Posted on by Cameron Richardson

From a blush of peaches to a pod of lobster, the NASCAR Cup Series transitions from the Southeast and heads to the Northeast and New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Seven races remain in the 2023 regular season, and before the green flag drops for Monday’s Crayon 301 (Noon ET, USA, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App), take a look at trends to watch ahead of the race, rule changes and important tire info as well as interactive ways to follow all the action.

RELATED: See paint schemes for New Hampshire | Betting favorites for Monday’s Cup race

DON’T TAKE LOUDON FOR GRANITE 🗿

Over the last few seasons, New Hampshire has opened the door for drivers to secure their playoff position. Three of the last four winners at the “Magic Mile” scored their first win of the season at the track (Kevin Harvick, 2019; Aric Almirola, 2021; Christopher Bell, 2022).

Heading into the weekend, 15th-23rd in the Cup Series points standings are separated by just 60 points. The playoff bubble continues to change as the regular season winds down, and as far as trends are concerned, a first-time winner in 2023 could be in the cards for Monday.

MORE: Who’s next to score first 2023 win?

📉 TRENDS TO WATCH 📈

— Chevrolet owns just one win in the last 16 races at New Hampshire (Harvick, 2016).

— Christopher Bell is the only driver under 30 to win at New Hampshire in the last 11 races.

— The driver who led the most laps won only one of the last five New Hampshire races.

(Via Racing Insights)

NOTABLE MOMENTS 🎥

2018: Kevin Harvick moves Kyle Busch in closing laps to win | WATCH

2019: Harvick holds off Denny Hamlin on final lap to win | WATCH

2021: Aric Almirola flips playoff picture, wins at New Hampshire | WATCH

ON-TRACK SCHEDULE 🗓️

Saturday, July 15

— 12:05 p.m. ET: Practice — See results

— 12:50 p.m. ET: Qualifying — See starting lineup

Sunday, July 16

— 2:30 p.m. ET: Crayon 301 (POSTPONED)

Monday, July 17

— Noon ET: Crayon 301 (USA, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App)

MORE: Full weekend schedule at New Hampshire

RULE CHANGES/GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES 🛞

The GEICO Restart Zone returned to its 2022 dimensions after being extended for this season’s first five races.

Wet-weather equipment will be available this weekend in the event of rain at the track.

Cup teams will debut a new tire setup this weekend to give the cars more grip and introduce more wear to the tire. The setup came out of a test at New Hampshire during the spring. Each team will be allotted one set of Goodyear tires for practice, one set for qualifying and an additional seven for Monday’s race.

NASCAR implemented safety updates to the Next Gen car.

Alongside the right-side door bars and extending toward the rear clip, teams are mandated to run a steel plate in addition to the chassis adjustments made for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The right-side door bar gussets and the removal of the front clip V-brace are changes that remain, in addition to the removal of other front-clip components to create a softer and larger crush zone for frontal impacts.

Also included in the updates are front bumper strut softening (modifications to existing parts), the requirement of an empty front ballast box and a modified cross brace. NASCAR incurs the cost of all these updates.

In the event of a lost wheel that is contained to pit road, the offending team will be subject to a pass-through penalty under green-flag conditions. If the infraction occurs during a caution period, the offending team will restart at the tail end of the field.

If the wheel breaks free outside of pit road, the new rules guidelines mandate a two-lap penalty plus a two-race suspension for two crew members. Each penalty is series-specific: Violations in one series will not impact those crew members’ eligibility to participate in other series.

RELATED: See rules changes for 2023

FAN REWARDS 🫵

Fans can get in on the action all season long with NASCAR Fan Rewards, a free program that rewards fans for participating in the action when they watch races and play NASCAR Fantasy.

There’s no cost to join. Fans must be 18 years or older to participate in the program.

Earn points by checking into a race from home or at the track, setting your Fantasy Live lineup, making purchases on the NASCAR.com shop and more. Points can be redeemed for race tickets, merchandise and VIP experiences at the track, including pace car rides and waving the green flag at qualifying.

JOIN TODAY

FOLLOW THE RACE 📲

NASCAR Mobile has now added support for fans to “Follow the Race” and access live leaderboard and race information from Live Activities in the current app release (v13.2.0), available now. Android users, we didn’t forget you — the same functionality has been custom-built for Android devices, as well.

