Today’s NASCAR Nuggets from the Net includes some great information from NASCAR about the 2013 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and NASCAR Acceleration events taking place Feb 8th and 9th, respectively. 

There are more nuggets after NASCAR’s rather large press release – including a chance for two lucky fans to be special guest at the 2013 Hall of Fame Induction – so, be sure to check them out as well. Thanks!

NASCAR Ready to Accelerate Into 2013 Season

Squirer-Hall Award Part of Feb 8 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction

A new NASCAR season is just over the horizon.

But before the engines are fired next month at Daytona International Speedway, there’s unfinished business – the celebration of those who build the foundations of the sport.

The 2013 NASCAR racing season officially begins on Friday, Feb 8 with the induction of five legendary men into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC – NASCAR premier series champions Buck Baker, Herb Thomas and Rusty Wallace; championship car owner Cotton Owens and crew chief extraordinaire Leonard Wood.

Baker and Thomas won two championships apiece in the rough and tumble 1950s. Wallace, now an ESPN analyst, became champion in 1989 as the sport’s footprint broadened through the medium of network and cable television.

Owens supplied the cars and horsepower that carried many famous drivers into Victory Lane – an NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson to his first of three championships in 1966.

Wood, the architect of the lightning quick pit stop, follows his older brother Glen into the NASCAR Hall of Fame – a pioneer whose family has fielded winners through five generations of NASCAR Sprint Cup cars.

And – for the first time – media members who have contributed to the growth of NASCAR over more than six decades will be honored by NASCAR. This year’s induction events will feature the presentation of the first Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence – named in honor of its first recipients, pioneer NASCAR industry radio and television personalities Ken Squier and Barney Hall.

Squier and Hall’s careers have been intertwined since intersecting with the creation of the longtime Voice of NASCAR, the Motor Racing Network in 1970. Their expert observations on the sport have thrilled generations of NASCAR fans for more than 40 years and continue to do so today.

Vermont native Squier began his career as a race track public address announcer at the age of 14 and is a longtime New England radio station and track owner. Squier joined the Motor Racing Network in 1970 and for nearly two decades anchored NASCAR on CBS broadcasts before shifting to the studio as host for NASCAR broadcasts until 2000.

Squier, who called CBS’ first flag-to-flag coverage of the Daytona 500 in 1979 – and the post-race fight involving Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison – is credited with naming the event the “Great American Race.” He continues to enlighten NASCAR fans through periodic appearances on SPEED.

Hall, a native of Elkin, NC, began his broadcast career in the 1950s working at local radio stations in North Carolina. He served as Bristol Motor Speedway’s first public address announcer when the track opened and called his first Daytona 500 in 1960 – missing only three broadcasts in the 54-year history of the classic event.

Hall, joined the Motor Racing Network as an original announcer at the network’s inception in 1970, first as a turn announcer and then moving to the broadcast booth in the late 70s – from which he continues to provide word pictures for NASCAR’s many radio fans. Hall is widely known for his calm voice and unmatched story telling.

Induction to the fourth class brings the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s membership to 20.

Ceremonies will take place at 7:30pm ET in the Crown Ball Room at the Charlotte Convention Center and will air live on SPEED. The event is the first half of NASCAR Acceleration Weekend followed on Saturday, Feb 9 by NASCAR Preview 2013.

Appearances by members of the classes of 2010, 2011 and 2012 are set for 4pm at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, followed by 5pm Induction Reception and 6pm NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Jacket Presentation, the latter two events taking place in the Charlotte Convention Center Ballroom.

Tickets for the ceremonies start at $45 – available at nascaracceleration.com – and the NASCAR Hall of Fame box office. In addition, a $20 ticket will gain fans all-day access into NASCAR Preview 2013 and the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb 9.

More than 50 drivers across NASCAR’s three national series – NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – are scheduled to participate in the all-day NASCAR Preview 2013 event. Fans will have the opportunity to interact with drivers and secure autographs, participate in driver Q&A sessions, get a first-look at the new sixth-generation NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race cars and paint schemes and check out various interactive displays, among other activities.

