Sadler on Pole for Inaugural Truck Series Race at Pocono

Today NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series makes it’s first ever stop at the “Tricky Triangle” of Pocono Raceway for the Pocono Mountains 125. Leading the field to green will be Elliott Sadler driving the #2 GT Vodka Chevrolet for Kevin Harvick Inc. Sadler’s time of 55.350 seconds (162.602 MPH) was enough to earn him his first career pole in the truck series.

Starting alongside Sadler is Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne. Kahne will be piloting the #18 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports this weekend. The last time Kahne ran in the truck series was 2004. The good news for Kahne fans is that in his two previous truck series starts he has brought home the trophy both times.
The Pocono Mountains 125 will be broadcast on SPEED Channel with prerace beginning at 12:30 Eastern.

Here’s the full starting lineup:

Letarte Signs Contract Extension with Hendrick Motorsports

LONG POND, Pa. (July 30, 2010) -- Crew chief Steve Letarte has signed a multi-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, the organization announced Friday.

Heading into Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway, the 31-year-old Letarte has guided Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 DuPont team to 10 wins, 21 runner-up finishes, 77 top-five finishes, 108 top-10s and 14 pole positions in 174 races. Gordon's second-place and top-five finishes during that time rank as the most among all drivers (teammate Jimmie Johnson ranks second in top-fives with 76.)

"I'm extremely excited," Letarte said. "Hendrick Motorsports is the only company I've ever received a paycheck from. I've worked here since I was a teenager, and they've provided wonderful opportunities for me. I owe a lot to them. I'm really excited to be extended here so I can go a few more years."

Marshall Carlson Named President of Hendrick Motorsports

CONCORD, N.C. (July 28, 2010) – Rick Hendrick this week elevated Marshall Carlson to the role of president and chief operating officer of Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick made the announcement Tuesday to more than 500 people at the organization's employee meeting.

The position of Hendrick Motorsports president most recently was held by Hendrick's late brother John Hendrick, who assumed the title in 1998. It has remained vacant since his passing in October 2004.

"Marshall has the ability to plug into every aspect of our industry, from competition to marketing, at an extremely high level," said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "He's versatile from a business perspective, and there's a high degree of respect for him throughout the organization because of the way he treats people. We're very fortunate to have someone of his considerable talent help guide us into the future."
Carlson, 37, will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of Hendrick Motorsports, which has earned four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships since he assumed the role of executive vice president and general manager on Jan. 24, 2005.

TV Schedule July 30-Aug. 1

NASCAR returns to Pocono Raceway as the Sprint Cup Series and - for the first time - the Camping World Truck Series take on the Tricky Triangle this weekend. Meanwhile, the Nationwide Series makes its second annual appearance at Iowa Speedway.

Pocono is a different animal from the other tracks on the NASCAR circuit. The 2.5-mile triangle-shaped superspeedway has three sharp turns, all different from one another. Turn 1, with 14-degree banking, was described by Kurt Busch this week as being the bumpiest of the three. Turn 2, the famous "tunnel turn," has a banking of 8 degrees and is widely considered by the majority of drivers to be the most difficult. Turn 3 has 6-degree banking. Instructors with the Stockcar Racing Experience at Pocono will tell you Turn 3 is the most troublesome because as the flattest of the turns, it's easy for drivers to lose focus and "get lost" in the corner. Pocono's three straightaways are also unusual because each one is a different length.

Motorsports as Grief Therapy?

Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images for NASCAR

The following post was written by Skirts and Scuffs contributor Jenny Sigelko during the recent weekend at Gateway International Raceway. Jenny recently lost her mother after a long illness and wanted to share her thoughts on returning to a hobby she enjoys so much.


On behalf of our entire team I would like to express our condolences to Jenny and her entire family. Thanks for sharing your story Jenny and for showing us there are many ways to grieve ~ K

As I stood in the hot sun, in t-shirt & jeans, I exhaled for the first time in what seemed like months. This was my first trip in nearly 4 months, and my first time to relax after my mother’s funeral 10 days prior. I’d spent, along with my dad, nearly every waking moment, apart from work, taking care of my mom. Since her kidneys began to fail in February, she required nearly constant care. Trips away to races were now impossible. Even though I knew the right thing was to care for my mom, it was hard to watch my plans unravel… Nashville, Richmond, Darlington, New Hampshire, Chicago had come and gone. The thought of getting on the airplane for St.Louis kept me companion through her services and the days after.

Dover Motorsports Declines 2011 NASCAR Events at Gateway International Raceway

July 28, 2010 - Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Gateway International Raceway has notified NASCAR that it will not seek 2011 sanctions for its two Nationwide Series and one Camping World Truck Series races.

Vice President and General Manager of Gateway, Terry Harmeson stated, “This was a difficult decision in light of the many years of earnest and continued efforts on everyone’s part to develop a viable market for these events in one of our nation’s greatest cities. We remain committed to fulfill the balance of our 2010 schedule including our October 23rd NASCAR Nationwide race which will provide our fans the opportunity to see Danica Patrick compete here for the first time. We also plan to explore various ways to change the economics at Gateway both from the revenue and expense side.”

Update on the Condition of Jack Roush Following Plane Crash

Read the initial release from Roush Fenway Racing here.

Concord, N.C. (July 28, 2010) – Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH® Enterprises, remains hospitalized in serious, but stable condition following a plane accident at Wittman Air Field in Oshkosh, Wisc., yesterday.  He is currently under observation for facial injuries sustained in the accident.

His passenger, Brenda Stricklin, was treated and released from a Wisconsin hospital this afternoon.

Labonte to Replace Ambrose for JTG Daugherty in 2011

JTG Daugherty Racing announced today that 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte will take the reins as driver of the No. 47 Toyota Camry for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 36-race schedule. 

