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Author: Angie Campbell

  • New car, new team, same Matt Kenseth

    New car, new team, same Matt Kenseth

    Matt Kenseth accomplished the improbable Sunday in his debut with Chip Ganassi Racing driving the No. 42 Chevrolet to a 10th place finish at Darlington Raceway in The Real Heroes 400.

    It was his first race back since he retired from the NASCAR Cup Series after the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2018, finishing off a lackluster season. But the time away was only one of the obstacles he faced. He had to acclimate to a new team with an unfamiliar crew chief and spotter. It was also his first race in a Chevrolet Camaro and his first experience with the high downforce, low horsepower package currently used in the Cup Series. And to make things more interesting, there was no practice or qualifying before the race.

    The 2003 Cup Series Champion seemed undaunted by the challenges he faced although he did admit to being somewhat apprehensive at the beginning of the race.

    “I would say to get prepared and get the mental mindset and everything ready to start the race was very difficult,” he said. “I was definitely anxious when they were getting ready to throw the green, firing off there in the first corner, and everything being new and different with having an extended period of time off. But really once we got into that second restart and ran three or four laps, I really felt pretty comfortable.”

    With 39 wins to his credit, the 2003 Cup Series champion is known for his consistency and his dogged determination. And Kenseth’s competitors realize that it is never a good idea to underestimate him.  

    Race winner, Kevin Harvick, was not surprised by Kenseth’s  top-10 result.

    “Here’s the thing about Matt Kenseth, he should have never quit,” Harvick said. “Matt Kenseth was winning races when he retired. Matt Kenseth is going to be a huge part of that race team and making Chip Ganassi Racing better. He’s going to be great for the sponsors.”

    As Kenseth looks forward his focus is on continuing to be competitive.

    “Certainly, it feels good to be back,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of fun the last two or three weeks working with Chad (Johnston, crew chief) and my new team, and getting back on the race track and being competitive. You just don’t know, I wasn’t real competitive the last season that I raced and, certainly, the year before that really didn’t go the way I thought it should go or wanted it to go necessarily. It feels good to be back, to be wanted, to be part of that team and to get a good start. It’s only one race; I have a lot of racing to do and I realize I have a lot of improving to do. But it has been fun so far, for sure.”

    In the meantime, he’s happy to be back racing and part of a team where he feels appreciated. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll get a shot at redemption.

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • NASCAR updates competition rules for Darlington and Charlotte

    NASCAR updates competition rules for Darlington and Charlotte

    NASCAR has updated the competition rules for Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway as the teams prepare to hit the track for the first time since March 8 at Phoenix Raceway.

    The races will be run with no fans in attendance due to the Covid-19 pandemic with heightened rules for the safety of the teams and other personnel in attendance.

    NASCAR will also expand the Xfinity Series and Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series teams  to a field of 40 participants for the upcoming May races at Darlington and Charlotte which will allow more teams to participate.

    There will be modified competition pit stops which will allow the teams extra time to make any adjustments needed.

    The field will be frozen at the time of the competition caution and line up behind the pace car. The wave around rule will not be in effect. Pit road will first open to the top 20 and the drivers must beat the pace car off pit road to retain their position. Pit road will then open to the next 20 cars. The pit cycle will repeat allowing each team to pit twice.

    Drivers cannot beat the pace car off pit road. Doing so will result in the loss of a lap and the driver will have to start at the rear of the field. If a driver pits more than twice or out of sequence they will have to restart at the rear of the field.

    The competition cautions will occur at or around the following laps:

    May 17: Cup Series, Darlington: Lap 30

    May 19: Xfinity Series, Darlington: Lap 15

    May 20: Cup Series, Darlington: TBD

    May 24: Cup Series, Charlotte: TBD

    May 25: Xfinity Series, Charlotte: TBD

    May 26: Gander Trucks, Charlotte: TBD

    May 27: Cup Series, Charlotte: TBD

    There will be no practice or qualifying except for the Coca-Cola 600 race on May 24 and all races will be run over the course of one day. NASCAR has also provided new guidelines for the starting lineups with random drawings and position inversions playing a role as specified below for each race.

    Darlington Raceway May 17 Cup Series Starting Lineup:

    Positions 1-12 will be determined by a random draw from charter teams in those positions in team owner points.

    Positions 13-24: Random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points.

    Positions 25-36: Random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points.

    Positions 37-40 will be filled out by open, non-chartered teams in order of owner points.

    Pit Selection:

    Pit selection is based on charter team owner points followed by open team owner points. Pit stalls will be picked in advance, pit boxes will be in the stalls when the teams arrive.

