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Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick will also take turns in the broadcast booth

Days after announcing 2015 would be his final full-time season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Jeff Gordon has a new job.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

Gordon along with fellow champions Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski will be analysts on NASCAR XFINITY Series broadcasts as the network broadcasts the first 14 races of the season, 12 on FOX Sports 1 and two on FOX. They will be joined in the booth by play-by-play host Adam Alexander, analyst Michael Waltrip and reporter Vince Welch.

Alexander, along with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series play-by-play announcer Mike Joy and Brian Till will fill in for Steve Byrnes on NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races until Byrnes returns from his medical leave of absence to join analysts Waltrip and Phil Parsons and reporters Hermie Sadler and Kaitlyn Vincie. FOX Sports 1 will televise 22 of the 23 races with the Talladega event on FOX.

Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds begin their 15th season in the Sprint Cup Series booth as FOX NASCAR kicks off its first year of a new 10-year rights agreement. Sprint Cup pit road will be patrolled by returning reporter Matt Yocum as well as newcomers Jamie Little and Chris Neville with the three also working on XFINITY events. FOX expands its schedule from 13 to 16 races with 10 on FOX and six on FOX Sports 1. Chris Myers and the Waltrip brothers return to the Hollywood Hotel for the pre-race show.

"NASCAR Raceday" will be back at the track before every Sprint Cup Series race with Danielle Trotta hosting during the first half of the season with McReynolds and Kenny Wallace while John Roberts will be back for the second half of the season. Vincie, and FOX Sports 1 newcomers Alan Cavanna and Andrew Doud will report alongside FOX NASCAR’s pit reporters.

Trotta will host "NASCAR Raceday – XFINITY" before every XFINITY Series race with McReynolds and Wallace offering analysis and Little, Neville, Welch and Yocum reporting. Roberts will host the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series pre-race show, "The Setup," with two-time champion Todd Bodine.

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Get full lineup of NASCAR programming for the week

All times ET

Monday, January 26
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
8 p.m., NASCAR 2015: A New Era (re-air), FOX Sports 2
9 p.m., 2014 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (re-air), FOX Sports 2
10 p.m., 100,000 Cameras: NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (re-air), FOX Sports 2
10:30 p.m., 2014 Daytona 500 (re-air), FOX Sports 2

Tuesday, January 27
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2

Wednesday, January 28
3:30 p.m., NASCAR America: 2014 Chase Spectacular (re-air), NBC Sports Network
4 p.m., NASCAR America: NASCAR "In the News" 2014 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 2
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2

Thursday, January 29
3 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2

Friday, January 30
4 p.m., NASCAR America: Countdown 2014 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
7 p.m., NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction, NBC Sports Network
10 p.m., NASCAR Gridiron Challenge, NBC Sports Network
11 p.m., NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction (re-air), NBC Sports Network

Saturday, January 31
1 a.m., NASCAR Gridiron Challenge (re-air), NBC Sports Network

Sunday, February 1
2 a.m., NASCAR Gridiron Challenge (re-air), NBC Sports Network

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Get all the latest news from NASCAR.com

Nearly 250 journalists have gathered to take part in the 33rd annual Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour presented by Technocom from Jan. 26-29. You’re invited to watch team presentations live on NASCAR.com.

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France’s state of the sport sets the tone. In addition, key executives will provide updates on the 2015 racing season, Daytona International Speedway‘s Daytona Rising initiative and the 2015 NASCAR Drive for Diversity class will be introduced.

