NASCAR betting notebook: Oddsmakers ‘got it right’ ahead of Pocono

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Marcus DiNitto

It’s difficult at times even for professional gamblers to find an edge against the oddsmakers. This weekend’s Cup Series doubleheader at Pocono Raceway is one of those times.

Seventeen races into the season, the books have things pretty much figured out, particularly in races where the 550-horsepower, high-downforce package is used.

One sharp NASCAR bettor thought he’d be able to find value at least in Saturday’s race, the Pocono Organics CBD 325, before bookmakers had a chance to adjust their prices for Sunday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 350. Saturday’s opening numbers, though, appear tough to beat.

“Based off what I’ve seen so far, at least the outright market (odds to win), I was really hoping to find some value on a couple of guys, but it looks like the books just got it right,” said pro gambler Zack White. “So I think they’ve got a good feel about who’s going to run well with these downforce packages and especially the downforce with the 550. At this point in the season, the books have kind of got a handle on it.”

Working in bettors’ favor, though, is that race luck is typically less of a factor with 550-hp engines. While these races are not known to be among the most exciting on the circuit, fewer lead changes and crashes mean the right bets are more likely to cash.

“There’s less variance for accidents or pit road issues,” White said. “I think that’s probably what we’re in for – not a lot of passing, kind of a drawn-out race without many cautions or anything. But from a betting perspective, that can be a good thing. If your opinions are right, there’s an opportunity for the race to play out the way you’ve mapped it out, without much weird stuff happening.”

It’s difficult to find an edge, but not impossible, and White will be trying to catch a mistake or two in the matchup props.

“You’re going to be looking for very small, ‘did somebody screw up a little bit here or there?,” he said. “There’s not going to be any glaring errors going into the first race, I don’t think.”

Saturday to Sunday

Most major sportsbooks have posted odds only on Saturday’s race, waiting to see how it plays out before taking bets on Sunday’s event. Based on last year’s Pocono double, teams will perform similarly from one day to the next, and the oddsmakers will move their numbers accordingly.

“Let’s just say the Gibbs cars go out and run 1, 2, 3 (Saturday), and they’re the fastest cars on the track the whole race, well sure that would switch the odds dramatically,” said oddsmaker Ed Salmons, who handles NASCAR duties at SuperBook USA in Las Vegas.

“Last year was (Kevin) Harvick and (Denny) Hamlin just back and forth in both races,” Salmons continued. “In the first race last year, the Chevy cars were way off on speed and whatever they did, they got the cars more competitive on Sunday, but you don’t go from non-competitive to winning, put it that way.”

White agrees there’s little reason to believe Sunday’s race will play out much differently than Saturday’s, but he mentioned a few factors for bettors to keep in mind.

“Did anything change overnight to make me think this race is going to run differently?” he said. “Is it going to be overcast? Is the track temperature going to be 30 degrees cooler, did the track get washed green, who went to a backup car?

“So there’s a couple of little things you can look at and say, ‘Okay, I think this is going to run a little bit different.’ But for the most part, I think they’re going to run similarly.”

Kyle gonna Kyle

It’s June 2021, so any conversation about NASCAR Cup racing eventually circles back to the No. 5, and our bookmaker and bettor both anticipate Kyle Larson running up front again at Pocono.

With Larson starting on the pole in the first race and not much passing expected, “We might be in for another Kyle Larson show all weekend,” White said.

Added Salmons, “From what we’ve seen in NASCAR this year, you expect Larson to go out there and lead a million laps again. Unless something mechanical happens – or these restarts at Pocono can get real hairy, so you never know with that – but he figures to have a field day. I mean, it’s just been ridiculous.”

Larson’s odds in the first race of the doubleheader are in the +210 to +225 range around the betting market, implying a 30 percent or better chance to win.

“For this set of races, he’s certainly fairly priced,” White said. “Is the guy winning this race one out of three times? I think so. Starting up front for the first one, with the speed he’s shown with the 550 package and downforce tracks this year, it’s hard to say the guy’s not gonna win at a 30 percent clip.”

Others to watch

While Hendrick Motorsports has emerged as the dominant team in the Cup Series, a host of other Chevy drivers are starting to show some speed, including the duo from the Ganassi garage.

“It’s obvious that something’s going on with (Ross) Chastain and Kurt Busch lately because all of a sudden their cars have gotten really fast and we haven’t seen that all year,” Salmons said.

Last week at Nashville, Chevrolets took six of the top eight spots, including a second-place finish by Chastain, and only two of those six Chevys were Hendrick cars.