“JTG Daugherty Racing is a solid race team that has come close to winning races with Marcos Ambrose and I’m looking forward to developing our new partnership in 2011,” Labonte said. “The team is thriving and their technical alliance with MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) is intact. It’s great to have next year already set in stone so when this season ends we can begin focusing on next year right away. Everything is in place and we have all the right ingredients to win races together.”

Labonte’s credentials speak for themselves. The Corpus Christi, Texas native is a 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner with 26 pole awards, 114 top-five and 199 top-10 finishes. Team owners Jodi and Tad Geschickter and Brad Daugherty are pleased Labonte accepted the offer to drive the JTG Daugherty Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry as they enter their third full-time season of competition at Daytona International Speedway on February 13th.

Scranton dealership to host meet-and-great with Kyle Busch

In anticipation of this weekend's races at Pocono Raceway, Kyle Busch will make an appearance at the Toyota of Scranton dealership, 3400 N. Main Ave., Scranton, on Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The event kicks off with a press conference. Busch will take questions from media and fans and will be on hand to sign autographs. There will be food, racecars on display and simulators.

Toyota of Scranton will sponsor the No. 18 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports in Saturday's inaugural Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway. Kasey Kahne will pilot the No. 18 truck in the Pocono Mountains 125. Busch will be competing later that day in the Nationwide Series event at Iowa Speedway.

Busch is the driver of the No. 18 M&Ms Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He won the pole for the June race at Pocono Raceway and will attempt his first win at the track in Sunday's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500. He has two Cup wins this season and sits sixth in the championship standings.

NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee spotlight: Richie Evans

Richard Petty may be considered the "King" of NASCAR's Cup level, but Richie Evans is the "King" when it comes to NASCAR's modified ranks, and rightfully so.

The exact numbers aren't known by NASCAR, but it is estimated that Evans posted 475 wins in 1,300 starts in NASCAR Modified racing. In the 13-year span from 1973 to 1985, he captured nine modified titles, eight of them coming in consecutive seasons. The first of those titles came in 1973. Evans won his second championship in 1978 and went on the win modified titles every year through the remainder of his racing career that ended in 1985.

When the NASCAR series that is now dubbed the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was born in 1985, Evans rang in the new series with a season that saw him win 12 races. On the strength of those 12 wins, Evans clinched the 1985 championship before his death in a practice crash at Martinsville Speedway in October of that year.

To read more of this bio, visit Cup Series News and Notes.

Photo of Richie Evans courtesy of ISC Archives/Getty Images

Roush Rewind: Brickyard 400

After an off weekend for the Cup drivers, NASCAR made its annual trip to storied Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the running of the Brickyard 400. Indianapolis, affectionately called Indy by fans and drivers alike, is one of the most historic tracks on the circuit. Next to the Daytona 500, the race at Indianapolis is one every driver strives to win. Winning there is an unforgettable experience for drivers, their crews, and the team owners.

Two weeks ago, the Roush Fenway Racing drivers ran one of their best races of the season at Chicagoland, and they looked to build on that performance and be contenders for the win on Sunday. A Roush Fenway Racing driver has finished 2nd at Indy four times. With zero wins among the four of them this season, each one wanted to be the winner kissing those famous bricks once the checkered flag waved, but once again, a win at the Brickyard eluded Roush Fenway Racing.

Fans In The Stands - My ORP Experience!

For the last three years, my mom and I have scored two free Brickyard tickets. This year, we weren't so lucky. My mom had told me that we would go to the Brickyard this year even if we didn't get free tickets. The weekend of the Brickyard 400 was upon us and my mom told me that we wouldn't be going to the famous track this year. I was bummed but I understood why we weren't able to go. Then she said we would be going to the Nationwide Series race at O'Reilly Raceway Park aka ORP! I was so excited because I had never been to ORP and I had learned that Kyle Busch would be driving in the #18 Toyota Camry!

The following day, I learned that Lacy Keyser, a fellow writer for Skirts & Scuffs, would be flying out to Indy for her first ever NASCAR race weekend by attending the Nationwide and Cup races! We had gotten to know each other on Twitter and had become good friends. I was excited to meet her! I had tweeted Ashley Allgaier, Nationwide driver Justin Allgaier's wife, that I would be attending the race because I had wanted to meet her. We had talked on Twitter a few times and had wanted to meet each other at Eldora but it didn't work out. The Friday before the race, Ashley had direct messaged me on Twitter saying that if my mom and I needed tickets that she had 2 free extra tickets and wanted to know if we wanted them. I said yes that we would love them and thanked her over and over again. It was so nice of her to give us the extra tickets! Ashley is such a nice and down to earth person.

5 Questions After ... Brickyard 400

The Brickyard 400 turned out to be a very surprising race. Several dark horse runners were up front for most of the race, while the expected contenders never challenged for the victory. Add to that mix the string of overheating racecars that had to hit pit road less than 20 laps into the race, and “bizarre” might accurately describe all the goings-on at “The Brickyard” on Sunday afternoon.

Here are some questions on my mind following the race on Sunday…

Did Jamie McMurray’s win upset anyone? … Almost every driver has haters to go along with their loyal following of fans. There seems to be a group of people for every driver that cheers for their demise and shouts with triumph whenever that driver suffers any misfortune. But this Sunday, was anyone unhappy with Jamie McMurray? Was anyone walking away from the race angry because of who was in Victory Lane? Any driver that was asked about McMurray’s win (or even if they weren’t) seemed genuinely happy for the Missouri native who at this time last year wasn’t even sure if he had a ride in 2010. Now he has two Sprint Cup Series victories, both of which came in the biggest races of the season. Most (if not all) fans were celebrating right along with McMurray, happy to see the feel-good, underdog story of the season continue.