Get the full schedule below and stay tuned to NASCAR.com for stories, video and more.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

Monday, Jan. 26

1:30 p.m. ET: State of the Sport with NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France
NEWS:
—France talks Chase, Gordon in State of Sport address
—France: No changes to Chase format for 2015
—NASCAR to police flared skirts in 2015
—Rolex 24 provides trial for new pit technology
—Drive for Diversity Class of 2015 revealed | Official NASCAR release
—Best quotes from Day 1 of Charlotte Media Tour

4 p.m. ET: Joe Gibbs Racing
NEWS:
—Hamlin revisits feud with Keselowski
—JGR enters four-car fray with optimism
—Edwards eager to keep latest trend going
—Ky. Busch comments on brother Kurt’s situation

Tuesday, Jan. 27

9 a.m. ET: Michael Waltrip Racing
NEWS:
—Moffitt to sub for Vickers at Atlanta
—Vickers back from health scare ‘to win a championship’
—Bowyer on Gordon: ‘It’s kind of like a divorce’
—MWR reacts to Ky. Busch’s ‘idiots’ statement

11 a.m. ET: JTG Daugherty Racing and HScott Motorsports
NEWS:
—Annett joins HScott Motorsports
—Best quotes from Day 2

1 p.m. ET: Stewart-Haas Racing
NEWS:
—For reigning champion Harvick, pressure is off
—After two tough years, Stewart ready to win again
—Gordon news catches Stewart off-guard
—Danica doubts she’ll ever do the double
—Busch faces press at Charlotte Media Tour

3:15 p.m. ET: NBC Sports
NEWS:
—NBC Sports ‘thrilled’ to be part of NASCAR coverage
—Burton, Letarte weigh in on Gordon’s final season
—Toyota’s NASCAR stars team up with NFL legends

Wednesday, Jan. 28

9 a.m. ET: Roush Fenway Racing
NEWS:
—Staying put, Biffle aims to lead Roush reversal
—Stenhouse has own version of ‘beast mode’
—New team ready to roll for Roush Fenway
—Bubba Wallace takes hobby to new heights

11 a.m. ET: Richard Petty Motorsports
NEWS:
—Hornish looks to build at growing RPM
—RPM lands sponsor for No. 9 at Daytona
—Almirola predicts 2015 to be a breakout season for RPM
—Air Force returns to sponsor No. 43

1:30 p.m. ET: Wood Brothers Racing and Leavine Family Racing
NEWS:
—Wood Brothers expands to 18 races
—Leavine team extends with Thrivent
—McDowell, Leavine on the rise

3:15 p.m. ET: Team Penske
NEWS:
—Best quotes from media tour
—Keselowski unapologetic for aggressive style
—Logano already on second wedding ring
—Logano stands by pit crew after Homestead miscue

Thursday, Jan. 29

9 a.m. ET: Furniture Row Racing
NEWS:
—Furniture Row adds associate sponsor
—Pearn prepared to be Truex Jr’s crew chief
—Truex: ‘Wild ride’ with Pollex nears normalcy

10:30 a.m. ET: Richard Childress Racing
NEWS:
—WIX re-ups with RCR, Grainger joins up with Newman
—Newman eager to build off late season gains
—Dillon looks to apply rookie season lessons
—With brother Ty married, will Austin be next?

1 p.m. ET: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
NEWS:
—Sabates guarantees Chase for CGR fleet
—McMurray, Larson talk Rolex 24
—Best quotes from media tour

3 p.m. ET: Hendrick Motorsports
NEWS:
—Elliott to drive No. 24 car in 2016
—Gordon: ‘Elliott is the ‘total package’
—Bruce: Hendrick shows no hesitation
—Junior, Kahne discuss crew chief changes
—Gordon, Hendrick reflect on decision
—Gordon open to Stewart’s Eldora offer
—Gordon says No. 24 team in good hands

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Long-time sportscaster Eli Gold also joins 2015 lineup

Joining Motor Racing Network’s (MRN) 2015 broadcast lineup is NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace and Miss Sprint Cup Kim Coon.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

Wallace, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2013, will be present during select race broadcasts and on weekly network shows offering a driver’s perspective to audiences. Wallace will also provide commentary and content for MRN.com.

MRN sent out a tweet on Saturday welcoming the 1989 Cup Series champion and Coon to the network.

Coon, who spent four seasons (2011-2014) as Miss Sprint Cup, will report from pit road during the network’s Sprint Cup Series qualifying shows, as well as interact with fans on social media and during MRN’s televised race coverage.

