2014 series champion — followed by the innovative No. 0 DeltaWing. The top seven cars were within eight-tenths of a second in lap times.

Despite the pole run, Negri, who also scored a Rolex 24 pole in 2008, was realistic: Qualifying first for a 24-hour race gives you "bragging rights," he said, "but the real deal is being there at the end on Sunday." After all, "We’re all dancing to the same music — we just danced a little bit faster than anyone else." Negri will share the car with co-drivers John Pew, Matt McMurry and NASCAR star AJ Allmendinger.

In Prototype Challenge (PC), a late-session dash put Johnny Mowlem and the No. 16 BAR1 Motorsports entry on the class pole with a lap of 1:42.318 at 125.257 mph. Close behind is the No. 54 CORE autosport car, with the No. 52 PR1/Mathiasen car in third. All PC cars use ORECA FLM09 chassis, with Chevrolet engines. Mowlem said the Continental tires the class uses improve as you drive, "and most of us were at our quickest on the last lap" of the qualifying session. He will split driving duties with Tomy Drissi, Tom Papadopoulos, Brian Alder and Martin Plowman.

In the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class, Oliver Gavin placed the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R solidly on the pole with a lap of 1:43.488 at 123.840 mph, a new class record. Unlike many of the other team cars, the two Corvettes — the other being the No. 3, driven by Jan Magnussen — teamed up and often ran close together to take advantage of the draft, so familiar at Daytona to NASCAR fans. "There was a good bit of teamwork" that went into the fastest lap, Gavin said. He will share the car with Tommy Milner and IndyCar’s Simon Pagenaud.

Second in GTLM was Gianmaria Bruni in the No. 51 Ferrari 458 Italia of AF Corse, followed by Pedro Lamy in the Gulf-sponsored No. 98 Aston Martin Vantage V8.

And in GT Daytona, the largest of the four classes, James Davison saved his best for the session’s last lap, running a 1:47.272 circuit around the 3.56-mile track, at 119.472 mph.

His No. 007 TRG-Aston Martin Racing Vantage V12, which he shares with Christina Nielsen, Brandon Davis and Christoffer Nygaard, will line up ahead of the No. 33 Riley Motorsports Dodge Viper SRT qualified by Jeroen Bleekemolen, and in third, the No. 28 Konrad Motorsport Porsche 911 GT America qualified by Christopher Zoechling.

Aston Martin driver Davison was genuinely surprised at qualifying first — simulation runs had suggested they were slightly off the pace. "I’m blown away at ending up on the pole," Davison added, despite winning his fifth consecutive pole in the class.

Davison summed up race strategy for his team and, for that matter, every team: "It’s all about having nothing going wrong."

With a stout field of 53 entries, and an unsure weather forecast for the weekend, "having nothing go wrong" might be a tall order.

Broadcast coverage of the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona begins at 2 p.m. Saturday on the FOX Network. At 4 p.m., it moves to FOX Sports 2, and at 8 p.m., back to FOX Sports 1. From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., it will be broadcast live in IMSA.com, before returning to FOX Sports 1 Sunday morning at 7 a.m., where coverage will continue for the remainder of the race, concluding at 2:30 p.m. All times are Eastern. For additional information, log onto IMSA.com.

‘Super Sub’ Leads Continental Tire Challenge ST Qualifying

The last time Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge team owner and co-driver Jeff Mosing missed a race, it was a painful occasion: Back spasms kept him out of the cockpit at last year’s event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Still, he and his teammate, Eric Foss, went on to win the season championship.

For the first race of the 2015 season, Mosing is again among the missing, but this time, it’s a happier occasion: Fill-in driver Justin Piscitell said Mosing’s wife is pregnant, and due to give birth right about the time the green flag drops on Friday’s BMW Performance 200.

But there is a reason why Piscitell, of Patterson, New York, is earning a reputation as being a "super sub" in the sports car series: He put the Murillo Racing Porsche Cayman on the pole for the 31-car Street Tuner class during qualifying Thursday.