Crew Chief For The No. 83 Team In The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Penalized For Rule Violation at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 27, 2010) – NASCAR has penalized Jimmy Elledge, crew chief for the No. 83 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, for a rule violation committed last week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Elledge has been fined $25,000 for violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-2.3A (improperly attached weight) of the 2010 NASCAR rule book.

The violation was discovered during practice on July 24.

No. 88 NASCAR Nationwide Series Team Penalized For Rule Violation At O’Reilly Raceway Park

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 27, 2010) – NASCAR handed down penalties Tuesday to the No. 88 team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for a rule violation committed last week at O’Reilly Raceway Park.

The penalties come as a result of the team violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-12.3T (unapproved left front shock absorber) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book. The violation was discovered in post-race inspection on July 24.

Crew chief Tony Eury Sr. has been fined $10,000, while owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and driver Aric Almirola have been penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner and 25 championship driver points, respectively.

Photo: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Ambrose Departing JTG Daugherty at Conclusion of 2010 Season

After five successful years together in NASCAR’s top touring divisions, JTG Daugherty Racing and Marcos Ambrose will part ways at the end of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

“JTG Daugherty Racing and our sponsors are obviously huge Marcos Ambrose fans and we are disappointed to see him leave after five great years of building a program together from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, to the Nationwide Series, and into the Sprint Cup Series,” said Tad Geschickter, co-owner of JTG Daugherty Racing along with Brad Daugherty and Jodi Geschickter. “Marcos is a friend and he is a great talent. He will be an asset to his next team.

“While we hate to see him move on at the end of the season, we will remain focused on winning races with Marcos,” Geschickter continued.  "We are excited about our company's development. We have NASCAR’s greatest and most loyal sponsors, a growing fan base, and a steadily improving race team.”

“We have enjoyed working with Marcos and getting to know his family and friends from both the United States and Australia,” Jodi Geschickter added. “They have brought a lively dimension to our racing family and we have appreciated the opportunity to get to know them. Although we will miss Marcos, we have an amazing team at JTG Daugherty Racing and we look forward to announcing our plans for 2011.”

NASCAR Anonymously Fines Two Top Drivers

News broke late yesterday about NASCAR fining two drivers for comments made that were degrading to the sport or to the fans. Granted, I don't know who these drivers are I can certainly speculate who they might be.

Coming off a season last year that was very vanilla, aside from the Keselowski/Hamlin Nationwide feud, I have to say I was excited this season to hear what drivers really thought and somewhat catch a glimpse of just who these guys we cheer for week in and week out really are.

At the same time I am hypocritical in my own thoughts. It's for these very reasons I have been known to discourage my three year old from cheering for Kyle Busch, because of the things he has said and the way he acts. I can understand NASCAR's feeling of trying to protect their product as I am trying to protect my child from the words and actions of an outspoken and passionate driver.

However, I don't see how putting a muzzle on drivers is good for the sport. It's the passion and heart of these guys that a lot of people I know tune in on the weekends to see. I think NASCAR is taking a big risk in trying to protect the integrity of the sport by somewhat limiting what the drivers are allowed to say to their fan base. In feeling this way about NASCAR's attempt to keep the drivers quiet, I know I have to let up on my son and let him cheer on the very outspoken Kyle Busch!

McMurray Kisses the Bricks: Brickyard 400 Recap

(July 25, 2010) INDIANAPOLIS — Car owner Chip Ganassi got the expected result from an unexpected source in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as race winner Jamie McMurray joined one of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing’s most exclusive clubs.

Restarting second thanks to a two-tire call on a Lap 140 pit stop, McMurray powered his No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet past Kevin Harvick’s No. 29 Chevy on a restart with 11 laps left and pulled away to beat Harvick to the finish line by 1.391 seconds.

“I get to kiss the bricks,” McMurray said after he crossed the stripe, adding another milestone to his career and Ganassi’s unbelievable year.

McMurray gave Ganassi his first Daytona 500 win in February. In May, Dario Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 in one of Ganassi’s cars. On Sunday, Ganassi hit the unprecedented trifecta. No other car owner has won all three major races, much less in the same year.

At the same time, McMurray joined Dale Jarrett (1996) and Jimmie Johnson (2006) as the only drivers to win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year.

Busch Wins 8th Nationwide Race of Season in Just 16 Starts

CLERMONT, Ind.—This time, there was no controversial finish.

For the second NASCAR Nationwide Series race in a row, Carl Edwards went side-by-side for the lead on the final lap. But Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park, Kyle Busch held Edwards off to win the Kroger 200 at the 0.686-mile track.

Last week at Gateway International Raceway, Edwards dumped Brad Keselowski coming to the checkered flag, triggering a multicar accident and forcing NASCAR to penalize both drivers.

This time, Edwards raced Busch cleanly, and Busch grabbed his 38th career Nationwide Series victory, second only to Mark Martin on the all-time win list. Martin has 48 wins in the series.

Edwards and some others on the lead lap pitted for fresh tires on Lap 162, with Edwards restarting 11th with 28 laps to go. Edwards sliced through the top 10 to get to second, and a caution came out with six laps to go.

On the green-white-checkered restart, Busch got the jump on Edwards into Turn 1, though Edwards tried to get to the inside lane on the white flag lap and on the final lap. But Busch was up to the task. He led four times for 144 laps.
Ron Hornaday, who won Friday night's Camping World Truck Series race here, ran in the top five for most of the race until he and the lapped car of J.C. Stout got together in Turn 2 on Lap 161.
"Lapper just turned left," Hornaday said after he drove his damaged car behind the wall.
Aric Almirola finished third, with polesitter Trevor Bayne fourth and Reed Sorenson fifth.

Hornaday Snaps 22 Race Winless Streak with Win at ORP

(July 23, 2010) CLERMONT, Ind.—The back-to-basics approach seems to work for Ron Hornaday Jr. and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team.