    Darlington Raceway May 19 Xfinity Series Starting Lineup:

    Starting positions 1-12 among teams in those positions in owner points will be determined by a random draw.

    Starting positions 12-24 among teams in those positions in owner points will be determined by a random draw.

    Starting positions 25-36 among teams in those positions in owner points will be determined by a random draw.

    Starting positions 37-40 among teams in those positions in owner points will be assigned starting positions based on their order of eligibility.

    Pit Selection:

    Order based on Phoenix qualifying.

    Darlington Raceway May 20 Cup Series Starting Lineup:

    Positions 1-20: The top 20 finishers from the May 17 event will be inverted for the start of the May 20 race.

    Positions 21-40: The bottom 20 finishers from the May 17 event will be inverted for the start of the May 20 race; any new entries will be placed at the rear of the field.

    Pit Selection:

    Pit selection will be determined by the finishing order of the May 17 race. Pit stalls will be picked in advance, pit boxes will be in the stalls when the teams arrive.

    Charlotte Motor Speedway May 24 Cup Series Starting Lineup:

    Order set by same-day qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600.

    Pit Selection:

    Pit selection based on finishing position from the May 20 race at Darlington, followed by new entries in order of points. Pit stalls will be picked in advance, pit boxes will be in the stalls when the teams arrive.

    Charlotte Motor Speedway May 25 Xfinity Series Starting Lineup:

    Starting positions 12-24 among teams in those positions in owner points will be determined by a random draw.

    Starting positions 25-36 among teams in those positions in owner points will be determined by a random draw.

    Starting positions 37-40 among teams in those positions in owner points will be assigned starting positions based on their order of eligibility.

    Pit Selection:

    Pit Selection  based on finishing position from the May 19 race at Darlington, followed by new entries in order of points.

    Charlotte Motor Speedway Truck Series May 26 Starting Lineup (Teams will draw for starting position based on groups in team owner points)

    Starting positions 1-10 among teams in those positions in owner points

    Starting positions 11-21 among teams in those positions in owner points

    Starting positions 22-32 among teams in those positions in owner points

    Starting positions 33-40 among teams in those positions in owner points, followed by a draw among new teams without owner points

    Pit Selection:

    Pit selection based on Las Vegas qualifying.

    Charlotte Motor Speedway May 27 Cup Series Starting Lineup:

    Positions 1-20: Invert the top 20 from the May 24 race at Charlotte.

    Positions 21-40: In finishing order from the May 24th race at Charlotte, followed by new entries.

    Pit Selection:

    Pit selection based on qualifying for the May 24 race at Charlotte, followed by new entries in order of points. If qualifying is rained out, pit selection will be determined by finishing order on May 24.

    Darlington & Charlotte Stage Lengths:

    Darlington:

    May 17 – NASCAR Cup Series): 90 / 185 / 293 laps

    May 19 – NASCAR Xfinity Series): 45 / 90 / 147 laps

    May 20 – NASCAR Cup Series): 60 / 125 / 228 laps

    Charlotte:

    May 24 – NASCAR Cup Series: 100 / 200 / 300 / 400 laps

    May 25 – NASCAR Xfinity Series: 45 / 90 / 200 laps

    May 26 – NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series: 30 / 60 / 134 laps

    May 27 – NASCAR Cup Series: 55 / 115 / 208 laps

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Quarantined with Ryan Preece

    Quarantined with Ryan Preece

    By the time NASCAR returns to racing on May 17 at Darlington Raceway, it will have been two months since the drivers have seen any action on the track. During this time we’ve been catching up with some of the competitors to find out what their life has been like while quarantined at home.

    During this period NASCAR implemented the the iRacing Pro Invitational Series to fill the gap. While many of the current drivers are participating, it is, at best, a substitution for the real thing.  

    This week we spoke with JTG Daugherty Racing’s Ryan Preece to find out how he’s handling life at home, how he’s staying motivated, and what he has missed most.

    SM: Are you enjoying the time off or going stir crazy while you wait to get back to racing?

    RP: “The time off was definitely weird at first, but I’ve been able to get a lot of projects and house items done while we’ve been at home. However, I am really ready to go back to racing. I’ve been doing as much as I can on the simulator for practice and participating in the iRacing races, but I’m ready to be back in the real race car.”

    SM: Are you typically the kind of person who enjoys alone time or do you miss being around people?

    RP: “I would say a little bit of both. It’s been nice to unplug but I miss being at the track and around my team.”