How to access Live Activities on iPhones:

  1. Make sure your iOS device has been updated to 16.1 or higher.
  2. Available on the leaderboard of all NASCAR Series races.
  3. Click on the three-dot menu near the top right of screen.
  4. Select “Follow the Race.”
  5. Swipe up to access the home screen and you will see the Live Activities at the top.
  6. Lock the device and you will see Live Activities on the Lock Screen.
  7. To turn off, simply visit the leaderboard, click the three-dot menu and “Unfollow the Race.”

FANTASY LIVE 🏆

Want to manage a team and race your way to the top of the leaderboards? Check out NASCAR Fantasy Live, which is open now. The free-to-play game lets you choose your drivers each week and show off your crew-chief instincts by garaging a driver by the end of Stage 2, and there is a $25,000 prize for the winner.

How to play: Fantasy Live | Set up a team today!

ALSO ON NASCAR.COM 💻

Get additional camera views by logging on to NASCAR Drive, where each week a select number of in-car cameras will be available — as well as a battle cam and an overhead look.

NASCAR has partnered with LiveLike to add fan engagement to the NASCAR Mobile App. Log in to the mobile app during the race for polls, quizzes, the cheer meter and more — and see instant results from NASCAR fans like you.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

When the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a strong field of cars always follows.

That’s no different this year as 30 drivers will look to add their names to list of winners of Whelen Modified Tour events at the 1.058-mile asphalt oval located in Loudon, New Hampshire.

Included in the field are several previous New Hampshire winners as well as Whelen Modified Tour champions, all of whom want to further pad their respective resumes with a Victory Lane celebration on Saturday after the Mohegan Sun 100.

RELATED: Entry list for Saturday’s Mohegan Sun 100

They’re headlined by defending New Hampshire winner Anthony Nocella, who went from sixth to first in the final three laps last year and avoided a last-lap crash to earn his lone Whelen Modified Tour victory to date. He’ll be looking for his second triumph this year aboard the Goodie Racing No. 46.

Joining him on the entry list for Saturday’s race are seven other previous New Hampshire winners as well as a champion of the defunct NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.

Among them are Bobby Santos III, a winner of a six Whelen Modified Tour events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He scored his first win at New Hampshire in 2014, which he followed with three-straight wins from 2017 to 2018 and a further two victories in 2019 and 2020.

Next is six-time Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby, who owns four New Hampshire victories. He scored his first New Hampshire win in 2012, which he followed with his second in 2013. He then added two more victories in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

The most recent winner with the Whelen Modified Tour is also a three-time New Hampshire winner. Ron Silk scored his first New Hampshire triumph in 2009 and collected his second in 2011. He had to wait eight years before scoring his third victory, which came in 2019.

LOUDON, NH – SEPTEMBER 22: Chase Dowling, driver of the #15 15-40 Connection / S&S Paving Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Musket 250 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 22, 2018 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

Justin Bonsignore has made 24 starts at New Hampshire with the Whelen Modified Tour, but only has one victory to show for it. That came in 2016 when he held off Silk to bag one of the biggest victories of his racing career. He’s also sat on the pole of the last two Whelen Modified Tour events at New Hampshire.

RELATED: Get tickets to Saturday’s Mohegan Sun 100

Chase Dowling, who is making his return to the Whelen Modified Tour this weekend for the first time since 2021, captured his only Whelen Modified Tour triumph in a thrilling finish in 2018 that saw Justin Bonsignore and Ryan Preece crash entering the third turn on the final lap while racing for the lead.

Veteran Tim Connolly scored the first victory for Bob Garbarino’s Mystic Missile at New Hampshire in 1997. Connolly is set to make his first New Hampshire start since 2000 on Saturday evening.

After missing the 2022 event at New Hampshire, Woody Pitkat is returning in search of his second victory at the track. His first came in 2014 when he led a race-high 79 laps en route to Victory Lane.

Also joining the already stacked field will be Andy Seuss, a two-time Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion from nearby Hampstead, New Hampshire. Seuss has made 25 starts with the Whelen Modified Tour at New Hampshire, earning a best finish of fourth on two occasions. He also earned his only Whelen Modified Tour pole at New Hampshire in 2020, where he led 30 laps and ultimately finished sixth.

Martinsville winner Corey LaJoie looking to stack more pennies

The last time Corey LaJoie climbed into a Modified, he ended up in Victory Lane at Martinsville Speedway last October.

The driver of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series will be back in a Modified this Saturday when he teams up with Rob Fuller to pilot the No. 1 entry during the Mohegan Sun 100.

