Denny Hamlin rode the escalator to a stadium concourse and spotted his Daytona 500 championship show car on display and wrapped to resemble its appearance moments after the race. Confetti stuck to the window.
Category: Nascar Drivers
Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing a marriage made for weekends
… based outside of the Carolinas. Denver-based Furniture Row Racing is considered one of Colorado’s major professional sports teams, and no other state is as singular in big-league auto racing. But Truex is a New Jersey native and former clam-boat …
Bowyer out to revive his NASCAR career
In this Jan. 18, 2017, file photo, team owner Tony Stewart, left, and driver Clint Bowyer pose for a photo during a news conference in Concord, N.C. Bowyer gets his first ride in a brand new shiny Ford Fusion, one adorned with Stewart’s beloved No. 14 on the side, when practice for the Daytona 500 begins on Saturday.
Bowyer out to revive NASCAR career as Stewart’s replacement
Clint Bowyer hasn’t won a race since 2012, hasn’t made the playoffs in three years and is coming off an embarrassingly bad season. The worst of his career.
Husqvarna Motorcycles Partners as Official Motorcycle of American Flat Track Singles
Husqvarna will be the official motorcycle of the AFT Singles and the brand will also offer the largest contingency package in series history for the Singles class. It has been announced by American Flat Track that Husqvarna will partner with AFT and be the official motorcycle of AFT Singles class for the 2017 season.
Three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti: ‘I was just happy to be alive’
Dario Franchitti is one of the most successful IndyCar drivers in history, with three Indianapolis 500 wins, four IndyCar championships and 31 victories in a 17-year career that includes a six-year stint in Champ Car. Autoweek caught up with the 43-year-old Scottish driver at the Autosport International event in Birmingham, England, where he talked about the emotions surrounding his forced retirement following a horrific crash in 2013 and his new career in the media.
Kansas City and Johnson County clash on airports
One of Danica Patrick’s sponsors has stepped up to fill a sudden funding void created when Stewart-Haas Racing sued her primary backer for $
$35k appraisal surprise for owner of Rockwell self portrait
For those chosen few who may have an old drawing or doodle by iconic artist Norman Rockwell in the house, you may want to get it insured. An original charcoal self-portrait by Rockwell was recently appraised at $35,000 on the popular PBS show “Antiques Roadshow.”
Retired NASCAR star Tony Stewart returns to sprint cars
In this Aug. 5, 2014, file photo, three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart races a sprint car at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Stewart’s return to sprint car racing provided him more frustration than frivolity.
Lance Stroll is so much more than just another F1 pay driver
Canadian Lance Stroll turned 18 years old on Oct. 29. Five days later, he signed to race for Williams F1 in 2017. Stroll is the youngest FIA European Formula 3 champion, but word is that the Stroll family is paying Williams at least $25 million for the drive in 2017 — in addition to around $15 million spent this year to fund a discreet eight-circuit testing program for Stroll, using an unliveried 2014 Williams-Mercedes, to make sure that he knows the cars and the circuits before he makes his F1 debut.
Junior recalls painting toy cars
The third episode of “Unfinished Business,” a six-part series that documents Dale Earnhardt Jr .’ s return to competition in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series , was released Tuesday on the Nationwide 88 social media channels.
Watch: Dale Jr. on track
Watch as Dale Earnhardt Jr. climbs behind the wheel of a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race car for the first time since his private test at Darlington Raceway in December.
Jeffrey Earnhardt to drive in Daytona 500
Full list of charter teams Jeffrey Earnhardt will make his first career start in the Daytona 500 on February 26 for Circle Sport w/The Motorsports Group, the team posted on its Twitter account on Monday night. Starter will serve as Earnhardt’s primary sponsor for the season opener.