"The car felt great," he said. His qualifying lap, he said, benefitted from the draft off of cars in front of him. His lap of 2 minutes, 5.454 seconds (102.157 mph) was just ahead of the second-place BimmerWorld Racing BMW 328i of Jason Briedis and James Clay, with a 2:05.462 (102.150 mph) lap. In third was another Porsche Cayman, the No. 18 RSI entry driven by Jon Miller and Adam Isman with a lap of 2:05.482 at 102.134 mph.

In the faster Grand Sport (GS) class, Ford Mustang specialist Scott Maxwell put the Multimatic Ford Mustang Boss 302R on the pole, his ninth, with a fast lap of 1:56.520 (109.990 mph) around the 3.56-mile road course. Maxwell said he didn’t need the draft to set fast time — "I went out by myself," he said, because in the end, relying on the draft can help you – or hurt you.

Second was the Rum Bum Porsche 911 of Matt Plumb and his brother Hugh, with a lap of 1:56.779 at 109.746 mph. Third was the Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R of Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell, which was the fastest car in the second practice session Wednesday. They came up a little short with a lap of 1:56.941 (109.594 mph). Twenty-two cars in the GS class took time.

The season-opening, 150-minute BMW Performance 200 starts at 1:45 p.m. on Friday.

Posted on January 22, 2015 by

Company becomes ‘Official Power Tools of NASCAR, IMSA’

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR and Ingersoll Rand, a global leader in reliable and innovative power tools, today announced a multi-year partnership designating Ingersoll Rand as the "Official Power Tools of NASCAR." An innovator in tool technology, Ingersoll Rand products have been a staple in NASCAR garages for more than 50 years.

The multi-faceted agreement also designates Ingersoll Rand as an Official Partner of the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and as a contingency sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Touring & Weekly Series.

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"Ingersoll Rand has been rooted in racing for decades and this renewed relationship celebrates the tireless work of pit crew mechanics and passionate race fans across all levels of racing," said John Evans, president of power tools at Ingersoll Rand. "We know how important tool performance is in racing — if your tools perform, your vehicle performs. We are now putting high-performance Ingersoll Rand tools into the hands of the best auto technicians in the world while engaging fans who have a passion for cars."

NASCAR technicians are recognized as being among the most qualified in the automotive industry, and they demand high performance tools. According to a recent study commissioned by NASCAR and conducted by Research Now, more than half (52 percent) of automotive professionals (i.e. technicians, service managers, etc.) are NASCAR fans. The same study also revealed that more than half (52 percent) of automotive professionals associate NASCAR products with high performance.

As part of this integrated partnership, Ingersoll Rand will be at the track each weekend providing expert tool support, service, new tool demonstrations for pit crews and will offer fans the opportunity to try tools first hand. Additionally, Ingersoll Rand will launch its Home Tracks Text-to-Win contest for fans at tracks throughout the season. Fans will have opportunities to win an Ingersoll Rand prize pack and meet-and-greets with pit crews and other high-profile racing and automotive personalities.

"Ingersoll Rand, a global brand that has a rich history in NASCAR, understands how to utilize our sport to effectively connect with the racing community," said Jim O’Connell, chief sales officer, NASCAR. "The new partnership reinforces their desire to engage fans across all levels of our sport and we are proud to welcome them to our family of Official NASCAR Partners."

The NASCAR contingency programs foster strong relationships between competitors and the high-quality, performance-driven brands in the program, by providing prize money for each race and at the end of each racing season. Competitors become eligible for the money by displaying partner decals on their race vehicles. As a sponsor of the contingency program, Ingersoll Rand will celebrate and reward the work of pit crew mechanics each week during the NASCAR Sprint Cup season and at select Home Tracks throughout the year with prize money and tools.