The race marks LaJoie’s second attempt at competing with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He made his first Whelen Modified Tour start at New Hampshire last year, starting eighth and finishing ninth.

“Those things, too, are the only race cars I’ve driven that get aero loose because they are 85, 90 percent rear downforce. They make no front downforce, so when you’re in traffic you lose all the rear downforce and you get super loose,” LaJoie said. “The Modified race, no matter what, is generally the best race of the weekend.”

LaJoie has a history of racing Modifieds early in his career and only recently returned to the discipline. He captured a NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour victory on the quarter-mile oval located on the frontstretch at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2010 when he was 18 years old.

After spending time on dirt, Max McLaughlin is back

Max McLaughlin has been keeping himself busy since his last NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start at Richmond Raceway on March 31.

The son of veteran Modified and Xfinity Series competitor Mike McLaughlin has been racing Dirt Modifieds throughout the Northeast this year and recently scored a victory at Fonda Speedway, a NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series track located in Fonda, New York.

Most of McLaughlin’s time is spent racing on dirt these days, though he still dabbles on asphalt periodically. In addition to racing occasionally with the Whelen Modified Tour, McLaughlin is scheduled to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen International for FRS Racing. His lone ARCA Menards Series East victory came at Watkins Glen in 2019.

McLaughlin has 11 previous Whelen Modified Tour starts, including one at New Hampshire in 2021, though he was taken out in a crash on the first lap of that event and finished 30th.

Posted on by Seth Sharp

It is rare when someone in sports transcends being a typical star performer. Some rare ones stand out for both their incredible talents, and also their incredible intangibles.

That was Davey Allison, whose star both on and off the track has kept his name and legacy alive 30 years after he tragically passed away on July 13, 1993, following a helicopter crash.

Here’s the thing about Davey Allison: He was the complete package of characteristics that most fans couldn’t even dream of from a favorite driver.

For starters, his talent on the track spoke for itself. He grabbed a top 10 in his first NASCAR Cup Series start while only taking 14 races to earn his first win. Then he doubled down two races later and won again.

PHOTOS: Davey Allison through the years

Fans remember that Davey he won races and competed for championships, but his tragic death at the young age of 32 somewhat skews the perception of how great he really was on the track.

His 191 starts, 19 wins (44th all-time), 66 top fives and 92 top 10s don’t necessarily pop out to the naked eye. But if you take a deep dive into Allison’s stats during his full-time career, which ranged from 1987 to his untimely passing in 1993, that is where he truly stands out.

He entered the 1993 season already fifth out of all active drivers in wins. He sat only behind Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace, all of whom have since been enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame — as has Allison.

At the start of his final season in 1993, he had 18 victories in just 175 starts. That was more at the time than future Hall of Famers Terry Labonte (10 wins in 419 starts),  Mark Martin (seven wins in 202 starts) and Dale Jarrett (one win in 168 starts). From 1987 to 1993, Allison ranked fourth in wins, fifth in top fives and fourth in laps led.

Allison’s passing came at a time when he sat 24th all time in Cup Series victories. He was coming off back-to-back seasons of five victories and was 14 wins away from 15th all-time, all while just starting to hit his prime as a driver.

Beyond the stats, he had an incredible racing pedigree, ranging from his immediate family to his Alabama upbringing. His father, Bobby, was one of the greatest drivers of all time and his Uncle Donnie was a 10-time winner in the Cup Series. He was seemingly the leader of the next generation of the famed “Alabama Gang,” following the footsteps of Bobby, Donnie and their friends Neil Bonnett and Red Farmer.

Then there was his ability to fight through adversity and toughness, which propelled him to a superhero level as a driver. His first victory in the Cup Series was marred by a terrifying crash that saw his father’s car fly through the air and destroy the catchfence. The following season in 1988 saw the elder Allison involved in a near-fatal crash at Pocono Raceway. It left him in the hospital for 108 days, subsequently ending his driving career.

The younger Allison flew between cities over the next few months to visit his dad in the hospital, but never missed a race in the process. He won twice with his ailing father on his mind.

Later in 1992, Allison’s actions turned legendary during the toughest of times. His grandfather died in April of that year. A few days later, Davey battled rib injuries and grief to win at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

During the first All-Star Race under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, dubbed “One Hot Night,” a last-lap battle with Kyle Petty saw Allison take the checkered flag before the two cars made contact. Allison’s No. 28 car slammed into the outside wall and sent him on a helicopter ride to the hospital with a concussion and bruised body. Allison’s crew chief Larry McReynolds recalled that the first words Allison spoke after he woke up at the hospital were “Did we win?”