Ford fills hole in resume with Ganassi’s Rolex 24 victory
… that had been the biggest target on the Ford wish list. Still, the manufacturer wanted a win in the most prestigious sports car race in the United States, and it came back to Daytona far more prepared with four Ganassi entries. Just like the race …
Ford fills hole in resume with Ganassi’s Rolex 24 victory
… that had been the biggest target on the Ford wish list. Still, the manufacturer wanted a win in the most prestigious sports car race in the United States, and it came back to Daytona far more prepared with four Ganassi entries. Just like the race …
Bold move lands Wayne Taylor Racing, Gordon, Rolex watches
… Taylor was still a driver. It marks the first victory for brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor – two of the most talented sports-car racers in America – and longtime Taylor co-driver Max Angelelli. Their fourth driver? None other than retired NASCAR …
Bold move lands Wayne Taylor Racing, Gordon, Rolex watches
… Taylor was still a driver. It marks the first victory for brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor – two of the most talented sports-car racers in America – and longtime Taylor co-driver Max Angelelli. Their fourth driver? None other than retired NASCAR …
The Latest: Rising star Cindric ups racing resume in Rolex
… I try to get behind the wheel and try to have some success,” he said. “As long as I can keep a parallel path between sports cars and stock cars, it’s what I want to do because I am really passionate about racing. I want to be a race car driver. I …
Gordon struggled on restart then settled in for 24 hours
… is right now. While there were days back in the Cup car that were exhausting or frustrating, his time so far in this sports car race has been one of the most fun times in his career. “That right there was big for me,” he said. “The other night, …
Cadillac DPi-V.Rs Sweep Front Row for Rolex 24 As Barbosa Takes Pole
Donate Now! Help PaddockTalk.com build a better site in 2017! Steven Cole Smith, IMSA Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Despite a test in December followed by the Roar Before the Rolex 24 after the New Year, it wasn’t clear who would be fastest in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s premier class, Prototype , when they hit the track this weekend.
Martin Puts New Ford Mustang on Pole for Continental Tire Challenge Daytona Opener
… entry, and the car had some problems that required repair right up to qualifying time. Then it was up to Martin, a sports car veteran, and he delivered. “I just went for it,” he said, coming into the tight Bus Stop chicane on his last lap “so fast I …
Three Burning Questions To Be Answered At The Glen In 2017
As the dawn of a new season in American racing approaches, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Verizon IndyCar Series, and WeatherTech SportsCar Championship have one thing in common: A trip to the Finger Lakes region of New York. For the second consecutive season, Watkins Glen International is the only facility to host each of North America’s major racing series – with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, Watkins Glen 355, and INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen all on the coming year’s slate.
Speedweeks Arrives! Cadillacs fast right out of the box
… Challenge, featuring the “minor league” cars of sanctioning body IMSA - the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. The Rolex 24 cars are part of IMSA’s big-league WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. • The 2017 Rolex …
Daytona Rising fuels boost in revenues for Intl. Speedway Corp.
DAYTONA BEACH - International Speedway Corp. on Thursday reported increases in revenues and net profits for both the fourth quarter and full year for fiscal 2016, which ended Nov. 30. Helping to fuel that increase was its completion in January of last year of the $400 million Daytona Rising makeover of Daytona International Speedway. ISC had expected the completed project would provide an “immediate incremental lift” in revenues in the first year of $20 million.
NASCAR’s Carl Edwards does not rule out US Senate run in ’18
… on Financial and Contracting Oversight that the armed forces were “wasting a bunch of money on a very expensive sports sponsorship.” McCaskill narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Jim Talent in the 2006 election, then won handily in 2012 against …
Democrats and Republicans join forces at Capitol Classic
While Democrats and Republicans often are at odds at the state Capitol, members of the Senate and House of Delegates from both sides of the aisle fought for the same cause at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Adding to the night’s light-hearted feel, the legislators were joined by former NBA center Ben Wallace, NASCAR driver Elliott Sadler and former VCU Ram and second round NBA draft pick Calvin Duncan.
Kenseth doesn’t understand Edwards’ retirement
Matt Kenseth has had several conversations with Carl Edwards, and none has given him any insight into why his teammate suddenly retired. Edwards abruptly walked away from the final year of his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing two weeks ago.