Hornaday Jr. snapped a 22-race winless streak in the truck series Friday night, winning the AAA Insurance 200 at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

Watched by team owner Kevin Harvick, Hornaday led 129 laps and beat runner-up Kyle Busch by 2.095 seconds for his first victory since Aug. 1 of last year at Nashville Superspeedway.

Hornaday credited crew chief Ernie Cope — who rejoined the truck team while maintaining his crew chief job with the KHI NASCAR Nationwide Series group — with helping turn things around.

"We couldn't do it without Ernie Cope and all these guys on this Chevrolet," Hornaday said. "They worked their guts out, changing the truck after last weekend. It's just a great day. Hopefully it keeps a little bit quiet. It took Ernie to come over here and settle everybody down. The guys were getting a little anxious. We know we've got a winning team. We just had to prove it to them."

What did Cope do for Hornaday?

Oh baby! Hornish, wife expecting second child

Maybe there really is something in the water...

A day after Ryan Newman and his wife Krissie announced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that they were expecting, Sam Hornish Jr. broke the news Saturday that he and his wife Crystal are expecting their second child.

During an ESPN interview, the usually calm and collected Hornish excitedly rambled on about not knowing if the baby was a boy or a girl. The Indianapolis 500 champion was clearly thrilled about his growing family. The Hornishes have one child, daughter Addison, 2. The baby is due Dec. 30.

Reutimann and Aaron’s Team Up Through 2012

INDIANAPOLIS (JULY 23, 2010) – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that it has signed agreements extending its relationships with driver David Reutimann and primary sponsor Aaron’s, Inc. on the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota through the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
 

“I’m glad both Michael Waltrip Racing and Aaron’s want to keep me around,” joked Reutimann. “I’ve been asked about my contract for the last month and we’ve had a handshake agreement, but now it’s done and I’m glad I can finally talk about it. I’m thrilled. This is where I want to be – at Michael Waltrip Racing driving the No. 00 with Aaron’s on the hood. Aaron’s has been a great partner and I consider myself a lucky dog every time I get behind the wheel of the Aaron’s Dream Machine.
 

“Michael and Darrell Waltrip have given me just about every chance I have ever had in NASCAR since 2004 and I don’t want to go anywhere else. Good things are happening here and I plan to be a part of it.”

Starting Lineup: Camping World Truck Series – AAA Insurance 200 Presented by J.D. Byrider

While the Sprint Cup Series is coming to you from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series are in action at O’Reilly Raceway Park. ORP is a .686 mile track located just a few miles away from where the big boys will play Sunday afternoon.

With a time of 22.522 seconds (109.653 MPH) Timothy Peters captured the pole for Friday nights event. Starting alongside Peters is Kyle Busch.

An Exciting Announcement from the Brickyard: Newman Expecting First Child

Chevy Day at the Brickyard is one of the most popular fan events in the sport. Fans can head over to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the Friday before NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 for a day of autograph and Q&A sessions with the Team Chevy drivers.

Two years ago Casey Mears made the announcement from the Chevy stage that he was expecting his first child.

Today, in similar fashion Ryan Newman and his wife Krissie announced that they were expecting their first child. The announcement was confirmed on the Team Chevy Facebook page:

Team Chevy would like to congratulate Ryan and Krissie Newman! Ryan told fans from the Team Chevy stage today that he will be a first time father in 2010! So excited for them both!

Riki Rachtman broke the news on Twitter saying: Hey Ryan Newmans gonna be a papa . I think I'm breaking the story Congrats Krissie

The Newmans join a long line of recent and upcoming births in the sport of NASCAR. Earlier in the month Jimmie Johnson and wife Chandra welcomed a daughter and just last week Juan Pablo Montoya and his wife Connie welcomed their third child.

On behalf of the entire Skirts and Scuffs team we would like to congratulate Ryan and Krissie!

If you want to learn more about Krissie check out the interview our columnist Lindi Bess did with her a few months back.

Win Dale Jr. AMP Energy official merchandise from Skirts and Scuffs

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED. CONGRATULATIONS TO JEANNIE! CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR DETAILS ON CLAIMING THE PRIZE! LOOK FOR MORE GREAT GIVEAWAYS SOON FROM SKIRTS AND SCUFFS

 

Thanks to AMP Energy, co-sponsor of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Skirts and Scuffs is giving away this officially licensed Dale Jr. clock and keychain to one lucky reader. The clock measures approximately 12.5 inches by 10.5 inches.

To enter, please leave a comment below as whether you think Dale Jr. will make the Chase this season. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing.

The contest begins Friday, July 23, and will end Thursday, July 29, at noon, when the drawing will be conducted. Skirts and Scuffs will contact the winner by e-mail within 24 hours of the end of the contest. Winner has 48 hours after e-mail is sent to respond.

Skirts and Scuffs contributors are not eligible to participate.

Good luck to all those who enter!

For more information on Dale Earnhardt Jr. and AMP Energy, check out the official website at www.ampupthe88.com, which features weekly video chats with members of the No. 88 crew and Hendrick Motorsports, videos and daily giveaways.

Keselowski and Edwards Not Backin' Down

First we heard from NASCAR and their decision on penalties for both Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards. Now both drivers have said their peace in different media sessions in Indianapolis.

Just like always, these two racers see one incident in a very different light. What's even more confusing, Brad seems to be "happy" about NASCAR's decision to also place him on probation the rest of the year. Keselowski says it "takes away the pressure of retaliation." While I tend to agree with him, after hearing Edwards' comments in the media center I still believe this feud is far from over.

NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee spotlight: Jerry Cook

When NASCAR announced its second class of nominees up for induction into the Hall of Fame recently, Jerry Cook became the second driver from NASCAR's Modified ranks to receive a nomination, following Richie Evans who was one of the inaugural 25 nominees and is nominated again this year.