“It was pretty obvious in practice that Chastain had a really fast car. Except for Larson, he could have won that race,” Salmons said.

“Even (Ricky) Stenhouse this past week was blazing fast (and finished in sixth). Probably the best car he’s ever had at the Cup level. So whatever Chevy’s got going on, it’s working.”

Posted on June 25, 2021June 25, 2021 by Zach Sturniolo

Two races in two days? Count us in. The NASCAR Cup Series travels to the “Tricky Triangle” this weekend for a doubleheader at Pocono Raceway. The action begins with the Pocono Organics CBD 325 on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports Live, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and continues with the Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports Live, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.)

With two races on the docket, let’s take a look at how teams will navigate the second consecutive set of races in the hills of northeastern Pennsylvania.

WHO’S STARTING WHERE?

By virtue of the typical matrix formula that has been used throughout the 2021 season, Kyle Larson will lead the field to the green flag for Saturday’s event with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron next to him on the front row. Behind them in Row 2 will be Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano.

The lineup for Sunday’s race, however, is entirely dependent upon the results of Saturday’s event. The top 20 finishers from Saturday’s 325-mile, 130-lap race will be inverted to begin Sunday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 350, meaning the Saturday winner will start 20th on Sunday, while Saturday’s 20th-place finisher starts from the pole Sunday for the 140-lap contest.

As a reminder, teams will be required to use the same vehicle in both races this weekend. If a team determines its car is too damaged Saturday to be used Sunday and needs to utilize a backup car, that team will start Sunday’s race from the rear.

FAN ATTENDANCE

Fans will be welcomed back to Pocono Raceway in full capacity for the first time since 2019 as the COVID-19 pandemic barred spectators from entry last year.

Camping spots have already sold out for the venue, while tickets still remain available at www.poconoraceway.com/tickets. Fans who are fully vaccinated will not be required to wear masks, and the facility will operate without social distancing. More information can be found via the track’s website.

RULES PACKAGE

Cup Series teams will utilize the high-downforce, 550-horsepower package in the Pocono Mountains this weekend. This package features a taller spoiler and longer splitter to increase downforce around the racetrack.

POCONO HISTORY

— Pocono Raceway is celebrating 50 years of hosting races on its 2.5-mile triangular layout. The facility opened with a USAC open-wheel race in 1971 before welcoming the Cup Series in 1974.

— Denny Hamlin’s win in the race No. 2 in the 2020 doubleheader was his sixth Pocono victory, tying him with Jeff Gordon for the most wins all-time at Pocono.

— Hendrick Motorsports is the most successful team in the track’s history with 17 wins, 71 top fives and 129 top 10s in 253 combined starts. The organization has led an astounding 3,270 laps. Joe Gibbs Racing has led the next most with 1,721 laps led.

— Despite its historic Pocono success, Hendrick Motorsports is 0-12 in its last 12 Pocono tries. Hendrick had won six of its prior 12 starts at the Tricky Triangle.

— Joe Gibbs Racing has picked up where Hendrick left off, winning five of the last seven Pocono races (and Toyota has wins in six of the last seven). Denny Hamlin has won two of the last three.

Source: Racing Insights

GOODYEAR TIRES

Teams will work with a new tire combination this weekend at Pocono, utilizing the left-side tire previously used at Darlington Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway in addition to the multi-zone tread right-side tire previously used at Auto Club Speedway.

Bringing the left-side tire from Darlington and Homestead should provide more grip on the very flat Pocono surface as drivers navigate three unique turns, all of different degrees of banking. The multi-zone tread on the right side provide a two-inch compound designed for heat resistance and a 10-inch compound meant for more grip.

“Pocono is as unique a track as we have on the NASCAR circuit,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing. “It’s flat, it’s fast, and every turn and straightaway is different from the last. The one advantage Cup teams will have is that while they will have no practice this weekend, with a doubleheader of races, they will be able to tune on their setups over the two days and figure out what works and what is fast.”

INSIDE THE TURNS

Why is Pocono Raceway called the “Tricky Triangle?” That’s because of its unique, triangular shape with three very different corners.

Turn 1: 14 degrees and modeled after Trenton Speedway
Turn 2: 8 degrees and modeled after Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Turn 3: 6 degrees and modeled after Milwaukee Speedway

The front straight of 3,740 feet at the 2.5-mile track is the longest and widest in the Cup Series.

BET ON IT

Kyle Larson has never won at Pocono Raceway, but given his outstanding streak of three wins in a row — four if you include the NASCAR All-Star Race — the oddsmakers are still considering Larson the favorite by a wide margin. BetMGM lists Larson at 21-10 odds, while Denny Hamlin is next best at 7-1.