    SM: What’s the one thing you miss most other than racing?

    RP: “I think just being at the shop and continuing to move forward. We have a little bit of a hole to dig out of once the race season resumes, and I miss being able to talk that through and continue building on a game plan to get better throughout the season.”

    SM: If for some reason you couldn’t race anymore, what career would you choose and why?

    RP: “I’ve been getting into a little bit of furniture building during the quarantine, so that could be something in the future. I’ve always been the person to work on my own things, whether that’s at home, at the shop, on the car, etc. It would be something I could do myself.”

    SM: What has been your favorite thing to do while you’re stuck at home?

    RP: “Racing on the simulator or the little bit of building furniture I’ve been doing.”

    SM: What is your least favorite thing to do at home?

    RP: “Housework chores my wife makes me do. Only kidding!”

    SM: Have you picked up any new hobbies or gotten back to a hobby you didn’t have time to pursue before?

    RP: “I’ve been on iRacing a lot more than I had been in the past. I’ve always enjoyed it and used to do it a lot before getting into the premier series, but obviously our schedule limits my time on it. I’ve been able to get back into it a lot more as I practice and participate in the Pro Invitational Series.”

    SM: Have you started any new projects around the house?

    RP: “We’ve had lots of projects. I built a ‘home’ for our dog, a crate, a desk, a rolling cart, and a couple of other things. We’re moving hopefully in a few weeks so we’ve been hard at work to get our current house in selling shape.”

    SM: Are you cooking for yourself at home? If so what’s the one thing you can cook well?

    RP: “My wife and I share the cooking duties but I can make a few things on our Kingsford charcoal grill.”

    SM: What’s your favorite music or band to listen to while you’re isolated at home?

    RP: “I listen to all types of music while working in my shop at home. It’s hard to pick one specific band or type.”

    SM: What are you doing to stay active and keep in shape?

    RP: “I work with a trainer during the regular season and we have a fairly strict diet plan as well. I also have a Peloton bike at my home to help keep in shape.”

    SM: Are you participating in iRacing? If so, does it help pass the time while you wait for the season to restart? Is it a good substitute for the real thing?

    RP: “It does help pass the time, but also leaves you really wanting to get back in the real thing. We’ll see in a few weeks if it’s helped when we get back to racing!”

    SM: What are you doing to keep positive and motivated?

    RP: “I have my modified car in my personal shop that I tinker around with and that helps pass the time and keep positive. Otherwise, I’ve been on the iRacing game and getting our house ready to move.”

    SM: What’s the first thing you will do when the quarantine is over?

    RP: “Once it is deemed safe for everyone, I can’t wait to get back to the shop and see the team. Returning to racing will be such a sense of normalcy and relief for us.”

    Thursday NASCAR announced a return to racing at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Preece’s reaction on his Twitter page says it all.

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Quarantined with Corey LaJoie

    Quarantined with Corey LaJoie

    It’s been a little over a month since NASCAR had to postpone the 2020 racing season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. NASCAR hopes to resume the season potentially in May but without fans in attendance. In the meantime, NASCAR has implemented the iRacing Pro Invitational Series to fill the gap. While many of the current drivers are participating, it is, at best, a substitution for the real thing.  

    This week I caught up with Go Fas Racing’s Corey LaJoie to find out how he’s coping during the stay-at-home order that most states have issued. On March 10, LaJoie and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their first child, Levi Ronnie, into the family.

    While he misses the racing action, he is enjoying this unique opportunity to spend more quality time with his family and embrace his new role as a dad.

    SM:  Are you enjoying the time off or going stir crazy while you wait to get back to racing?

    CL: A little bit of both. I’m enjoying spending time with Levi and my wife but I’m ready to get back to the racetrack.

    SM: Are you typically the kind of person who enjoys alone time or do you miss being around people?

    CL: I tend to go many places throughout the day whether it be the Cup shop or different businesses so I miss that part of my routine.

    SM: What’s the one thing you miss most other than racing?

    CL: I miss being able to go to the Joie of Seating and work on projects or build things.

    SM: If for some reason you couldn’t race anymore, what career would you choose and why?

    CL: I’d probably stay in racing in some sort. Maybe spotting while diving into Dad’s business a little more to help grow that.

    SM: What has been your favorite thing to do while you’re stuck at home?

    CL: Just chilling with Levi and doing projects around the house. I’ve retrofitted my garage into a gym.

    Lately sleep is a hot commodity that is hard to come by so that’s something I love but I know nighttime is tough with little man.