Cook and Evans went head to head in what turned into quite the rivalry between the two Rome, N.Y., drivers in modified racing.

After beginning his racing career at the age of 13, Cook made a name for himself in NASCAR's Modified division by claiming six NASCAR Modified championships, including four-straight between 1974 and 1977. His other two championship came in the consecutive years of 1971 and 1972 after runner-up showings in 1969 and 1970. Cook's career included 1,474 modified starts with 342 wins.

To read more, visit Cup Series News and Notes.

Photo of Jerry Cook courtesy of ISC Archives/Getty Images

Roush Fenway Hits One Million-Mile Mark in NASCAR Sprint Cup Action

CONCORD, N.C. (July 22, 2010) – On February 14, 1988 Jack Roush launched into his first official foray into the big-time world of NASCAR racing. The day would be a short one – lasting just under 50 of the scheduled 500 miles of the world’s biggest race. It was a humble beginning for what would grow into one of the most successful organizations in professional sports. Today - almost 25 years later - Roush Fenway Racing has covered over one million miles in Sprint Cup action, enough miles to cover the Earth 40 times over.

Multi-Truck Qualifying Procedure Planned For Inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event At Pocono Raceway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 21, 2010) – NASCAR announced today that it will revise the qualifying procedure for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ inaugural Pocono Mountains 125 at Pocono Raceway on Saturday, July 31, with a multi-truck session on the 2.5-mile track.

The order in which trucks will qualify for the 36 available positions will be based on their practice speeds from final practice on Friday, July 30. Times will be inverted, allowing the slowest truck in practice to be the first out in qualifying on Saturday morning, with the fastest truck going out last. Trucks will be released from pit road in approximately 25-second increments.

Two laps of qualifying will be allowed with the fastest lap counting. Once a truck comes onto pit road its respective qualifying lap is complete. No drafting will be permitted.

The NASCAR Foundation Hosts Rusty’s Roast Of Richard Childress Presented By Musco Lighting At Iowa Speedway On July 29

NEWTON, Iowa (July 22, 2010) – Iowa Speedway will be the site of a very special night that will honor and celebrate the career of one of NASCAR’s most successful team owners, Richard Childress.

NASCAR Foundation Board Member Rusty Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, will team with his brother, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kenny Wallace, to host Rusty’s Roast of Richard Childress presented by Musco Lighting on July 29 at the Newton Club. Money raised from the Roast will benefit The NASCAR Foundation, an organization created to raise funds and increase volunteerism to support non-profit charities and causes throughout the nation that help children lead happier, healthier lives.

Attendees will hear from some of Childress’ closest friends, including Featherlite Trailers CEO Conrad Clement, Richard Childress Racing driver Clint Bowyer, NASCAR President Mike Helton and former RCR team member and SIRIUS NASCAR Radio host Chocolate Myers. In addition to telling their favorite Childress stories, the roasters will celebrate key moments from Childress’ illustrious career, including the record 11 car-owner championships and six championships he won with legendary driver Dale Earnhardt.

Johanna Long Makes Truck Series Debut at ORP

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 19, 2010) – The AAA Insurance 200 will mark Johanna Long’s debut in one of NASCAR’s top-three series.  The Pensacola, Fla., native will drive the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports (BBM) Toyota Tundra at the famed O’Reilly Raceway Park in her first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series outing.

Long has already collected an impressive list of racing accomplishments.  At only 18 years old, she touts Late Model championships in the Blizzard Series and Gulf Coast Series from the 2009 season. Long won five of the 36 events she ran en route to her championships and captured the pole for the esteemed Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in 2009. Long also competed in two ARCA events last season.

Long has tested with BBM twice.  She worked with the No. 15 team at Caraway (N.C.) Speedway and Gresham (Ga.) Motorsports Park (GMP) in preparation for her inaugural NASCAR race. While at GMP, Long clicked off the fastest lap time at the half-mile asphalt oval. Her time of 17.218 seconds was the quickest among NASCAR’s top-three series since the facility was repaved last season.

NASCAR may have finally drawn line in the sand

It looks like NASCAR may have figured out where the proverbial "line" is with a little help from Carl Edwards after Saturday night's Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway.

Following the incident between Edwards and Brad Keselowski in the Sprint Cup event at Atlanta Motor Speedway back in March, NASCAR placed Edwards on probation for three races, with no fine and no suspension -- seemingly to the dismay of some of his fellow competitors. The move, or lack thereof, prompted Kevin Harvick to tweet that he maybe should ask NASCAR for refunds for some of his fines from over the years.

According to NASCAR President Mike Helton, the issue in the Atlanta incident was the fact that Keselowski's car got airborne, something that Edwards didn't intend to happen. Helton also said in a statement following the Atlanta incident that NASCAR hadn't yet determined where the line actually was that drivers would have to cross before NASCAR stepped in to help settle matters between drivers despite NASCAR "new" policy allowing drivers to police themselves....

To read more, visit Auto Racing Daily

Photo courtesy of NASCAR Media

TV Schedule July 23-25

Sunday marks one of the most important races on NASCAR's calendar: the Brickyard 400. Indianapolis is a mecca of auto racing, also hosting the prestigious Indianapolis 500 in the Izod IndyCar Series. But this weekend, it's all about NASCAR. Who will continue the victor's tradition of kissing the bricks?

The 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a unique surface of brick and asphalt. The track is considered flat, with 9-degree banking in the turns and none in the straightaways. The corners, nearly perfect right angles, coupled with the long straightaways present a challenge for drivers. The driver with the best handling car, best pit crew and best luck will be the one left standing in Victory Lane.

NASCAR Draws A Line in the Sand: Keselowski and Edwards Penalties Announced

From the second Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards made contact Saturday night in the NASCAR Nationwide event at Gateway International Raceway we have been debating what NASCAR would do. Some people speculated that NASCAR would continue with their “have at it boys” stance while others were demanding Edwards be held accountable for his actions. Fans screamed that Edwards should be suspended while others took the stance that Edwards was just doing his job and that Keselowski deserved what he got.