Others to keep an eye on include Chase Elliott (8-1), Kyle Busch (8-1), Kevin Harvick (9-1) and William Byron (10-1).

Looking for a sleeper? Consider Aric Almirola (50-1). While he’s had a miserable start to the season, Almirola enters off his best weekend of the year at Nashville Superspeedway where he won the pole and finished fourth. Almirola netted the most points in last year’s doubleheader by finishing third on Saturday and fifth Sunday. He’ll roll off 11th to begin Saturday’s race.

POCONO STORY LINES

— In the inaugural iteration of the Pocono doubleheader, Kevin Harvick claimed his first win at the Tricky Triangle on Saturday with Denny Hamlin in second. On Sunday, Hamlin won while Harvick was second.

— William Byron currently holds the best average finish of any driver at Pocono with more than one start at 9.67 with six starts under his belt.

— Just two of the 16 stage winners at Pocono have gone on to win the race.

— Nine of the last 14 Pocono winners led their first laps of the race past halfway.

— Kyle Larson is aiming for his fourth consecutive points-paying win. He would be the first driver to achieve the feat since Jimmie Johnson did so in 2007 and would become only the ninth driver in NASCAR history to accomplish it.

— Corey LaJoie carries recent momentum into Pocono on the heels of four straight top-20 finishes, already setting a career-best for LaJoie. The No. 7 team finished 15th at Nashville.

— Hendrick Motorsports is the only team in the sport’s modern era to win five races in a row and have done so four times, including the five-race win streak it’s currently on. Hendrick won six races in a row in 2007 and can tie that number with a win on Saturday.

Source: Racing Insights

FANTASY LIVE

Want to manage a team and race your way to the top of the leaderboards? Check out NASCAR Fantasy Live. The free-to-play game lets you choose your drivers each week and show off your crew-chief instincts. It’s not too late to join in on the competition.

The 2021 Fantasy Live points leaders are Denny Hamlin (682), Kyle Larson (662) and William Byron (596).

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.

New for this season, NASCAR has partnered with LiveLike to add fan engagement in 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 June 24, 2021 by Reid Spencer

After winning his 100th NASCAR Xfinity Series race last Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway, Kyle Busch will compete in his own team’s equipment in Saturday’s CRC Brakleen 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Pocono Raceway (12 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

This will be Busch’s final Truck Series start of the season. In his first four 2021 races, Busch has won twice and finished second to teammate John Hunter Nemechek twice.

The Truck Series’ career wins leader with 61 victories, Busch is the only multiple winner at Pocono (2015 and 2018) and the only former winner at the Tricky Triangle competing in Saturday’s race. Kyle Busch Motorsports trucks have won five of the last six events at Pocono.

RELATED: Race lineup | Pocono weekend schedule

Busch is gratified that the addition of Nemechek to his roster has added to the organization’s critical mass, but Busch is determined to win the rubber match between the drivers on Saturday.

“Did I expect them to do what they’ve been doing? Absolutely,” Busch says. “This was kind of the idea and the reason why we did what we did. Did I think they would have this many Playoff points by this point? Probably not that, but did I think that they would have three wins (actually four)? Certainly.

“Did I think they would beat me twice? No. So we’ve got one more. I told them ‘Don’t screw it up.’ I got to win Pocono, and then he can have the rest of the year. It’s all his.”

As a part-timer in the Truck Series, Busch isn’t running for the championship, but Sunoco rookies Carson Hocevar and Chandler Smith come to Pocono uncomfortably close to the playoff bubble.

With three races left in the regular season, Hocevar and Smith provisionally hold the final two playoff spots on poins. Hocevar leads Johnny Sauter by 30 points (the first driver out coming into Pocono), and Smith is 15 points ahead of the ThorSport Racing driver.

Both rookies are racing for the first time at Pocono in the Truck Series this weekend.

Posted on June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 by Reid Spencer

In the short history of the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Pocono Raceway, five races have produced five different winners — Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Cole Custer and Chase Briscoe.

That trend is certain to continue in Sunday’s Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P Mascaro & Sons (12 p.m. ET on NBCSN/NBC Sports Live, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). None of the five former winners are competing in the event.

MORE: Full lineup | Weekend schedule

Nevertheless, the race could present a significant opportunity for Jeremy Clements, who expanded his hold on the 12th and final Playoff-eligible position with an 11th-place finish last Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway.

Clements has a 48-point advantage over Brandon Brown, who fell out of the Nashville race in 35th place because of brake problems. Having run third in last year’s race at the Tricky Triangle, Clements is the highest finisher from that event competing on Sunday.

