Prior to the beginning of last year’s season, Stewart-Haas Racing knocked the NASCAR industry on its rear end when they announced their switch from Chevrolet to Ford for the 2017 season. With the ongoing and never-ending discussions of whether and perhaps when Dodge will return to the sport – the real question becomes where would they fit in?
The answer could be a ‘mic drop’ type bombshell when and if it happens. Continue reading →
What do Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Martin Truex, Jr with Toyota, Brad Keselowski with Ford, and Chase Elliot with Chevrolet have in common?
How about Late Model drivers Josh Berry and Anthony Alfredo?
The connection is being a part of Junior Nation driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr – NASCAR’s most popular driver for 14 consecutive years. Continue reading →
Throughout its storied history, NASCAR has always had a driver or two that fans loved to hate. It didn’t matter if it was on or off the track or if there was extra media attention outside of the race. Controversy of any kind will find these boisterous stars were right in the middle of it.
Dale Earnhardt Sr didn’t earn the nickname ‘The Intimidator’ for no reason and Darrel Waltrip in his prime carried the nickname ‘Jaws’ just for his mouth alone. Fans have watched Kevin Harvick sprint and leap on a car then into a crowd to ‘discuss’ a situation with a fellow competitor and Tony Stewart kick a reporter’s recorder under a bus. ‘Bad Brad’ Keselowski has turned a few heads (and race cars) with his aggressive and outspoken personality. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch have each made the highlight reel more than once. Most recently together at Las Vegas which resulted in a mêlée on pit road.
So with the next generation of stars coming up to take over and carry on the sport, who is the one that is going to step out of the corporate model as the villain?
With the recent announcement of the new format for the Monster Energy All-Star Race to add a tire option, spirited discussions began immediately. After eight races with the new Stage racing at every type of track except a road course, most people have settled on their opinion of its entertainment value and impact on the sport. Some of the calls on the talk shows seem negative, but look at what changes the sanctioning body has made to improve the beloved sport of stock car racing.
From the beginning, NASCAR founder William Henry Getty France, known as ‘Big Bill’ ruled his creation with a ‘Iron Fist,’ crushing two different attempts by the drivers to form a union. The first was in 1961 when Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa and star driver Curtis Turner attempted to form the Federation of Professional Athletes prominently featuring NASCAR drivers. France prohibited any union member from participating in any NASCAR events with authority: Continue reading →