A few weeks later, Allison was involved in his own terrifying crash at Pocono. Contact with Darrell Waltrip sent the No. 28 car flying through the air, sending Allison back to the hospital. This time the injuries were more severe, leaving him with a concussion and broken bones. He arrived the following week at Talladega Superspeedway and started the race, his arm in a cast, utilizing Velcro to help him keep his hand on the shifter.

Less than one month later, his brother Clifford tragically passed away in a crash at Michigan International Speedway. A few weeks later Allison had a chance at winning the Winston Million, leading 69 laps before rain cut the race short just after Allison had come into the pits.

Despite this adversity, Allison entered the final race of the season leading the point standings while looking to capture his first championship. The 31-year-old driver controlled his own destiny, needing to just finish fifth or better to be crowned the champion.

His season came to a crashing halt midway through the event, as he could not avoid a crash in front of him. His day, season and dreams came crashing down but yet again, Allison proved why he was such a fan favorite.

He conducted an interview following his crash with a smile on his face, despite the crushing disappointment. Blame was never placed on any other drivers, with Allison saying simply “It just wasn’t meant to be” before pivoting to talk about all of the support he received from his fans through an incredibly trying season.

When you combine all those characteristics together — and add in his two truly iconic and distinctive paint schemes — you end up with a driver that is impossible not to love.

Most Allison fans can recall moment-for-moment where they were the day the championship slipped from his grasp in 1992, those tragic days in 1993 and many moments in between.

Allison left behind his wife Liz and two children, Robbie and Krista, a family that now includes multiple grandchildren. They have strived to keep his memory alive, sharing memories and keepsakes, highlighted by Allison’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019.

Now 30 years after those dark July days in 1993, the legacy of Davey Allison might be stronger than it ever has been.

Everybody is luckier because of it.

Posted on by Staff Report

Following Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Wall Stadium Speedway, the following penalties were issued:

Driver JB Fortin of the No. 34 JB Fortin Racing team entry was fined $5,000; must attend and complete Anger Management Training as determined by NASCAR; and is indefinitely suspended from NASCAR and any NASCAR-sanctioned events until the fine is paid and successful completion of Anger Management Training has occurred. Upon reinstatement, the member will be placed under probation for one year.

The rule infraction is as follows:

12-8.1 Member Conduct Guidelines

B.
1. Disparaging the sport and/or NASCAR’s leadership;
2. Verbal abuse of a NASCAR Official, media members, fans, etc.;

C.
1. Physical confrontation with a NASCAR Official, media members, fans, etc.;
2. Member-to-Member confrontation(s) with physical violence and other violent manifestations such as significant threat(s) and/or abuse and/or endangerment;

E.
1. Actions by a NASCAR Member that NASCAR finds to be detrimental to stock car racing or NASCAR.

Team member Amber Fortin of the No. 34 JB Fortin Racing team entry was fined $2,500; must attend and complete Anger Management Training as determined by NASCAR; and is indefinitely suspended from NASCAR and any NASCAR-sanctioned events until the fine is paid and successful completion of Anger Management Training has occurred. Upon reinstatement, the member will be placed under probation for one year.

The rule infraction is as follows:

12-8.1 Member Conduct Guidelines

C.
1. Physical confrontation with a NASCAR Official, media members, fans, etc.;
2. Member-to-Member confrontation(s) with physical violence and other violent manifestations such as significant threat(s) and/or abuse and/or endangerment;

Team members Nicole Fortin and John Fortin of the No. 34 JB Fortin Racing team entry were each fined $1,000 and are indefinitely suspended from NASCAR and any NASCAR-sanctioned events until the fine is paid. Upon reinstatement, each member will be placed under probation until December 31, 2023.

The rule infraction is as follows:

12-8.1 Member Conduct Guidelines

B.
1. Disparaging the sport and/or NASCAR’s leadership;
2. Verbal abuse of a NASCAR Official, media members, fans, etc.;

Driver Max Zachem of the No. 26 Lakeland Avenue Landscape Supply team entry has been fined $1,000 for intentionally damaging the No. 34 entry while under caution on Lap 139.