Part-time competitor Ty Gibbs will return to NASCAR Xfinity action at Pocono after competing in Friday’s ARCA Menards Series event. In seven Xfinity starts this season, Gibbs has collected wins at the Daytona Road Course and Charlotte oval to go with four other top fives.

“I’ve been to Pocono before in the ARCA car, but this will be my first time in an Xfinity car there,” Gibbs says. “(Crew chief) Chris Gayle and the guys will bring us a good Toyota Supra, and we’ll continue to keep learning and developing as we go along.

“It’s a unique track, and we have to make sure the car handles well in all three turns. It will help to run the ARCA race as well on Friday night.”

Posted on June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 by Chase Wilhelm

How long can the winning streak keep going for Kyle Larson?

The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports driver has triumphed in the past three points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races beginning with the Coca-Cola 600, along with the All-Star Race in between the recent stretch. To add insult to injury for his competition, he’s also taken the six of the past seven stage wins.

While Larson is riding the high of a tidal wave of momentum that has flooded the Cup Series garage with frustration and concern, he’s still being realistic of the expectations.

“It’s been a good time,” Larson told NASCAR.com at Nashville Superspeedway. “It’s a wave that you hope you can ride for a long time. We’re enjoying it while we can.”

While Larson and team are trying to enjoy the moment, there is a focus forward on the nine regular-season races remaining in an effort to win the regular-season championship while also collecting as many playoff point as possible.

Incredibly, Larson feels they can still improve to achieve those goals.

Logan Riely | Getty Images

“I mean, there’s definitely probably areas we can always get better,” Larson said. “I think you can always get every area of your game better. Even when we’ve been winning, we still look at things that we could have done better, whether it be on the racetrack, on pit road, just little things to maximize our day.

“I guess I can’t pinpoint like one thing that’s a weakness, but if we can continue to get every area better, I mean, we’ll be really hard to beat. We’re winning and we’re happy, but we’re never content.”

One change for Larson in last Sunday’s latest victory at Nashville was his new primary sponsorship with Hendrick Motorsports’ longtime partner Valvoline. The new-look No. 5 car featured a red paint scheme, which was an ode to Valvoline’s past – the first red scheme since AJ Foyt’s car in the 1972 Daytona 500.

Larson joins a host of others — several of which are legends in the sport — who have raced with the brand’s backing, including Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Buddy Baker, Mark Martin and Neil Bonnett. Larson will also run the same paint scheme in the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway and the playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway Night Race.

Larson is the latest driver to bring Valvoline back to Victory Lane, the last coming when Johnny Benson Jr. accomplished the feat at Rockingham Speedway in 2002.

“I hadn’t really thought of the other drivers who have had Valvoline on their car,” Larson said. “It’s definitely an honor. It’s such a recognizable brand that’s been around forever. It has cool colors and our race car looks sweet. I’m excited to have their colors for a couple more races.”

Sam Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer for Valvoline, was on-hand at Nashville to witness Victory Lane with Larson. Mitchell and Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick developed a long-standing relationship roughly a decade ago, which transitioned into what is now a seven-year partnership and counting.

Team owner Rick Hendrick (left) and Valvoline CEO Sam Mitchell (right) share a moment on pit road before the start of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. Photo credit: Chase Wilhelm | NASCAR Digital Media

The two came from similar mindsets when it came to operating a business, working with people and building a brand.

“I guess when we put together the relationship and worked on that, we just spent a lot of time up front to see that we our of similar mindsets – that we weren’t looking to put together a three- to four-year deal, but something that would last a long time,” Mitchell told NASCAR.com. “We had a win-win approach to it and that we would communicate well together. That’s resulted in a really successful relationship, both on the business and marketing side.”

While providing support for Larson on the No. 5 car was a no-brainer from the talent he possesses behind the wheel, it was the lessons learned by Larson following his suspension from NASCAR last season that caught Mitchell’s eye.

“Beyond his success as a driver, he’s gone through a lot and he’s learned a lot this past year,” Mitchell said. “As a race fan, I just followed his story. I was learning along with him and thinking about what he was going through. I was impressed with some of the things that he did to educate himself.

“When Mr. Hendrick gave me a call and talked about Kyle being a part of the team, we talked quite a bit about that and his assessment was that he spent a lot of time with Kyle and he’s come a long way, he’s an awesome driver and he’s a great fit for our team and he’s an impressive young man. That was all I needed to hear.”

With the Nashville race running on Father’s Day, Mitchell brought his two sons with him to experience the day. It led to father-sons moment that so often happens in NASCAR or at the race track.