Regardless of what side of the debate you fall on, this is perhaps the most talked about rivalry we have seen in years and it’s one that will continue to unfold as Edwards and Keselowski battle for the Nationwide Series Championship.

But, both drivers are going to have to keep their tempers in check and their cars under control if they want to make it through the rest of the season without further action being taken against them.

When "Have At It Boys" Goes Too Far

Rubbin' is racin', we're taking the gloves off, have at it boys. These expressions seem to completely define the 2010 season thus far, but what happens when the shaded gray area is crossed into and just flat out wrong?

Being a Brad Keselowski fan, it's very easy for me to say Carl was wrong, Carl wrecked him and any other negative thing I could come up with. It wasn't until I heard Reed Sorenson's comments on Sirius 128 when I decided I how I really felt about this issue. Reed said he "saw the 60 drive into the 22." After hearing Reed's comments, the anger I felt after witnessing this on Saturday was back in full force. Instead of yelling at my radio like I had my TV and tweeting some probably not very nice things about Carl, I started to think about some stuff.

There are three very clear issues coming out of Saturday night's melee at Gateway. The first issue is Brad Keselowski and his sometimes popular and sometimes very unpopular racing style, next is Carl Edwards and his temper, and the last a father's involvement in his son's racing career.

To Do In Indy: Chevy Day at the Brickyard (Friday July 23, 2010)

If you get into town early don’t forget to check out the events leading up to Sunday’s Brickyard 400. On Thursday enjoy the hauler parade and on Friday head over to the track for Chevy Day at the Brickyard. Here are the details for Chevy Day at the Brickyard:

Brickyard 400 fans can enjoy a wide variety of fun activities Friday, July 23 during Chevy Day at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including Sprint Cup driver Q&A and autograph sessions, test drives in Chevy vehicles and much more.

All Chevy Day functions are included in the Friday general admission price: $10 for adults, with any number of children 12 and under admitted free with at least one adult holding a general admission ticket.

Many Chevy drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will participate in question-and-answer sessions with fans Friday at the Team Chevy Stage next to the IMS Hall of Fame Museum. The schedule (all times Eastern):

Guest Post (Barbara Nixon) - Checked Off My Bucket List: Riding in a Pace Car During a NASCAR Race

If you are a NASCAR fan on Twitter you may be familiar with Barbara Nixon (@BarbaraNixon). Barbara recently marked off an event from her bucket list that many of us have only dreamed about. Today Barbara shares her story with our readers. This post originally appeared on her own blog Public Relations Matters and has been republished with her permission – Thanks for sharing with us Barbara

One day in February, not long after my husband Kevin and I went to the
Pothole
Daytona 500, I tweeted that one of the things on my bucket list was to ride in a pace car during a NASCAR race.

I wrote it not thinking I’d get much of a response other than maybe a “me, too” from another NASCAR fan. But was I ever surprised when Brandon Mudd, the Public Relations and Media Manager for Gateway Raceway, replied to me a few minutes later.

My first reaction was, “Yeah, right.” Then after a few Twitter, LinkedIn and e-mail interchanges, I realized that this was actually going to happen. All I had to do was get myself (and my hubby) to St. Louis the weekend of July 16 & 17.

Gateway Raceway provided my husband Kevin and me with Hot Pit / Garage / Media Center passes, along with passes to Victory Circle, and even Infield Parking. If you’re not a NASCAR fan this is what it means:

S & S receives a THUMBS UP!

Recently, @LindiB_NASCAR, a contributor to this site, held a giveaway for the great followers of both her and the Skirts and Scuffs site. The item was the above life-size cut-out of Kyle Busch posing with the sexy green M & M.

The contest was open to all and the winner was chosen randomly using an application called Twitrand. The winner that was chosen was @4RowdyFans. Her name is Brittany Hayes. Brittany has a son who is a huge Kyle Busch fan and has been collecting Kyle Busch memorabilia for a good portion of his life.

His name is Taylor and he actually got to meet Kyle when he was 4 in 2009 at Bristol Motor Speedway because of his medical problems. His mother, Brittany, has decorated Kyle’s room with KB items. She entered the contest. Brittany tweeted after winning, “As soon as I saw the Twitter ID pic (of the prize) I was hoping that he would be the one” and by nothing short of a miracle, they won!

How far should NASCAR’s “boys have at it” stance be allowed to go?

A rivalry that bordered on downright feuding seemed to brew between Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin back in 2008 NS carried over well into 2009, with Hamlin seeming to carry more of the bitter emotion. While the two never publicly mended fences, that rivalry seems to have cooled only for another one to take its place—a fireworks and bended sheet metal-filled rivalry between Keselowski and Carl Edwards.

The two drivers brought mainstream media attention, actually last sprint at Talladega, when the two got together on the final lap and parts of Edwards’ car showered the grandstands, but Edwards admitted fault, saying he tried unsuccessfully to block Keselowski, and the two drivers seemed to hold no ill will between them.

Fast forward to the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway early this season, and Edwards was noticeably irked, to say the least, at Keselowski.

From The Track To The Pits

2003 South Putnam High School Graduate Jonathan Hassler focuses on his job as a racing engineer for NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Justin Allgaier.

At age 8, Jonathan Hassler knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. He wanted to always pursue his career in racing. He loved racing go karts at a little race track the Putnam/Clay County line.

When Hassler was 13, his whole family stopped racing, but he didn't. He wanted to keep going and hopefully one day make it into a career.

Hassler then took his racing career to the next level. He started racing 600cc modified sprint cars along with his go karts. Then he ended up finding himself in a situation that he had the inability to move up.