The Florida native posted the announcement on Miss Sprint Cup‘s Facebook page on Saturday.

Post by Miss Sprint Cup.

Accompanying Wallace and Coon is Eli Gold, one of motorsports’ most recognizable broadcasters after more than three decades on the air. Gold will host MRN’s pre-race and post-race coverage of the Sprint Cup Series while providing in-race updates. Coon will also join Gold on the pre-race show.

MRN’s 2015 broadcast schedule will begin Friday, Jan. 30, with exclusive radio coverage of the sixth annual NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony from Charlotte. The broadcast will air at 7 p.m. ET with live streaming on MRN.com.

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Watch the Rolex 24 on FS1 until 10 p.m. ET Saturday night

DAYTONA BEACH — As darkness falls four hours into the Rolex 24 At Daytona sports car endurance race, the field is maintaining a pace you would associate more with the last lap than the first 125.

Undoubtedly, "endurance" will be the ultimate key to winning the Rolex 24, as both mechanical failures and crash damage has already been a factor in reducing the 53-car field by a half-dozen entries.

"At the start of the race, you would think the best talent would be in the cars," said Scott Pruett, co-driver of the No. 01 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Ford EcoBoost-powered Riley Daytona Prototype. "Even though, there were some crazy antics out there."

"I am always surprised at how hard people are fighting so early on," said Jeroen Bleekemolen, after his first stint in the No. 33 GT Daytona (GTD) Dodge Viper SRT, which led its class.

To no one’s surprise, though, leading the most laps so far is the No. 02 Ganassi Ford EcoBoost-powered Riley DP, an entry shared by IndyCar regulars Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan, and NASCAR stars Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson.

That car seemed to be the team’s hare, with the No. 01 sister car, driven by Pruett, Joey Hand, Charlie Kimball and Sage Karam maintaining a slightly more conservative pace, as the No. 01 car is running for season-long points in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, and the No. 02 isn’t. That said, Karam took the lead for the No. 01 on his stint and logged the fastest lap of the race so far – 1 minute, 40.107 seconds, less than a second off qualifying pace.

Dixon, who qualified second, took the No. 02 car past polesitter Ozz Negri on the first lap, though Negri and the rest of the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Honda-powered Ligier JS P2 is staying close.

Also strong, as expected, is the defending race and season champion the No. 5 Action Express Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP, and the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP.

Leading overall at the four-hour mark, with the standings skewed a bit by recent pit stops, was Jordan Taylor in the Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP, followed by McMurray and Karam in the Ganassi cars. Eight cars, all Prototypes, remain on the lead lap, separated by less than 60 seconds.

In the Prototype Challenge (PC) class, the No. 54 CORE autosport car led after four hours. In GT Le Mans (GTLM), the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R was ahead, and in GTD, it was the No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia. While there has been a fair amount of car-to-car contact and three full-course caution periods, there have been no serious incidents.

One of the biggest developments is that the innovative, lightweight DeltaWing Prototype, after running solidly in the top 10, pulled off the track on lap 43 with transmission issues serious enough to end its race. Other Prototypes suffering early problems were the No. 31 Whelen Chevrolet Corvette DP fielded by defending champion Action Express, as well as the No. 2 Tequila Patron Honda-powered HPD ARX-04b.

The Whelen Corvette got back on track, but multiple laps behind. Also plagued with early problems were the No. 97 BMW from defending TUDOR Championship GTD champions Turner Motorsport, and the No. 98 Aston Martin, which was a front runner early on in GTLM.

The two Mazda Prototypes are showing considerably more speed than last year, and the No. 07, driven by Tom Long, actually led briefly, becoming the first diesel-powered car and the first Mazda to lead overall in Rolex 24 history. But minutes later Long pulled the car to the pits with a drivetrain issue, and while it has returned to competition, it is seven laps down.