“(Last Sunday was) Father’s Day, so I had my sons with me at the race, so we talked about Kyle and his journey,” Mitchell said. “We talked about the fact that words matter and sometimes we learn a lot from our toughest experiences. Second chances are great when you get them and make the most of it.”

Posted on June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 24, 2021) – NASCAR was named Sports League of the Year during the 2021 Sports Business Awards, a virtual ceremony hosted by Sports Business Journal to celebrate the best in sports business over the past year.

The award, one of the most prestigious in the sports industry, recognizes NASCAR’s many successes and efforts during a historic and challenging 2020 season. Following the pandemic pause, NASCAR was the first major U.S. sport to return to competition, the first to safely welcome back fans and the first to complete a full season schedule.

In June 2020, NASCAR took a stand for equality and social justice and banned the confederate flag from all properties and events. The sanctioning body reinforced its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and later welcomed Michael Jordan and Pitbull as new team owners.

NASCAR worked with industry stakeholders to build and introduce the most dynamic new race schedule in more than 50 years, including several new venues added to the 2021 slate of events.

NASCAR also filled the live sports void with esports following the onset of COVID-19, collaborating with FOX and iRacing to introduce the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series. The new series generated six of the highest-rated esports programs in television history.

“We’re honored to be named 2021 Sports League of the Year and thank Sports Business Journal for this incredible recognition,” said Steve Phelps, President, NASCAR. “This award is a testament to the collective resolve and creativity of our industry as we worked through some extraordinary circumstances in 2020 and in the process led the way for live sports in our country.”

Joining NASCAR as finalists for the Sports League of the Year award were the NBA, NFL, NHL, PGA Tour, UFC and the WNBA. The win marks NASCAR’s first in the category for the Sports Business Awards.

As part of the ceremony, Phelps was recognized as a finalist for Sports Executive of the Year for his leadership in guiding NASCAR through the 2020 season, and eNASCAR iRacing was among the finalists for Sports Breakthrough of the Year following the successful debut of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series.

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Jerry Bonkowski

Shawna Robinson has worn a number of helmets as a race car driver. But she’s also worn an equal number of hats in her life and career as a trailblazer, role model and entrepreneur.

As one of the more notable female race car drivers in the 1990s and into the mid-2000s, Robinson set an example for other aspiring female drivers, instilling in them the confidence that racing doesn’t have to be an all-male sport.

In a sense, she was Danica Patrick before Danica Patrick came along, inspiring female drivers and female race fans.

RELATED: Shawna Robinson career stats

It wasn’t easy by any means. She had to show fellow racers — almost all of them male — that she had the talent, competitive drive and desire to succeed. What’s more, she wanted to make it on her own in racing, not just because she was a female first, but rather as a race car driver first.

“Whatever car I’m in, whatever series I’m running, whatever track I’m racing, I want people to know Shawna Robinson was there,” she famously said to Sports Illustrated for Women in 2002.

And that’s the way she has lived her life, be it on or off the race track, embodying the song “My Way” written by Paul Anka and made famous by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, most notably with these lyrics that speak so much to Robinson’s personality, character and demeanor:

“Yes, there were times, I’m sure you know
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall,
And did it my way
The record shows, I took the blows,
And did it my way.”

Even today, more than 15 years removed from last being behind the wheel of a race car, the Des Moines, Iowa, native remains involved in the racing community in several ways, including serving as a noted interior designer who has worked for a number of NASCAR luminaries such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer and Ray Evernham.

Until recently, she also served for several years on the National Motorsports Appeals Panel, a former race car driver who understood racers and provided a fair and balanced analysis when drivers, owners, crew chiefs and others appealed penalties they were assessed by NASCAR. To illustrate how much the NASCAR community respects Robinson, she was originally nominated to the appeals panel by NASCAR Vice-Chairman Mike Helton.

************************

Unlike many athletes not just in racing but across the entire pro sports spectrum, Robinson was cognizant that her racing career would end one day and she developed several post-racing career plans to support herself. Always having a knack for interior design, she has become one of the most in-demand designers in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. She also started a company called “Happy Chair,” which produced ultra-colorful chairs for people to sit in.

“I love big, bold, crazy color. I love art. I love animals and as is evident from my past as a NASCAR race car driver, I love the thrill of taking risks,” Robinson said in a quote from her website.

While she’s slowed down on her production of Happy Chairs, it’s because the Catawba, North Carolina, resident has become so busy in her interior design and event production business, designing a myriad of things such as driver homes and vacation getaways, their motor homes, offices and shops, and has even served as a planner for such things as Kelley Earnhardt Miller’s wedding.