When Hassler couldn't afford to race anymore, he didn't give up on his dream of racing. He told himself to stay with it. He did not want to give up hope yet. Then by a stroke of good luck, Hassler ran into someone who changed his life.

Montoya becomes a dad for the third time

The NASCAR family continues to grow. Sprint Cup driver Juan Pablo Montoya announced Monday afternoon on Twitter that his wife Connie had given birth to their third child, daughter Manuela:

jpmontoya: Manuela was born an hour ago. Mother and baby doing great!!!

Montoya and Connie were married in October 2002. They are also the parents of a son, Sebastian, and a daughter, Paulina.

Retaliation: How Far Is NASCAR Willing to Let It Go?

When you feel that someone has done you wrong, you find a way to show them how you feel about it. In NASCAR, that principle of retaliation is an underlying theme. Ask any NASCAR fan, and they can probably tell you of at least one confrontation their favorite driver has had with another due to getting payback for an on-track incident. So, just what caused the big commotion this time around? We’ve all seen drivers intentionally wreck each other before, but it seems that maybe the line was crossed on Saturday night.

On Saturday night, as the action unfolded during the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealer’s 250 at Gateway International Raceway, it was the last lap move for the lead that caused a big stir. Some fans cheered when the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge being driven by Brad Keselowski was wrecked by Carl Edwards in the No. 60 Aflac Ford. Other fans, like me, watched in disbelief. Crews anxiously waited for the smoke to clear to see if their drivers had made it through the melee. Team owners, one in particular I’m sure, couldn’t believe their eyes. I am a fan of both Edwards and Keselowski, and as I watched Edwards take the checkered flag, it almost made me sick.

In the Middle

I was up all night Saturday reading through arguments and discussions while at the same time having my own with a few respectful fans. The topic was Carl Edwards getting into Brad Keselowski at the NNS Gateway race. Throughout the night I felt like I was the only person who was standing on the middle ground in all of this.

My opinion is simple. First of all, I think we need to leave the past in the past. This wasn’t Atlanta, nor did it have anything to do with Atlanta, and that was a main argument point I saw on Twitter.com. Some fans think that this was payback again, but why bring a past race into it? It’s not that; it was the fact of Brad bumping Carl in the turns and taking the lead from him.

When A Line Is Crossed

Saturday's Nationwide race was filled with great racing all night long. It was clear that Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards had two great cars. The last lap was going to be great, you already knew. But I don’t think anyone was prepared for what would happen.

The final laps were in play. Entering the first two turns Brad’s car got loose and slid into the side of Carl, causing both to almost wreck. Brad and Carl have some rivalry when it comes to bumping one another. Brad’s unintentional bump would make Carl mad.

As Brad and Carl neared the final set of turns, Brad’s car became loose again. As Brad gained control of his car once again, Carl then turned left and rammed into Brad. Brad then went into the wall, causing a crash behind him.

Many say Carl had every right to do this, while many say Carl did a bad thing and should be fined. My feelings on this run deep. At first I said OK, maybe that was an accident. I watched the replays and studied it closely. As I watched, it was clear to me Carl turned left into Brad. But I still didn’t want to push any judgment on Carl; it wasn’t until Victory Lane that I knew it was done intentionally.

Is Edwards Really to Blame for Last Lap Wreck?

Commentators were unsure, teams were angry, and fans were thrilled. After tonight's Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway, even NASCAR is unsure of whether the last-lap incident was intentional or just hard racing.

It seems that tonight's altercation went beyond just NASCAR and its fans as Carl Edwards was the number one trending topic on twitter.com--which I personally have never seen. As I was reading tweets about Carl and the incident, I realized most people either felt that Edwards did what was within his limitations in regards to NASCAR's rules--or they felt that Edwards had inadvertant plans to kill Keselowski. Brad's father, Bob, felt that the latter was true. I believe that Brad's father and fans have no right to blame Carl. Bob Keselowski made the comment that Carl nearly put Brad into the grandstands in Atlanta--but what about Talladega when Carl literally had pieces of his car fly into the grandstands? If Bob Keselowski wants to preach about safety and "killing" other drivers, he may want to direct his comments towards his son, Brad, as well.

The fact that fans can casually make comments about a professional racecar driver wanting to kill another is preposterous. No one driver wants to kill a colleague. Do they want to win races? Of course! The point of being involved in one of the most watched racing series in the world is to win races and win championships. If Brad had been nose to bumper with Carl leading coming out of turn 4, he wouldn't have budged. He may have made an even more controversial move, if you can imagine what that would be like.

CampingWorld.com 200 postponed due to power outage

Due to an electricity outage, the CampingWorld.com 200 Truck Series race at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., has been rescheduled to Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on SPEED.

Friday's scheduled event was called because of the length of time needed to make repairs to a blown transformer, which disrupted power at the track and the surrounding area, according to a press release issued by Gateway International Raceway. The electricity went out shortly before drivers were to enter their vehicles on pit road, causing a delay of nearly two hours before the decision was made to postpone the race.

Virginia Tourism Corporation, Martinsville Speedway Combine For Ultimate Fan Sweepstakes

Families who love NASCAR will love the latest vacation sweepstakes from the Virginia Tourism Corporation.  Starting July 15, race fans can enter to win the Virginia is for Racing Lovers Ultimate Fan Sweepstakes – an over-the-top race inspired vacation to Martinsville for the October 24 Sprint Cup race, the TUMS Fast Relief 500. U.S. residents 21 and older can enter online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com/sweepstakes.

The contest runs through September 17, 2010.

The grand prize winner and three guests will fly to Virginia for VIP treatment at the TUMS Fast Relief 500.  The grand prize puts the winners at the edge of the action, literally, with the use of a 30-foot luxury recreational vehicle parked trackside at Martinsville Speedway’s Champions Overlook.  The RV will be filled with groceries provided by Kroger and decked out in Virginia is for Lovers apparel and prizes.   As part of the package, the winning family will have a VIP meet and greet with a Sprint Cup driver and be treated to sights and destinations in and around Martinsville.

