2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Honors Five of Sports Greatest

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Portrait of the 2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees, Bruton Smith, Jerry Cook and Terry Labonte following the induction ceremony at The NASCAR Hall of Fame, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 Photo - Scott K. Brown/Pixel Factory

Portrait of the 2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees, Bruton Smith, Jerry Cook and Terry Labonte following the induction ceremony at The NASCAR Hall of Fame, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 Photo – Scott K. Brown/Pixel Factory

2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Honors Five of Sport’s Greatest

Cook, Isaac, Labonte, Smith, Turner Officially Enshrined

Five of NASCAR’s iconic figures – four drivers and one motorsports entrepreneur – were enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina this afternoon during the Induction Ceremony held in the Crown Ball Room at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Those who added their names to the list of now 35 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees, included: Jerry Cook, Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte, O. Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner. Continue reading

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix Preview

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500

The Place: Phoenix International Raceway

The Date: Sunday, Nov. 15

The Time: 2:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBC, 2 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 312 miles (312 laps)

 

Party of Five: Harvick Goes for Fifth Straight Win at Phoenix

Pretty much automatic at Phoenix International Raceway, Kevin Harvick will go for his fifth straight win at the one-mile track in Sunday’s Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup cutoff race. With a visit to Victory Lane on Sunday, Harvick would join NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (Richmond, 7) and Darrell Waltrip (Bristol, 7; North Wilkesboro, 5) as the only drivers to win at least five consecutive races at a single track.

Currently third on the Chase Grid, ten points above the cutoff line, Harvick is trying to advance to the four-driver Championship Round race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to defend his 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. Regardless of how the rest of the field performs at Phoenix, Harvick can clinch a Championship Round berth with a finish of second or better; third and at least one lap led; or fourth and the most laps led. Continue reading

Darlington Raceway Celebrates their NASCAR History over Labor Day Weekend

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Photo – Getty Images

As the son of a history teacher and a fan of anything motorsport,  I find the idea of a ‘throw back’ Darlington race thrilling. This year’s race will feature  fourteen NASCAR Hall of Fame members in attendance, at least thirty-two retro inspired Sprint Cup cars, pit crews wearing and drivers wearing retro style clothing.  Goodyear Tire is even supplying a tire with the look of a ‘old school’ tire for the weekend. This race will be a ton of fun and I applaud the track, sponsors and drivers for putting on this retro themed event.

For  the first time since 2003, the Bojangles Southern 500 will be held on its traditional Labor Day weekend.   Continue reading

Steve Byrnes Becomes Fifth Squier-Hall Award Recipient

Steve Byrnes Photo - FoxSports.com

Steve Byrnes Photo – FoxSports.com

Studio Host and Pit Reporter Enjoyed 30-Year NASCAR Broadcasting Career

Popular FOX Sports broadcaster Steve Byrnes is the recipient of the 2016 Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence. Byrnes most recently served as the play-by-play announcer for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on FOX Sports 1 and was the network’s co-host of NASCAR Race Hub. He passed away in April after a long battle with cancer. Continue reading

Throwback Thursday – Changing of the Guard at the All-Star Race

Photo - Charlotte Motor Speedway

Photo – Charlotte Motor Speedway

Up to the 1989 season, Darrell Waltrip was not liked by many fans. Nicknamed “Jaws”, the talkative Waltrip finally grabbed his elusive Daytona 500 win to start the season. Many may remember him doing the “Ickey Shuffle” in victory lane. The No. 17 Hendrick team, led by crew chief Jeff Hammond, had three wins up to the All-Star race.

The 1989 edition of the All-Star Race was all Waltrip and Rusty Wallace, driving the No. 27 for car owner Raymond Beadle. The two drivers together led 123 of the 135 laps. In the end, it was setting up as a classic duel between Waltrip and Wallace. Continue reading