Posted on January 22, 2015November 28, 2017 by Staff Report

Get the latest news on the four-time champion

Gordon announces that 2015 will be final full-time season

Jeff Gordon announces on Jan. 22 that 2015 will be his final full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series. The four-time champion has driven his entire premier series career with Hendrick Motorsports. | Read more | Gordon, Hendrick reflect on decision

See the top 24 moments in Gordon’s career

With one more full-time season, Jeff Gordon has a chance to add to his impressive racing resume. We examine the top 24 moments in the career of the driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet to this point. | View Gordon’s top moments

Bruce: If this is it, Gordon is going out on top

With 92 wins, four championships and plenty of other accomplishments in NASCAR, Jeff Gordon is a shoo-in to be a first ballot NASCAR Hall of Famer, writes Kenny Bruce. | Read more

Drivers react to Gordon’s announcement

From his Hendrick teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson to Clint Bowyer to many more, drivers and others share reactions to Jeff Gordon‘s news. | Read more | Hamlin shows off Gordon Fan Club membership card

Fans share favorite memories

NASCAR fans from all over are sharing their favorite Jeff Gordon memories with the hashtag #JGFinalLap. | Read more

Statement from Brian France

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France calls Jeff Gordon someone who "transcends NASCAR and will be celebrated as one of the greatest drivers to ever race." | Read the full statement

Striving for five

Fresh off a four-win season that saw him nearly make the Championship 4, Jeff Gordon is geared up to go after his fifth title. | Read Gordon’s season preview | Recap his 2014 season

Loyal to Hendrick

Jeff Gordon had opportunities to jump ship from Hendrick Motorsports, including one with Formula One, but Kenny Bruce finds out why Gordon stayed true to HMS through his entire career. | Read more

A Man in Full

When Jeff Gordon had to tell daughter Ella Sofia about his decision, he wasn’t expecting the look on her face. Read what happened next as Gordon reacted as a father would. | Read more

Best paint schemes

Take a trip down Memory Lane and see some of the best paint schemes in Jeff Gordon‘s illustrious career. Find out if your favorite is among our picks for the best. | Read more | See Gordon’s 3M paint scheme for 2015

Inside the big reveal

Jeff Gordon discusses what it was like to tell his co-workers at Hendrick Motorsports about his decision to make 2015 his final full-time season, and hints at his future plans. | Read more

Gordon to join FOX Sports as NASCAR analyst

After the dust from his final season announcement settled, Gordon also let the public know that we’ll be seeing his face, along with Brad Keselowski‘s and Kevin Harvick‘s in the FOX Sports broadcast booth in 2015. | Read more | Gordon reveals TV plan to ‘Friends’

Bowyer on Gordon: ‘It’s kind of like a divorce’

Clint Bowyer offers his take on Jeff Gordon‘s final full-time season and how their relationship has changed since their run-in at Phoenix in 2012. | Read more

Gordon news catches Stewart off-guard

Three-time champion Tony Stewart said he was sad by the news that Jeff Gordon‘s final season competing for a championship will be 2015. His long-time rival share his thoughts on the news. | Read more | Gordon open to Eldora offer

Letarte, Burton weigh in on Gordon

NBC Sports’ NASCAR analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte weigh-in on the Jeff Gordon news. Letarte was Gordon’s crew chief for several seasons at hendrick Motorsports. | See what they said

Elliott to drive No. 24 car in 2016

Defending XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott will be stepping up to the Sprint Cup Series on a full-time basis in 2016, driving the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, made famous by Jeff Gordon. | Read more | Learn how the torch was passed | Elliott not looking to ‘fill somebody’s shoes’

Gordon: Elliott is the ‘total package’

Jeff Gordon has high praise for the driver that will take over the No. 24 car in 2016, Chase Elliott. See what the rest of the Hendrick Motorsports stable of drivers had to say about the addition. | Read more | Gordon says No. 24 team in good hands with Elliott | Bruce: Hendrick shows no hesitation | Next episode of 24

What should Gordon do in 2016?

With Jeff Gordon set to end his full-time racing career in 2015, what should the four-time champion do for a next chapter. We examine 10 possibilities based on his hobbies. | Read more

Knaus: I wanted to be Gordon’s crew chief

Chad Knaus has had plenty of success as Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief and he first tasted success as one of Jeff Gordon’s "Rainbow Warriors’ pit crew. But there was one position, Knaus always wanted to fulfill. | Read more

Gordon hints at return of famous paint scheme

In his final full-time season, might we see the return of the famous rainbow paint scheme that Jeff Gordon ran years ago? The four-time champion ofeers some hope on that front on Twitter. | Read more

Gustafson: Gordon’ deserves to go out on top’