    SM: Have you picked up any new hobbies or gotten back to a hobby you didn’t have time to pursue before?

    CL: I’ve been mountain biking a lot more since it’s a great way to social distance while also training hand-eye coordination and stamina.

    SM: Have you started any new projects around the house?

    CL: Painting the garage, cleaning out junk drawers, organizing the man cave.

    SM: Are you cooking for yourself at home? If so what’s the one thing you can cook well?

    CL: We cook almost every meal now. I actually like cooking some things. I’m decent at steak and breakfast but Kelly can cook just about anything.

    SM: What’s your favorite music or band to listen to while you’re isolated at home?

    CL: I listen to a lot of country. I like Luke Combs, Sturgill Simpson and some good Christian music.

    SM: What are you doing to stay active and keep in shape?

    CL: Mountain biking and using some Onnit kettlebells, medicine balls and weighted vests keep the workouts intense.

    SM: Are you participating in iRacing? If so, does it help pass the time while you wait for the season to restart?

    CL: I haven’t done much on it yet. I don’t have much time to get away and fire up the simulator. It’s a great platform for the sport to stay relevant during the delay but I’ll be glad when we have real life topics to talk about every week.

    SM: What are you doing to keep positive and motivated?

    CL: The wife and I have been digging into the Word quite a bit and spending some great quality time together with Levi. We live next to a park so we get over there for a couple mile walks a day.

    SM: What’s the first thing you will do when the quarantine is over?

    CL: I’ll still be pretty cautious of where I go even when the lockdown is lifted since I don’t want to risk bringing anything home but I’m ready to go to the shop and start getting busy.

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Quarantined with Jeremy Clements

    Quarantined with Jeremy Clements

    It’s been a month since NASCAR had to postpone the 2020 racing season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While the current plan is to resume competition on May 3, it seems likely that it could be much longer before we once again see cars on the track.

    In the meantime, NASCAR has implemented the iRacing Pro Invitational Series to fill the gap. While many of the current drivers are participating, it is, at best, a substitution for the real thing.  

    This week we caught up with Xfinity Series regular Jeremy Clements to find out how he’s coping during the stay-at-home order that most states have issued.

    SM: Are you enjoying the time off or going stir crazy while you wait to get back to racing?

    JC: I’m definitely going stir crazy and can’t wait to get back to the track to race.

    SM: Are you typically the kind of person who enjoys alone time or do you miss being around people?

    JC: I miss being around people and just doing things like going to a restaurant together, a bar, movies, etc. Things that before you took for granted, I guess, now thinking about it. 

    SM: What’s the one thing you miss most other than racing?

    JC: Going out and not worrying about getting too close to people and touching things thinking it has the virus on it. 

    SM: If for some reason you couldn’t race anymore, what career would you choose and why?

    JC: I don’t know really, that’s a tough one. I would say I would be an Uber/Lyft driver or move to a Caribbean island to do excursion tours. 

    SM: What has been your favorite thing to do while you’re stuck at home?

    JC: My favorite thing to do at home is play with our dog Molly. She keeps me entertained most of the time. I’m always chasing her around messing with her and taking her for walks. 

    SM: What is your least favorite thing to do?

    JC: My least favorite thing to do at home is take my wife’s pictures and videos for her social media. Ha Ha, she’ll probably get mad I said that. 

    SM: Have you started any new projects around the house?

    JC: The projects around the house just consist of organizing, cleaning up, and some maintenance. My wife wants to repaint the bathroom since she doesn’t like the colors I’ve picked so I’m sure I’ll be doing that soon. 

    SM: Have you picked up any new hobbies or gotten back to a hobby you didn’t have time to pursue before?

    JC: I haven’t picked up on any new hobbies really. I try and stay active working out, playing basketball, and running. I’ve been catching up on some Xbox too as well as some Netflix series and movies. 

    SM: I noticed you digitally signed a lot of photos on Twitter and it seemed to be a big hit with the fans. Have you thought of any more new ways to interact with fans until you can get back to the track?

    JC: Yeah I did sign a lot of digital photographs for fans. That just kind of happened and was really cool to do. I haven’t really thought of anything else yet but I’ll get on that.

    SM: Are you cooking for yourself at home? If so, what’s the one thing you can cook well?

    JC: I do a lot of cooking. I really like these healthy homemade banana pancakes I’ve been making. I put blueberries and strawberries in them too. I always have enough for a few days as well. I also love to grill out on my charcoal grill. Anything from steak, ribs, fish, shrimp, chicken, pork. I’m always looking at something else to try. I’ve been looking at pellet grills so I’m probably going to get one of those soon since they seem so much easier to control the temperature and still get that smoky taste. 