But for as popular and successful as she’s become as a designer, Robinson will always be known for her racing career. She started racing semi-tractor trucks — as a teenager, no less — and eventually graduated to the ARCA Series, and then into NASCAR’s top three competitive series: Cup, Xfinity and Trucks.

She became the first woman in history to win a NASCAR-sanctioned event, when at the age of 23, she captured the 100-lap Charlotte Daytona Dash at New Asheville (N.C.) Speedway on June 11, 1988.

Robinson spent parts of nearly 11 seasons in NASCAR, competing in 72 combined Cup, Xfinity and Truck races, as well as 27 ARCA events. She became a fan favorite who, even today, 16 years after her last race, still gets a number of letters and emails from fans who remember her and her racing career.

“It amazes me how much fan mail I still get,” Robinson told NASCAR.com. “People are still very interested in what I’m doing and they remember me.”

While she has plenty of good memories of her time in NASCAR, Robinson considers her win in 1984 in a Great American Truck Series semi-tractor race in Milwaukee as perhaps her favorite memory.

“It was amazing,” she said. “It really made me go to the next level, winning on a speedway. Then there was Michigan in 2001, that was also my first 500-mile race in NASCAR.

“Then, going to Daytona the next year with a brand new team, no sponsor, brand new crew chief and team manager without experience, I mean, can you say underdogs? That was one of the biggest moments knowing that I qualified for the Daytona 500 on time and I finished. I finished 24th, but I ran the whole race.

“And then later that year at Texas, I qualified 16th in a Cup race, which was huge for a rookie and all the odds against you, when you don’t really have the best of the best but you do with it what you can.”

Robinson has few regrets from her racing career, although she admits she does wish it could have been longer, that more sponsors would have been open-minded and supportive of backing a female driver and that she could have competed with better equipment that could potentially have provided chances to be even more competitive and offer opportunities for wins.

“I wish I could have done more,” she said. “Stepping away from it when I did, in a couple of more years, the world was different. Being competitive, I wanted to do more, and for me I had to kind of shut it off if I wasn’t involved in it. So, I shut it off and created another passion in my life.

“You always say, ‘What if?’ and I hate that. You never say, ‘What if? — you take what you’ve done and give it a big hug, grateful that you were able to do it.’ ”

But at the same time, Robinson paved a way for female drivers who would follow in her footsteps, including Patrick and modern-day up-and-coming stars like Hailee Deegan.

“When I was growing up, my dad was a huge influence, he was a racer,” Robinson said. “I grew up riding motorcycles and snowmobiles. It wasn’t anything odd to me or my sisters or my brother. It’s just what we did. When I graduated from high school … it kind of all just happened by natural reasons.

“And then when I started racing trucks, those were battle days. Those guys were not all friendly. Some of them were, but most weren’t and they definitely didn’t like an 18-, 19-, 20-year-old being in their little competitive world. So I learned to be tough and it wasn’t about that I was a girl. I never looked at it that way. It was just the fact I loved what I did and I could do it well.

“It was when I went into NASCAR, that was where I really earned some respect as a driver. You would get all this media and the owner may have signed you just because you were a girl or you brought a sponsor. It was all the hype, but I didn’t want the hype. I want the hype to come to me because I did something for it. Give me good engines or good equipment. If you’re putting me out there to start-and-park, it wasn’t going to work.

“I earned respect from drivers I raced against and I think that said it all to where I really tried to put out there that I’m not out there because I’m a girl, I’m out there because I’m a driver. If I would have had opportunities to race for Tony Stewart or Jack Roush or Rick Hendrick, who knows what could have happened?

“I’m thankful for things like running the 2002 Daytona 500. When Danica made the Daytona 500, it was ‘first woman ever’ and I was like, ‘hey, wait a minute.’ ”

************************

Robinson survived a nearly two-year bout with breast cancer in 2014-2015, but after a lengthy treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, she has been cancer-free for the last six years, something she takes great pride in.

“I’m doing good,” Robinson said. “We’re going on close to seven years (cancer-free). I still get checked all the time. I’ve had a few scares, but it was all fatty tissue. So yeah, I’m pretty lucky and pretty happy. Overall, I can’t complain.”

One of the most significant elements of her cancer battle was the support Robinson received from the NASCAR community. Earnhardt Miller helped kick off a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with medical bills, while others from NASCAR helped her in countless ways, including some who volunteered to keep her business running while she was undergoing treatment and countless other ways that showed how respected and loved Robinson is in the NASCAR world.