NASCAR overhauls race and playoff format
… race and season.” Mike Joy, FOX NASCAR play-by-play announcer, said the change brought racing more in line with other sports like football (quarters), baseball (innings) and hockey (periods). “The idea of trying to get the viewer in front of a TV …
Jimmie Johnson won his record-tying seventh NASCAR championship in 2016.
The overhaul, announced Monday, assigns three stages to every race. The top 10 drivers at the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2 will be awarded points on a 10-through-1 scale and there will be a break in the racing after each segment.
Speedway founder and NASCAR pioneer Earles recognized at Hall of Fame
Pioneer, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “a person who begins or helps develop something new and prepares the way for others to follow.”
Childress honors Earnhardt as he’s inducted into Hall
With a nod to the late Dale Earnhardt, a tearful Richard Childress thanked his former driver for helping build an organization that led to Childress’ induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Childress began his career as a driver and formed his own race team in 1972.
In-form Vaughan strikes again at the double to earn point
JAMES Vaughan continued his rich vein of goalscoring form by bagging a brace to twice drag Bury from behind and earn a hard-fought point against Port Vale. Tyler Walker and Ryan Taylor had twice put Vale ahead but Vaughan hit back either side of half time with his 15th and 16th goals of the season to level.
10News celebrates duPont-Columbia Awards
Columbia University is celebrating 75 years of honoring journalists with the Alfred I. duPont Award, with winners spanning from Edward R. Murrow to Mike Wallace to WTSP’s own investigative team. 10Investigates won the honor in 2015 for Noah Pransky’s expos into red light camera abuses , which cost Florida drivers millions of dollars through unfair ticketing.
Mark Martin overwhelmed to enter NASCAR Hall of Fame with his idols
Mark Martin’s career spanned four decades and includes 96 wins across NASCAR’s three national series. This week he will add one more achievement to that list, being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Mark Martin overwhelmed to enter NASCAR Hall of Fame with his idols
Mark Martin’s career spanned four decades and includes 96 wins across NASCAR’s three national series. This week he will add one more achievement to that list, being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Rob Morgan, Jack Baldwin Join Jim Jordan As World Challenge Class Managers
… a longtime motorsports executive, will be the GT Class Manager for Pirelli World Challenge with Baldwin, a five-time sports car series champion, as the GTS Class Manager. They join Jordan, who was brought on board late last year as the TC Class …
Rob Morgan, Jack Baldwin Join Jim Jordan As World Challenge Class Managers
… a longtime motorsports executive, will be the GT Class Manager for Pirelli World Challenge with Baldwin, a five-time sports car series champion, as the GTS Class Manager. They join Jordan, who was brought on board late last year as the TC Class …
Owen Wilson Named Grand Marshal For 59th Annual DAYTONA 500
Donate Now! Help PaddockTalk.com go ad-free in 2017! Actor Owen Wilson, the voice of the animated character Lightning McQueen in Disney*Pixar’s upcoming movie ‘Cars 3,’ will serve as Grand Marshal for the 59th annual DAYTONA 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Feb. 26 at Daytona International Speedway. The DAYTONA 500, the season-opening race for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, will begin at 2 p.m. following Wilson delivering the famous ‘Drivers, start your engines’ command to the 40-car field.
Richard Childress Racing Debuts Retrospective Video Series In Advance …
Donate Now! Help PaddockTalk.com go ad-free in 2017! In honor of Richard Childress’ upcoming induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Richard Childress Racing has rolled out a digital video series highlighting milestones throughout his illustrious career. Entitled ‘Richard Childress: A Career of Firsts,’ the series features Richard Childress himself recounting significant ‘firsts’ from his long career in motorsports, from the first race car he purchased to the first time he took grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon to drive at a racetrack.
‘Cars 3’ star Wilson named Daytona 500 grand marshal
… nt Chip Wile said. “His star power, and of course his personality, are perfect fits for ‘The Great American Race.’ As sports columnist, Paul Woody offers an array of commentary on the sports scene in columns and World of Woody videos.