The rule infraction is as follows:

12-8.1 Member Conduct Guidelines

B.
3. Intentionally damaging another vehicle under yellow or red flag conditions or on pit road with no one around.

Additionally, a post-race time/lap penalty was assessed to the No. 26 per the rule listed below, reverting his finish to Lap 139. The No. 26 was placed behind the No. 34 in the finishing order and is now scored as finishing 20th.

The rule infraction is as follows:

9-11 Lap or Time Penalties

In-Race Violations

A lap or time penalty may be imposed when the Competitor has violated a directive from a NASCAR Official, or a known pit road or Race procedure including but not limited to the following:

2. Reckless driving

Posted on by Jerry Bonkowski

Matt Kaulig is one of the most hands-on owners in NASCAR. Whenever there’s practice, qualifying and, of course, a race in the NASCAR Cup or Xfinity Series, the Ohio native will be found on top of the pit box, cheering on his drivers and teams.

But after attending Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kaulig won’t be present for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at the 1-mile flat bullring.

You might say Kaulig will be going golfing instead.

Kaulig will be the host and master of ceremonies of one of the five biggest PGA Champions Tour events around, this weekend’s Kaulig Companies Championship at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.

The weeklong event — which is highlighted by the 72-hole, four-day tournament this Thursday through Sunday — will bring some of the biggest senior names in the golf world to try their luck for a big chunk of the $3.5 million purse.

RELATED: About Kaulig Racing

But the 78 golfers entered are just part of the highlights of the event. A number of celebrities from the sports and entertainment worlds will also be on hand, including NBA great Steph Curry, as well as all of Kaulig’s NASCAR drivers: AJ Allmendinger, Justin Haley, Daniel Hemric and Chandler Smith.

And, of course, show cars for those drivers will be strategically placed around the course.

In what will be the first year of a four-year agreement, Kaulig has taken over primary sponsorship of the tournament, previously known for several years as the Bridgestone Invitational.

“Obviously, Firestone Country Club is a very well-known location in the country,” Kaulig told NASCAR.com. “It’s one of the premier events on the tour.”

Kaulig isn’t sponsoring the tournament for glory or personal recognition. He wanted to continue the long history the event has with Firestone Country Club, which will celebrate the 70th year of the tournament this weekend.

With all the national and international recognition the event will bring, one of the biggest reasons why Kaulig and his privately held, family-run group of companies stepped in to be primary sponsor of the tournament is to raise money for various charities and foundations, including The NASCAR Foundation.

As he does in his daily business life, Kaulig is setting the bar high in his hopes of fund-raising for the various charities that will benefit from the tournament’s generosity.

Last year, the tournament raised over $900,000 for charity. Kaulig hopes to double last year’s total and raise nearly $2 million this weekend.

If successful in that goal, Kaulig will continue a tradition where, since its inception, the tournament has raised more than $30 million to local charities in the Akron/Canton/Cleveland areas.

“At Kaulig Companies, we continuously look for ways to better our community, and it is an honor to partner with PGA TOUR Champions to sponsor one of their flagship events,” Kaulig said when it was first revealed a year ago that his group of companies will sponsor the event. “Being able to support the city of Akron, along with the tournament’s impressive track record of giving back to local charities — many of the same that we give back to through Kaulig Giving — made it an easy decision for our team to sign on as the title sponsor.

“We look forward to building upon the tournament’s success and for an exciting four years ahead.”

Seating structure at PGA Champions Tour event sponsored by Kaulig Companies
VP BRAND

Contributing to charities, particularly those in the Akron area, has been one of the most significant elements of Kaulig’s DNA since he formed his company in 2005. Matt and wife Lisa subsequently founded Kaulig Charitable Giving Programs, also known as Kaulig Giving, a private family foundation, in 2019, designed to promote the educational, physical and emotional well-being of children and their families.

Last year, the Kaulig Foundation gave nearly $1 million to local charities, a figure Matt hopes to double in 2023.

Kaulig’s charitable efforts are written and included as a major part of the company’s overall purpose: “Philanthropy is at the heart of everything we do at Kaulig Companies. As the title sponsor of the PGA Champions Tour event at Firestone Country Club, we will showcase some of the world’s best professional players, iconic places and organizations in Northeast Ohio, and local charities making a difference for children and families while we generate millions of dollars to benefit the region.”

To help achieve the lofty goal of $2 million to be donated to charity this year, Kaulig has brought in a number of major partners for the golf tournament to be part of the fundraising effort, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, MLB’s Cleveland Guardians, The NASCAR Foundation and other heavyweights.