“Kelley was a huge support, as was the overall NASCAR community,” Robinson said. “My life was basically put on hold and all that mattered was I had to conquer this, I had to go after it. I’ve been very, very grateful. Everyone is so supportive in the NASCAR community. I’ve been very lucky.”

Robinson says she “loves to stay busy” and would like to “go to the track more. I miss it very deeply,” she said. “I also wonder why I didn’t pursue the TV aspect of it.

“What do I miss? The driving. I felt like I lost my identity, when you’ve been this person who did something for 20-some years that had this life, that was what my job was, and then you don’t (race anymore).

“That’s kind of how Happy Chair happened. I kind of dove into another passion. I went in that direction where textiles and fabrics and creating things that were different were a route to where, alright, I’m still somebody in the fact that I found a second passion.

“But I’ll never, ever lose my passion for motorsports. It was my life for so long. I miss the whole driving thing. I wish the new SRX series would call me (she said with a laugh).”

As a result, the mother of two adult children has been thinking about adding another element to her career: she’s considering the possibility of coaching drivers, particularly up-and-coming female drivers.

“I wish I could have done more with coaching, like trying to work a little harder to get involved with teams that are involved in bringing up-and-coming drivers,” Robinson said. “If I would have had that person in my ear who said, ‘Don’t let them see you cry’ or ‘don’t let them see you angry.’ A guy can get angry and it’s cool and tough. But if a girl gets angry, she’s emotional and out of balance and unstable.

“The reason I’d have anger about something or speak out about the cars I was in is because I was passionate about it. If you give it to me, it’ll come. I wish I would have started an organization or something to really help up-and-coming girls … but they seem to be doing pretty damn well on their own, so it’s OK. … But I’m open to it.”

***********************************************

The Shawna Robinson file:

* Age: 56

* Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa.

* Notable: She is the first woman to have ever won a NASCAR-sanctioned event (100-lap Charlotte Daytona Dash at New Asheville Speedway on June 11, 1988).

* NASCAR Cup career: 8 starts, 0 wins, 0 top-five and 0 top-10 finishes. Best finish: 24th (2002 Daytona 500).

* NASCAR Xfinity Series career: 61 starts, 0 wins, 0 top-five and one top-10 finishes (10th at Watkins Glen in 1994). Also earned one pole.

* NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career: 3 starts, 0 wins, 0 top-five and 0 top-10 finishes.

* ARCA Menards Series career: 27 starts, 0 wins, 5 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.

Veteran motorsports writer Jerry Bonkowski is writing a number of Where Are They Now? stories this year for NASCAR.com. Check out stories he’s already done on Sam Hornish Jr., Bobby Labonte, Greg Biffle, Ricky Rudd, Darrell Waltrip, Mark Martin, Marcos Ambrose and Juan Pablo Montoya. Also, follow Jerry on Twitter @JerryBonkowski, his @TheRacingBeat podcast and his email newsletter, TheRacingBeat.substack.com.

Posted on June 23, 2021June 23, 2021 by Chase Wilhelm

NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon will trade in the microphone for the front office at Hendrick Motorsports.

The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will become the second-ranking member of the organization to chairman and majority owner Rick Hendrick. The 49-year-old Gordon will assume the executive management role effective Jan. 1, 2022.

“I cannot put into words what Hendrick Motorsports means to me,” Gordon said in a team press release. “In many ways, it’s my home and the people here are my family. I’ve never lost my passion for the organization, for our sport, and for the sheer challenge of racing and winning at the highest level. Being part of the competition is where I’m happiest and feel I can make the biggest contribution to the continued, long-term success of the team. Rick and I have a shared vision, which is based on the values he’s instilled, the culture he’s built and our desire to be the very best in all categories, on and off the track.”

Gordon joined FOX Sports as an analyst in 2016 following his retirement at the conclusion of the 2015 season. He will continue his broadcasting duties with FOX Sports through the end of the 2021 calendar year. He will not return to the FOX booth for the 2022 season.

“I cannot thank the entire FOX Sports family enough for the incredible opportunity I’ve had over the past six seasons,” Gordon said. “I’ve come to truly appreciate the responsibility of bringing the sport to our fans and the tremendous work that goes into our broadcasts each and every week. I’m certainly going to miss it, but I will forever be grateful to FOX for the experience and for the trust they’ve placed in me. It’s been a privilege to work with such a talented group of people.”

Following the release of the news from Hendrick, Eric Shanks, the Chief Executive Officer & Executive Producer at FOX Sports had this to say: “Just like he did on the track, Jeff distinguished himself as an all-time winner on our FOX Sports team. While we are sad to see him go, everyone at FOX Sports wishes Jeff nothing but continued success.”