Broadcast coverage of the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona continues on FOX Sports 2 until 8 p.m. ET before moving to FOX Sports 1 from 8 to 10 p.m. From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., it will be broadcast live on IMSA.com, before returning to FOX Sports 1 Sunday morning at 7 a.m. FOX Sports 1 coverage will continue for the remainder of the race, concluding at 2:30 p.m.

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Notebook: Porsche wins Continental Tire race; Rolex re-ups

Photo courtesy of IMSA

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Once again, the Honda-powered Ligier JS P2 of Michael Shank Racing was at the top of the time sheets after Friday morning practice for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Having already won the pole, the No. 60 car was again fastest with NASCAR regular AJ Allmendinger behind the wheel, clocking a lap of 1 minute, 40.877 seconds, just ahead of IndyCar star Scott Dixon in the No. 02 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Ford Ecoboost-powered Riley, 0.327 seconds back.

In the Prototype Challenge class, Jack Hawksworth led the field in his No. 11 Chevrolet-powered ORECA. In GT Le Mans, Giancarlo Fisichella was quickest in the No. 62 Ferrari F458 Italia. And in GT Daytona, Kuba Giermaziak was led the class in his No. 81 Porsche 911 GT America.

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.

PORSCHE SWEEPS CLASSES IN CONTINENTAL TIRE
Porsche won both classes in the BMW Performance 200, the kickoff for the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge at Daytona International Speedway.

It was, as usual, an action-packed event, to be expected when you put 51 cars, for two and a half hours, on a legendary 3.56-mile track with a bunch of drivers who can’t wait to get the sports car racing season started. And when you add in slightly damp conditions late in the race, it just gets that much more exciting.

Taking the Grand Sport (GS) class and the overall win were brothers Matt and Hugh Plumb in the No. 13 Rum Bum Racing Porsche 911, followed by Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell in the No. 6 Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R. Stevenson teammates Lawson Aschenbach and Matt Bell were third in their No. 9 Camaro Z/28.R.

In the Street Tuner (ST) class, Spencer Pumpelly and Luis Rodriguez, Jr. took the victory in their No. 17 Rennsport One Porsche Cayman. In second was Eric Foss and polesitter Justin Piscitell in the No. 56 Murillo Racing Porsche Cayman, followed by David Murry and Ted Giovanis in the No. 64 Team TGM BMW 328i.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was the pre-race withdrawal of the defending race winner, the No. 48 Fall-Line BMW M3, after co-driver Corey Lewis crashed during the morning warm-up.

GS winner Matt Plumb said that it was "business as usual for our guys," noting that the Joe Varde-led Rum Bum team is among the best prepared in the paddock. "They are winners, and they deserve to win."

In ST, the race turned out to be a fuel-mileage challenge for several of the top teams, as Adam Isman’s Porsche Cayman, a sister car to the race-winning RS1 Porsche, apparently ran out of gas while contending for the lead.

Aside from fuel conservation, ST winner Pumpelly said that a key to victory in his class was hooking up with at least one other car in the draft — "It was good for 10 to 12 miles per hour," he said.

The next stop for the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series is Sebring International Raceway on March 20, a companion event for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida.

HALL OF FAME
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which is in the process of moving from its home in Novi, Michigan to Daytona International Speedway, announced its 27th class of inductees.

The announcement was made at Daytona International Speedway as part of the Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend. The honorees: Open wheel racers Lloyd Ruby and Duke Nalon; sports car racer Tommy Kendall; NASCAR star Mark Martin; motocross racer Ricky Carmichael; NHRA Pro Stock drag racer Warren Johnson, and off-road legend Walker Evans.

Carmichael, along with Kendall, was present for the announcement. "As a kid growing up racing dirt bikes, I never would have thought something like this was possible for me. To be in the company of some of the greatest names in motorsports is surreal."

ROLEX RE-UPS WITH SPEEDWAY
Daytona International Speedway and Rolex announced that they were extending the premium watch brand’s sponsorship of the Rolex 24 At Daytona sports car race, and its role as official timepiece of DIS.

The expanded partnership also includes naming rights for the new front stretch lounge and suite level associated with the ongoing DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project, as well as enhanced branding opportunities through the Speedway.