“Racing is a tradition that brings families to Virginia to experience the thrill of NASCAR together,” said Alisa Bailey, President and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation.  “This new sweepstakes is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get about as close to the race as you can, without actually driving in it. It’s sure to be an unforgettable experience for the winner and their family.”

Kahne and Kyle Busch Motorsports Team Up for Pocono Truck Race

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 15, 2010) – Kasey Kahne, who is undefeated in two career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, will pilot the No. 18 Toyota of Scranton (Pa.) Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) in the inaugural Pocono Mountains 125 Truck Series event July 31 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.

Kahne, who drives the No. 9 Budweiser Ford full-time for Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, won Truck Series races in November 2004 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve competed in the Camping World Truck Series,” said Kahne, who led 149 of a possible 284 laps in his two Truck Series starts. “It’s a great opportunity for me to come back to the series and compete with really good equipment. I’ve watched Kyle put the team together and it’s really been impressive how well they’ve done this year as a first-year team. I’m really looking forward to working with Rick Ren (director of competition) and Eric Phillips (crew chief) and trying to put the No. 18 Toyota of Scranton Toyota Tundra in victory lane.”

Roush Fenway Reaching Fans Via Twitter

Concord, N.C. (July 14, 2010) - Social media is undoubtedly changing
the digital landscape and having a significant impact on the corporate
suite. Brands are continuing to look for ways to engage customers via
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn among other new media outlets,
and Roush Fenway Racing is no different.

NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee spotlight: Richard Childress

Richard Childress began his NASCAR career as an owner/driver. He bought his first race car for $20 at the age of 17 and made it to the NASCAR ranks in 1969, serving as a replacement driver at Talladega Superspeedway during a drivers' strike. After he broke into the NASCAR world, he continued to drive his own car until 1981. During that time, he made 285 starts at the Cup level. Those starts included six top-five finishes and 76 top-10s. His highest points finish was fifth in 1975.

Childress' career as a car owner, however, skyrocketed after he decided to put another driver in his car in 1981. That driver was Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt din't drive for Childress every year from 1981 until his death in 2001. The two went their separate ways for the 1982 season when Earnhardt left Richard Childress Racing to drive for Bud Moore, but he came back a couple of years later to drive for RCR in 1984 and never left the team again.

To read to rest of this biography, visit Cup Series News and Notes.

Photo courtesy of ISC Archives/Getty Images

TV Schedule July 15-18

The Sprint Cup Series takes a breather this weekend in anticipation of next week's event at the Brickyard. But race fans, don't fear - the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series will be in full swing at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill.

The 1.25-mile oval has been compared to no less than three tracks on the Cup circuit. Gateway has varying degrees of banking in the corners - 11 degrees in turns 1 and 2 and 9 degrees in turns 3 and 4. The first two turns are said to be reminiscent of New Hampshire, while turns 3 and 4 are similar to Phoenix. The track shares Darlington's unique egg shape and is a favorite among drivers.

Jeffrey Earnhardt Joins Rick Ware Racing

Rick Ware Racing is proud to announce Jeffrey Earnhardt (JE4) has joined RWR for the 2010 season.

The 4th generation driver, (Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Kerry Earnhardt) will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Gateway International Raceway on Friday July 16th in the #6 Fuel Doctor USA Chevy for the running of the CampingWorld.com 200.

Jeffrey, the great grandson of Ralph Earnhardt, Grandson of 7-Time Cup Series Champion Dale Earnhardt, son of NASCAR veteran Kerry Earnhardt and nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have a locked-in guaranteed starting position for the event based off of the Rick Ware Racing’s #6 Owner Points.

“It feels great to make my NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut with RWR and Fuel Doctor. Having the guaranteed starting position allows us to focus on race trim and being towards the front rather than trying to make the race,” stated Earnhardt.

To Do In Indy: See the Hauler Parade on July 22

Event on Speedway’s Main Street includes live music, food, colorful NASCAR trucks

INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, July 13, 2010 – Brickyard 400 fans can get an up-close view of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “haulers” – the semi trucks carrying the stock cars competing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway July 25 – at the second annual Hauler Parade and Festival on Thursday, July 22 on Speedway’s Main Street.

The event takes place from 5-8:30 p.m., with live music featuring local country music act KJ & TKJ’s kicking off activities at 5 p.m. at the corner of 15^th and Main Streets – across the street from popular local restaurant Dawson’s on Main.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series haulers – approximately 50 are expected – will arrive at 6 p.m. in parade fashion behind the 2010 Brickyard 400 Pace Car and park on Main Street from just south of 15^th Street in two lines stretching to 10^th Street.

NASCAR Media Group And NASCAR.COM Make Classic Races And Historical Content Available For Download For First Time Ever Through iTunes

Initial Offering, “NASCAR Classic Races, Volume 1,” Celebrates the Inaugural Class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame including Five of Dale Earnhardt’s Greatest Race Wins



CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 13, 2010) – NASCAR Media Group, a media, marketing and entertainment company, and NASCAR.COM, operated by Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., announced today that it has made classic races and historical content available for download for the first time ever on the iTunes platform. “NASCAR Classic Races, Volume 1,” which is currently available on iTunes, celebrates the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame featuring legends Dale Earnhardt, Junior Johnson and Richard Petty.

NASCAR Media Group is initially making seven episodes available for download on iTunes for $1.99 each or $7.99 for the entire package and is including five of Dale Earnhardt’s most famous NASCAR wins (cut-down to one hour highlight-heavy episodes), The Junior Johnson Story and Richard Petty: 7 Wins at the Daytona 500.