Jeff Gordon’s current crew chief Alan Gustafson will love nothing more than to see his driver go out on top in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. | Read more

Johnson sings Gordon’s praises like no other

Jimmie Johnson shares a story of how Jeff Gordon has impacted his career in NASCAR. The six-time champion credits his teammate with being instrumental in his early days. | Read more

Gordon looks to make most of final full-time season

Jeff Gordon discusses his final full-time season during the media day at Daytona International Speedway. | Watch | Drivers look back on Gordon’s impact

Gordon wins Daytona 500 pole

Jeff Gordon opened his final full-time season in a big way with the Coors Light Pole Award for the Daytona 500. | Read more

Gordon reflects on final Daytona 500

Jeff Gordon looked strong early and led the most laps in the race, but a late wreck left him with a finish that was not indicative of his performance. The four-time series champion weighed in on his final Daytona 500. | Read more | Gordon’s Daytona 500 timeline

Early deficit for Gordon after Atlanta wreck

For the second straight race, a wreck ended Jeff Gordon’s day early. Find out what he had to say after a 41st-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. | Read more | Gordon hits another wall without SAFER barrier

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Staff Report

Driver will be behind the wheel of the No. 02 Chevrolet

Young’s Motorsports announced that Tyler Young will return for his second full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2015.

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The 24-year-old driver will pilot the family-owned team’s No. 02 Chevrolet, aiming to build off a 13th-place finish in the 2014 standings in his rookie year. Young will once again work with veteran crew chief Bryan Berry on the team owned by his father, Randy Young.

"I learned a lot in my rookie season," said the younger Young. "More than half of the tracks we raced at, I was seeing for the first time when I got there. This year, I’m looking forward to getting back to those tracks, building on what we learned last year, and contending for that first top-10 finish."

Young said the team will use engines from Pro Motor Engines and will have an over-the-wall crew from Stewart-Haas Racing‘s developmental pit crew team next season.

Young has 33 career starts in the Camping World Truck Series. His career-best finish of 11th place came at Chicagoland Speedway last September.

The Camping World Truck Series is scheduled to begin Feb. 20 with the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1) at Daytona International Speedway.

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Staff Report

Unparalleled tool technology innovator joins family of official NASCAR partners

RELATED: NASCAR Official Release

From the high-pressure stakes in the garage to split-second decisions on pit road, NASCAR teams are driven by the most skilled pit crew members and technicians in the motorsports industry. Today, the unveiling of a new partnership will welcome a staple in the garage for more than 50 years to the family of Official NASCAR Partners.

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NASCAR and Ingersoll Rand, a global leader in reliable and innovative power tools, announced a multi-year partnership designating Ingersoll Rand as the "Official Power Tools of NASCAR." The agreement also designates Ingersoll Rand as an Official Partner of the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and as a contingency sponsor in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Touring & Weekly Series.

Ingersoll Rand’s power tools revolutionized NASCAR pit stop tire changes at their introduction to the sport in 1959, and the company quickly became a familiar sight in the garage selling and servicing the tools for peak performance.

"We know how important tool performance is in racing – if your tools perform, your vehicle performs. We are now putting high -performance Ingersoll Rand tools into the hands of the best auto technicians in the world while engaging fans who have a passion for cars."

In 1995, Ingersoll Rand was made famous in the garage when Jeff Gordon and then crew chief Ray Evernham’s "Rainbow Warriors" pit crew had a series of unmatched victories, rooted in spectacular pit road performances.

Evernham helped Ingersoll Rand in 1998 introduce the latest generation of pit stop tire changing tools, the Thunder Gun, to teams seeking more power, speed and durability under pressure, which is still used today and offers the highest performance.

As part of Ingersoll Rand’s official partnership with NASCAR, the company will be at the track each weekend providing expert tool support, service, new tool demonstrations for pit crews and will offer fans the opportunity to try tools first hand. Additionally, Ingersoll Rand will launch its Home Tracks Text-to-Win contest for fans at tracks throughout the season. Fans will have opportunities to win Ingersoll Rand prize packs and meet-and-greets with pit crews and other high-profile racing personalities.