Rolex has been connected to Daytona history since 1963, when it began dedicating its Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona to winning drivers. It has sponsored the Rolex 24 for 23 years.

MANUFACTURERS IN GOOD COMPANY
The old adage from NASCAR racing — "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" — suggests one of the marketing philosophies that has kept auto manufacturers involved in motorsports for more than a century.

In no form of motorsports are manufacturers more involved than in sports car racing. And this weekend, the number of manufacturers represented in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, and/or in the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship, numbers an astounding 13.

In alphabetical order, the following manufacturers have cars on the track in one or both series: Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Porsche and Subaru.

"The Daytona race is a sports car classic with fans all over the world," said Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, head of Porsche Motorsport. "Porsche has celebrated some of its greatest victories at this famous race. To continue this streak of unforgettable successes is truly motivating for our drivers and teams."

Posted on by Holly Cain

Will last season’s runner-up find Victory Lane in 2015?

RELATED: Full schedule of driver previews

Team: Richard Childress Racing No. 31 Chevrolet

Rank in final 2014 standings: Second

Wins: 0

Year in photos: Recap Newman’s 2014 season

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

Strides: Ryan Newman didn’t win a race for the first time in five years but his runner-up finish in the Sprint Cup Series championship was a career highlight. In fact, Newman had fewer top-fives [five] and top-10s [16] than the previous season yet his consistency and perseverance landed him a shot at the big trophy. He had six top-10s in the 10 Chase races, counting an 18th-place result as his worst finish in that span.

A dramatic runner-up finish to Kevin Harvick in the Homestead season finale meant he fell a mere 1-point shy from claiming his first Sprint Cup championship.

Setbacks: Newman was NASCAR’s poster child for the power of consistency in a season when wins were everything. Still, Newman realizes the necessity for a trip to Victory Lane. His runner-up finish at Homestead was as close as he came to winning in his first year with RCR and the team will need to raise the bar in 2015. Considering what they accomplished without hoisting any hardware, a victory could be the championship difference for the 13-year veteran.

Quoteworthy: "It’s like caramel corn, I guess. It’s a little bit salty and a little bit sweet," — Newman said of championship runner-up effort in 2014.

What’s Next: Arguably, Newman went about his championship bid the hard way – relying on consistency and good points days instead of advancing via victory. A numbers guy and with an engineering degree from Purdue University, Newman was able to earn his shot at a title the old-fashioned way — math.

But let’s not forget Newman knows how to win and is a former Daytona 500 (2008) and Brickyard 400 (2013) winner; however his lowly 41 laps led in 2014 could be improved upon and the security of an notching an early-season win would go a long way toward easing another championship run.

"We all want to win and winning means a lot in a number of facets. … but in the end, the math was there [for us]," Newman said after the season.

"I’m happy with what we achieved. I’m disappointed by how close we were but if we were one point, two points or 20 points it wouldn’t have mattered. You want to finish first. But we have the ability and the opportunity to try again next year."

Certainly good chemistry between Newman and crew chief Luke Lambert contributed to the immediate success in his first year with the team and that bodes well for the future too.

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Brief Yet Prolific Career Lands ‘Clown Prince of Racing’ In Hall

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 23, 2015) — Joe Weatherly’s time in NASCAR’s premier series was short, just two full-time seasons.

But what an impact the Norfolk, Virginia, native had on NASCAR racing in those brief, 24 months.

Weatherly, previously a winner of American Motorcyclist Association and NASCAR modified titles, claimed back-to-back premier series championships in 1962-63. He posted 25 victories in 229 starts before his untimely death in January 1964 at Riverside (California) International Raceway.

"He would have been as good as any that’s been along," said one of Weatherly’s early car owners, the late, fellow Virginian Junie Donlavey. "He had quick reflexes and good equipment. He was just a natural born driver.

"He would have been right there with all the greats. He was that good."