As vice chairman and co-owner of Hendrick Motorsports, Gordon will report to Hendrick and work alongside team president Marshall Carlson and general manager Jeff Andrews. In addition, he will join Hendrick on NASCAR’s team owner council and assume Hendrick Motorsports’ seat on the sanctioning body’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee.

In January 2019, Gordon said that he would welcome a larger role at Hendrick Motorsports when the time was right.

“I love the business side of it,” Gordon said then. “If that day ever comes, I would be truly honored even though I don’t think I could do the job that he’s done, I would be truly honored to take that role on.

“As I say that, that would be the first time other than when my parents made me sweep floors and run the machine shop when I was a kid during summers where I actually had a real job,” he added. “… Running a race team or being in that role on a race team, that is a real job. … That role Rick would have to put me in is one I would have to work at really, really hard. I hope one day when that time comes, I would be ready to do that.”

In 1999, Gordon became an equity owner of Hendrick Motorsports and continues to be the only partner in the organization. He was first listed as the owner of the No. 48 Chevrolet when seven-time championship Jimmie Johnson began his tenure with the team in 2001.

Hendrick says this plan has been in the works for many years, but he has no intentions of stepping away from his majority role.

“I’ve always been impressed with his business instincts,” Hendrick, 71 said in a team release. “On some level, he’s been involved in every major decision we’ve made over the last two decades, and his influence has continued to grow since he stopped driving. He understands our culture, our values, and the importance we place on our people and our partnerships.

“I love racing and competing, and Jeff is the only person I know who hates to lose as much as I do. I feel great physically and have no plans to go anywhere anytime soon, which is exactly why it’s the right time. In the years to come, I couldn’t be more energized about working arm-in-arm with him and cementing the future of Hendrick Motorsports together.”

The 13-time Cup Series championship-winning organization also owns the most Cup Series wins in history with 271 race victories, the last coming with Kyle Larson’s Nashville Superspeedway win last Sunday. Gordon recorded 93 victories for the organization during his 25-year career at NASCAR’s highest level.

Posted on June 23, 2021June 23, 2021 by Staff Report

See where your favorite driver will pit for the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organic CBD 325 at Pocono Raceway on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports Live, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) — race one of the weekend doubleheader.

Following the conclusion of Saturday’s event, pit stall selections will be picked for Sunday’s race.

Posted on June 23, 2021June 23, 2021 by Press Release

MIAMI — Brandon Marshall’s I AM ATHLETE (IAA) podcast will continue its mission to deliver unique platforms for athletes across the sports landscape with a new NASCAR collaboration. IAA will present a special I AM NASCAR series to air weekly over the next month, featuring interviews with top drivers and much more.

This exploratory expansion into the NASCAR arena will continue throughout the NASCAR season, with additional episodes coming out monthly. The first I AM NASCAR episode debuted Monday, May 10 with legendary driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joining Marshall and the IAA crew. All of the I AM NASCAR episodes will debut and be available on the IAA YouTube Channel.

MORE: IAA on YouTube

“This is a great opportunity for us to give IAA fans a look into a totally different area of the sports world and share our experiences on the race track,” said Marshall, who was approached by Earnhardt about the NASCAR focus after the IAA episode with Bubba Wallace. “We’re always looking to push the boundaries of what people would expect from our show. Diving into this new world is a great way to expand our audience and their perspectives.”

Earnhardt Jr. originally reached out to IAA after the Wallace episode featured co-host Channing Crowder stating his opinion that NASCAR drivers “aren’t real athletes,” which prompted Earnhardt Jr. to provide the IAA hosts with a chance to learn more about the sport firsthand. This experience inspired the crew to stick around the track longer and sit down for discussions with more drivers, including two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch and Toni Breidinger, the first Arab-American woman to drive in NASCAR.

“Being out there with Dale was a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience I never could have imagined,” said Marshall. “Hopefully people watching will see us pushed outside our comfort zones, and be inspired to do the same in their lives. We really learned so much from being on the track and talking to these drivers about what it takes to do what they do. I can’t wait to keep exploring this world on IAA and beyond.”

Be sure to visit the IAA YouTube Channel throughout the next month for weekly I AM NASCAR content, and all NASCAR season long for additional special episodes. We will also add the podcasts to this page as they become available:

Episode 1: IAA crew joins Dale Jr. at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Episode 2: Kyle Busch dishes to the IAA crew on fights, more

Episode 3: IAA crew talks to Toni Breidinger, the first-ever female Arab-American national series driver

Episode 4: Is the IAA crew the next NASCAR pit crew?