Drivers include 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, five-time premier series winner Jimmie Johnson and NASCAR’s 10-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, three-time series champion Tony Stewart, two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr, reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series most popular driver Danica Patrick, and 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion James Buescher also will be on hand.

The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season kicks off Saturday, Feb 16 with the Shootout at Daytona, a non-points race for 2012 Coors Light Pole winners. The 55th Daytona 500 is scheduled for 1pm ETC Sunday, Feb 24 at Daytona International Speedway with coverage by FOX Sports, MRN and SIRIUSXM. NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications PR

Be Bristol’s Guest for the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction 

How would you like to join Bristol Motor Speedway on an expense paid trip to Charlotte, NC for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductions during NASCAR Acceleration Weekend on Feb 8, and much more?

Just renew or purchase your 2013 Bristol Motor Speedway Season Ticket Package now through Jan 24, 2013, and be automatically entered to win a trip for two (2) to Charlotte and the very special ceremony honoring Hall of Fame inductees, including nine-time Bristol winner, Rusty Wallace.

Apparently if you have already purchased your season ticket package, you are automatically entered. Also, iBelong Season Ticket holders will receive one additional entry for every consecutive year that the Season Ticket Package has been purchased. There is also a No Purchase Necessary alternative means of entering. So be sure to check it out at BristolMotorSpeedway.com

Mark your calendars now for more ‘Off-Season’ activities

Jan 10-12 – pre-Daytona 500 testing at Daytona International Speedway

Jan 17-18 – 2nd round of testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Jan 19 – (NMPA) National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame ceremony in Charlotte

Jan 21-24 – Charlotte Motor Speedway Sprint Media Tour

Jan 28-29 – testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Feb 8 – NASCAR Hall of Fame class 3 induction

Feb 9 – NASCAR Preview in Charlotte

Jayski.com

Harry Scott Jr Expands Ownership Role at Turner Motorsports

It was announced today that Harry Scott Jr, longtime minority owner of Turner Motorsports, will expand his involvement with the team, partnering with Steve Turner as co-owner of the newly rebranded Turner Scott Motorsports.

Scott began his involvement with the team as both a minority owner and sponsor in 2009, first partnering with Braun Racing, which was later acquired by Turner Motorsports. Scott’s decision to increase his stake in the racing organization was driven by his desire to be more involved in the operations of the team. In addition to sharing the duties of overseeing the organization, Scott will manage the team’s marketing, public relations and business development efforts, while Turner will manage the competition side of the multi-series team.

“Harry (Scott Jr) becoming a co-owner is very positive for this organization as a whole,” said Turner. “This team has grown and accomplished so much in the last few years, and it is still continuing to grow. Harry has been committed to our racing program, its drivers and our sponsors for several years, and he is a vital part of our organization. He is passionate about our sport and our employees, and has proven himself as a very successful businessman, so putting him in charge of our marketing and business efforts is a natural and perfect fit. We have always considered him to be an integral part of the Turner Motorsports family, and this is an opportunity for him to formally take over some of the reins as we continue to build this organization into one of the most successful teams in NASCAR. I am very optimistic that Turner Scott Motorsports will build upon our solid base and achieve continued success.”

The organization, which captured the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) championship in 2012 with James Buescher behind the wheel of the No. 31, has already announced that Buescher, Miquel Paludo and Jeb Burton will all pilot trucks under the Turner Scott Motorsports banner in 2013. In addition to the NCWTS championship, Turner Motorsports tallied seven wins and five pole awards in the Truck Series in 2012. In the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS), the team scored three wins and three pole awards last season. Details regarding team’s driver and sponsor lineup for the 2013 NNS program are forthcoming.

“I am very excited to be taking on this new role within the organization,” said Scott. “As a Carolina native, NASCAR racing is something that has always been in my blood, and my passion for the sport has only grown since I began my involvement with Steve Turner a few years ago. He has built a very strong organization with incredibly talented people in place, and I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity to be a co-owner of his team. This race team has already experienced so much early success at many different levels, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that everyone here is committed to working together toward a common goal. We are fortunate to have some of the best sponsors, partners and team members in the sport, and I look forward to continuing those relationships, as well as building new ones. I foresee a very bright future for Turner Scott Motorsports.” TurnerMotorsportsllc.com