Weatherly also was one of the sport’s characters, a one-of-a-kind practical joker whose antics off the racing surface endeared him to fans and fellow competitors and earned him the nickname "Clown Prince of Racing." A friendship quickly blossomed with NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Curtis Turner, another larger-than-life figure. The 5 feet 4 inch Weatherly and the lanky Turner made the perfect Mutt and Jeff pair.

They raced hard and — according to legend — partied just as wide open. Both were reputed to have been black-listed by rental car companies for racing and wrecking numerous cars.

"They were fearless on the track but also fearless as far as their habits and lifestyles," said NASCAR Productions archivist Ken Martin in a Nov. 27, 2014 National Speed Sport News feature written by Ben White. "No one loved to throw a party more than Curtis. Joe was more the comedian and Curtis loved a good laugh."

Earl Swift, writing in Norfolk’s Virginian-Pilot in 2007, remembered Weatherly as "a rough-and-tumble Southern rogue. Weatherly was the archetype of the early NASCAR hero, an inveterate practical joker and hell raiser."

No surprise, Weatherly was voted the premier series’ Most Popular Driver in 1961.

Joseph Herbert "Joe" Weatherly was born May 29, 1922. He served in World War II — as did his later car owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bud Moore — with the 809th Aviation Battalion Engineers of the U.S. Army Air Corps. Discharged in November 1945, Weatherly raced motorcycles from 1946 through 1950 winning a pair of AMA championships as well as the 1948 Laconia (New Hampshire) Classic that resulted in his posthumous induction into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 1998.

"Little Joe," as he’d became known, switched to stock cars telling a reporter for Consumer Guide, "I like having something between my head and the ground when I crash."

Weatherly proved to be a fast learner on four wheels. Between 1952 and 1953, he won 101 NASCAR Modified races as well as the division’s championships in 1953. Weatherly’s first premier division start came in Darlington Raceway’s 1952 Southern 500. He finished 16th driving Donlavey’s Hudson.

Weatherly’s initial premier series victory came on Aug. 10, 1958 in the inaugural race at Nashville Speedway. He drove a Holman-Moody prepared Ford convertible in the "Sweepstakes" event that was open to both hard and soft top cars. Weatherly was no stranger to the open top cars winning 12 times in NASCAR’s short-lived convertible division.

After winning the opening race of the 1961 season in Dr. Bradford "Doc" White’s Ford, Weatherly gave his competitors a taste of NASCAR’s future. Racing in just 25 of the schedule’s 52 events — most of them in Moore’s No. 8 Pontiac — Weatherly posted nine victories, good for a fourth-place championship finish behind champion Ned Jarrett, a NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2011 inductee.

The duo stepped up for a full campaign in 1962. Weatherly again won nine times including his Daytona 500 qualifying race which, at the time, carried NASCAR premier series points. With 45 top-10 finishes in 52 starts, the 40-year-old Weatherly beat NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty by more than 2,000 points to become Virginia’s only premier series champion. Moore also captured his sole owner’s title.

Moore reduced the team’s schedule in 1963 forcing Weatherly to beg and borrow cars from fellow competitors — frequently driving what politely could be called semi-competitive equipment. Weatherly persevered, winning three times and again bested Petty, who counted 14 trips to Victory Lane. What would be his last victory and 20th with Moore came at Hillsboro, North Carolina on Oct. 27.

True to form, Weatherly quipped, "I had greater luck (than Petty), rather than greater skill. I was lucky to get rides when I needed them."

Weatherly’s luck ran out several months later in Southern California. Laps behind due to an early race mechanical problem, his No. 8 Mercury left the track entering Riverside’s Turn 6 and skidded into a steel retaining wall. Weatherly, without a shoulder harness or window net, died when his head struck the barrier.

Weatherly was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. He previously was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, National Motorsports Hall of Fame and National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame. Darlington Raceway‘s stock car racing museum was christened in Weatherly’s name upon its opening in 1965.

 

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Posted on 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 by Zack Albert

Gordon wears fatherhood, philanthropy well as driving days wind down

RELATED: Full coverage of Gordon announcement

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.