“It’s more than just a golf tournament for us,” Kaulig said. “It’s just really helping out the community that we live in and that I went to school in.”

Kaulig has selected 18 charities that will benefit from this weekend’s tournament and fundraising efforts, including The NASCAR Foundation and the LeBron James I Promise School/LeBron James Family Foundation.

Of note, the LeBron James I Promise School will host a clinic for children. Kaulig Giving was the primary benefactor for construction of the state-of-the-art I Promise School media lab.

In addition to being a longtime member of the Firestone Country Club, Kaulig has attended the last 30 PGA Tour events there.

“I’m 50 years old now, so I started attending when I started college,” he said. “When the (tournament) sponsorship became available, and all the stuff that we do in Northeast Ohio, I mean, it was just a really good fit.

“I went to and played football at the University of Akron, my wife’s from Akron, she was a cheerleader at Akron, and we make our home here. With just all the things that we do with our charitable giving aspect, it just made sense.

“It’s a really great event for the community, it always has been. So even the possibility of that thing possibly moving or going away was just not something that we wanted to see. So we got involved.”

In the 18 years since he formed Kaulig Companies, the company patriarch and his wife have donated to over 250 different charities in and around the Akron and Northeast Ohio area.

“We’re really involved in helping those kids, and most of our giving is done in Northeast Ohio,” Kaulig said. “We want to make our community better. I mean, there’s so many charities and nonprofits out there that really aren’t being helped or people are just making money off of.

“So that’s one of the big things that we responsibly give, so to speak, where we really vet organizations and really try to maximize what we’re giving and really get involved. The golf tournament is a really good example of that.”

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

A member of NASCAR’s famed “Alabama Gang” and an ambassador for the sport for more than 50 years, Donnie Allison had never planned to be a race car driver.

But when Donnie’s older brother, Bobby, made the claim that Donnie could never be a driver, well, Donnie set out to prove him – and anyone else – wrong. Like Bobby, Donnie got his start racing modifieds and worked his way to the top level of stock car racing.

After winning the 1967 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, Allison partnered with famed mechanic Banjo Matthews where he experienced his most success. In 1970, Allison won three races for Matthews, including the Coca-Cola 600. The following weekend he finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500, setting a record for best-combined finish in the two-race crossover that still stands today.

But Allison might be best-known for his role in NASCAR’s most famous moment – his 1979 Daytona 500 fight with Cale Yarborough. An intense battle for the win ended with both drivers wrecked, scuffling in the infield.

It all happened on the first nationally-televised NASCAR race and made headlines across America. The publicity was instrumental to the growth of NASCAR and remains one of the defining moments in the sport’s history.

DONNIE ALLISON BIO

Born: Sept. 7, 1939
Hometown: Hueytown, Alabama 

Cup Series Stats
Competed: 1966-88
Starts: 242
Wins: 10
Poles: 17
Years on Ballot: 1

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

Jimmie Johnson Hall of Fame

In an era of change in NASCAR, there was one constant – Jimmie Johnson. Jimmy Johnson hall of fame nominee included in the class of 2024.

Despite competing under a variety of championship formats and three generations of race car, you could count on finding Jimmie Johnson in Victory Lane and on the NASCAR Cup Series championship stage.

Johnson’s seven career NASCAR Cup Series championships famously tie him with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for most in series history; his five consecutive titles are a NASCAR record.

Johnson’s on-track accomplishments behind the wheel of a stock car put him on the short list in the ‘Greatest of All-Time’ discussion – he has 83 wins at 20 different race tracks including multiple wins in every NASCAR crown jewel event: two Daytona 500s (2006, ’13), four Brickyard 400s (2006, ’08-09, ’12), four Coca-Cola 600s (2003-05, ’14), two Southern 500’s (2004, ’12) and four All-Star Race wins (2003, ’06, ’12-13).

Currently the co-owner of NASCAR team LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Johnson was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.

RELATED: Johnson through the years | 2022-23 Silly Season | Jimmy Johnson Hall of Fame Nominee

Jimmie Johnson bio

Born: Sept. 17, 1975
Hometown: El Cajon, California 

Championships (7) Cup – 2006-10, ’13, ’16

Cup Series Stats
Competed: 2001-23
Starts: 689
Wins: 83
Poles: 36
Years on Ballot: 1

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR unveiled the ballot for the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 on Wednesday, adding three new names to form the list of 15 total nominees.

Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and an 83-time winner in NASCAR’s top division, joined the list in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility. He’ll be joined by his crew chief Chad Knaus, who directed those seven championships, as a fellow newcomer to the Modern Era Ballot.

RELATED: View 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees

Another legend was added to the Pioneer Ballot — Donnie Allison, an indelible member of the “Alabama Gang” and 10-time Cup Series winner. The Pioneer Ballot is designed to honor those whose careers began more than 60 years ago.

The trio of new nominees helps to fill the void left by the induction of Matt Kenseth, Kirk Shelmerdine and Herschel McGriff earlier this year.

The Hall of Fame also revealed the list of five nominees for the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR, adding to the ballot Les Richter, a former standout linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams — but more importantly, for these purposes, later in life the senior vice president of operations for NASCAR and president of Riverside International Raceway. Lesa France Kennedy, Janet Guthrie, Alvin Hawkins and Dr. Joseph Mattioli remain on the Landmark Award list for this year; NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton is the most recent recipient.

Voting for the Class of 2024 is scheduled for Aug. 2. Two inductees will be chosen from the Modern Era Ballot, which includes (alphabetically): Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Harry Gant, Harry Hyde, Johnson, Knaus, Larry Phillips and Ricky Rudd. One will be elected from the five names on the Pioneer Ballot: Allison, Sam Ard, A.J. Foyt, Banjo Matthews and Ralph Moody.

A panel of 61 voting members will meet to cast ballots for the 2024 Hall of Fame class, with one ballot to be added through fan voting on NASCAR.com. The Fan Vote (www.nascar.com/halloffame) is currently open and will close on July 30 at midnight ET.

Johnson, 47, is one of the most decorated drivers in the sport’s history and one of just three champions to win seven career titles. After breaking out for 18 victories and two runner-up standings finishes in his first four seasons, Johnson went on an unprecedented — and unmatched — five-year streak of titles from 2006-10, later adding two more (2013, ’16) to tie Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty in the feat. Johnson is currently a part-owner and part-time driver for Legacy Motor Club after spending his entire full-time career with Hendrick Motorsports.

Knaus, 51, has called 708 Cup races from atop the pit box, winning 82 of them — and landing in the top 10 in more than half of them (371). Knaus guided Johnson from 2002 to 2018, with 81 of those 82 wins coming with “Seven-Time” behind the wheel. The cerebral pit boss wrapped his career with driver William Byron in his final two seasons, with the No. 24 car picking up his final win in 2020.

Allison, 83, looks to join his brother, Bobby, and nephew, Davey, in the Hall after a career spanning 21 years in the Cup Series. Allison’s 10 victories came at some of NASCAR’s most famous tracks — Bristol, Charlotte, Daytona and Talladega, to name a few. Allison is etched in NASCAR lore forever as a willing and vibrant participant in the fight between he, his brother and Cale Yarborough at the 1979 Daytona 500, one of the first NASCAR races televised live from beginning to end.

Richter, who died in 2010 at age 79, was the second overall pick in the 1952 NFL Draft and compiled a stellar career that led to a 2011 induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After his playing days were over, his attention shifted to racing, where he ran Riverside until 1983 while later taking on other roles for International Speedway Corporation and International Race of Champions in addition to his role with NASCAR.

The reigning Cup Series champion has participated as part of the Voting Day panel each year since 2014*. Reigning champ Joey Logano will participate in voting for the second time.

*Because 2022 voting and induction procedures were canceled, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott — the 2020 and ’21 Cup Series champions — both participated in the 2023 Hall of Fame vote.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

Championships are won through hard work, commitment, attention to detail and the relentless pursuit of perfection … All traits that led Chad Knaus to become one of the greatest crew chiefs in NASCAR history.

Leading his father to multiple track championships as a teenager, Knaus was destined to be a successful crew chief at stock car racing’s highest level. His NASCAR start came at Hendrick Motorsports as an assistant in the body shop, learning under Hall of Famer Ray Evernham as part of the ‘Rainbow Warriors.’ His breakthrough came in 2002 when he was paired with rookie driver Jimmie Johnson on a fourth Hendrick team – the start of one of the most productive partnerships in sports history.

The pair combined for seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, including a NASCAR-record five in a row. They won 81 races over 19 seasons, including the 2013 Daytona 500, two Southern 500s, four Coca-Cola 600s and four Brickyard 400s. Knaus won his 82nd –  and final – race with William Byron in 2020. He trails only Dale Inman and Leonard Wood for all-time wins by a crew chief.

Knaus currently serves as Vice President of Competition for Hendrick Motorsports.

CHAD KNAUS BIO

Born: Aug. 5, 1971
Hometown: Rockford, Illinois

Championships (7)
Cup – 2006-10, ’13, ’16 (crew chief) 

Cup Series Crew Chief Stats
Competed: 2000-20
Starts: 708
Wins: 82
Poles: 42
Years on ballot: 1

Posted on by Cara Cooper

It was midway through the 2014 season when Kalvin Catlin raced for the first time at Tucson Speedway.

The next season, he won a track championship in Tucson’s Pro Stock division.

That was the last time he raced a full year.

In the second to last race of 2015, Catlin flipped his car coming down the back straightaway at Tucson, a NASCAR-sanctioned 0.375-mile paved oval track located just south of Tucson, Arizona.

The incident, as well as health issues his dad was facing and Catlin’s growing family, took Catlin out of the sport for seven years.

It was his kids who convinced Catlin to get back in the car and start competing again.

“They love watching me race,” Catlin said of his four children, Madison, 5, Ashden, 7. Kalvin Jr., 8, and Julianna, 10. “They look up to me, watching me. They love going out there every weekend.

“For a little while there, even while I was off we would be out there watching. I’d take the kids out and they’d just love it and they’d kept trying to talk me into going back out, like, ‘Dad, you need to get a car together.’”

Last year, an opportunity came up for Catlin to race for Vance Cast at Delta Trading Group. Cast asked Catlin to help get his Hobby Stock car race ready last season, and gave Catlin the opportunity to race, as well.

He’s continued with the team in 2023, and is picking up right where he left off all those years ago.

In Tucson’s Hobby Stock division, after missing the first race, Catlin has six wins in six features. He’s also trying his hand in the Thunder Trucks, where he’s finished in the top-five in all three of his races.

Getting back into the car, Catlin said he felt the same as when he first started racing.

“It definitely was that feeling of being the first time back at the track. It was definitely fun. It felt natural, for sure,” he said.

Catlin began racing in 2007 when his uncle started him on a dirt track. The next year, Catlin, his mom, and dad built a brand new car from the ground up, and he stayed in that car for seven years.

Kalvin Catlin’s two children were a big reason why he returned to racing at Arizona’s Tucson Speedway. (Photo: Courtesy of Kalvin Catlin)

Midway through the season in 2014, he took that Pro Stock car and moved it from dirt to asphalt at Tucson. In six races at Tucson that season, he won three times.

“That was the car I ran until 2015,” he said. “We switched it from dirt to asphalt and went out and won the championship on the asphalt with the same dirt track car that we had.

“Back then we were getting 25-30 cars every Saturday, so it was very competitive there.”

Catlin grew up racing quads and dirt bikes, so jumping into the car didn’t feel much different.

“Ever since my first year racing, definitely it’s always felt natural since,” he said. “And even my first year it felt natural… I always had that need for speed.”

Catlin was just a fill-in driver for Cast’s Hobby Stock after the owner had heart surgery in April. But, after seeing how much success he’s had, the entire team is ready to let him keep driving and chasing as many points and wins as possible.

“Originally I was only going to just race a couple races, and I had already missed the first race so we didn’t think we were going to get very far in the points,” Catlin said. “Then we realized we were gaining points pretty quickly here. We won the first couple races there and the car owner was like, ‘Well, let’s just keep going for it.’”

Catlin is currently second in the points at Tucson, one point behind leader Brian Love. He’s also currently seventh in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Division V West Region standings, 42 points behind the leader.

The team is now looking to add more races to the schedule to get more national points. Catlin has also had some new sponsors wanting to put their name on a winning car. The new sponsors will allow the team to travel around to face new competition.

His goal the rest of the season is to go for the Hobby Stock championship, and maybe even a rookie-of-the-year title in a class he’d never raced in before.

Catlin would also like to try for a win in the truck.

“It’s just definitely been a great opportunity I’ve been given with Vance Cast being able to have a good car,” he said. “It’s nice to have good equipment and go out and go for a win.”

His two children enjoyed going to races with Catlin, but they’re loving watching him race even more.

“They love it,” he said. “My daughter, she loves going up and she’ll help the flag man out and flag my races. It’s awesome. It’s definitely a family sport, for sure.”