    SM: What’s your favorite music or band to listen to while you’re isolated at home?

    JC: I generally listen to hard rock a lot. I like to listen to The Rise Guys which is a local radio show in the morning or catch their podcast if I don’t wake up in time. There’s also one channel on XM I like, which is Octane. I listen to it a lot. 

    SM: What are you doing to stay active and keep in shape?

    JC: Trying to stay in decent shape by lifting some weights, doing a few sets of this workout I found online and running, along with basketball. 

    SM: Are you participating in iRacing? If so, is it a good substitute for the real thing?

    JC: I haven’t gotten to do any iRacing, unfortunately. I have a rig but I need a new PC and going to have to spend some money to get it back going. It’s definitely a good tool to use especially going to road courses to learn the tracks. 

    SM: What are you doing to keep positive and motivated?

    JC: Trying to stay as much positive as can be and just rely on my faith in the good Lord knowing he’s got a plan. We’re in a storm now but it won’t last forever. 

    SM: What’s the first thing you will do when the quarantine is over?

    JC: The first thing I do after quarantine is hopefully get some friends and go to Topgolf to have some fun to celebrate. 

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Jeffrey Earnhardt ready to put on ‘one hell of a show’ when NASCAR racing resumes

    Jeffrey Earnhardt ready to put on ‘one hell of a show’ when NASCAR racing resumes

    While everyone in the NASCAR community was disappointed to learn that the current race season has been put on hold due to the Covid-19 outbreak, it was particularly disheartening for Jeffrey Earnhardt.

    After parting ways with sponsor iK9 and Joe Gibbs Racing in Aug. 2019, Earnhardt was set to make his Xfinity Series comeback this year after reuniting with JD Motorsports with Gary Keller for at least 12 races.

    He previously drove for JDM in 2014, competing in a full Xfinity Series season, and is excited to team up with them again.

    “Well the biggest thing is what they can offer,” Earnhardt explained. “It was the chance to run the most races and be competitive. Seeing what they were able to do with Ross (Chastain) showed they can do it if the funding is there.”

    His first race was scheduled for Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 14 but it was postponed indefinitely until the current health crisis has resolved.

    “It was heartbreaking, honestly,” he admitted. “I have been itching to get back behind the wheel and we were so close to doing so and then this happened. It just really sucked for everyone honestly and now it’s became a bigger struggle for all these teams to figure things out financially but also the sponsors that were promised these races are also on our minds.

    “We have great sponsors that are very understanding. I think the effects of this mess have touched everyone and because of that I feel it’s only gonna make everyone stronger and more understanding. At the end of the day we will still try to always over deliver on any expectations and make all our partners proud.

    “I just hope a cure comes soon and people remain safe.  It’s been very sad to see what’s been happening with the virus.”  

    There is no timetable for when the drivers will be able to get back to racing but NASCAR has mentioned the possibility of racing mid-week and double-header weekends.

    Earnhardt and JDM are open to all of the options and the demands it may place on the organization.

    “I’m all about it because I want to race every day I can,” he emphasized. “The stress comes from being a smaller team and having to have cars ready to go. Its gonna be a challenge but I know the guys at JD Motorsports can handle it.”

    In the meantime, Earnhardt is focused on staying motivated and healthy.

    “I try to be around the shop as much as I can and help out. Outside of that, like everyone, recently iRacing has become a big tool and trying to stay physically fit as well. Of course, getting outdoors and hunting when I can to keep my sanity.” 

    He is also taking advantage of iRacing, but says, “I’ve got to practice up because these guys are good and some have a lot of time on there.”

    Earnhardt’s last race in the Xfinity Series was nine months ago at Chicagoland Speedway but he doesn’t think there will be much of a learning curve when racing resumes. If anything, he welcomes the challenge.

    His goal for the season is to “back up and exceed what they did with Ross (Chastain), results wise.”

    “Some of the guys at JD Motorsports I have worked with but it’s always a challenge in a new atmosphere. That being said, last year was all new to me and we came out of the gates swinging. I like that style.”

    Earnhardt also had a message for his fans.

    “We will always love their loyalty and support and when we get to go back racing there are gonna be some hungry drivers just waiting to put on one hell of a show for all the fans.”

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Remembering Alan Kulwicki – Against All Odds

    Remembering Alan Kulwicki – Against All Odds

    Let’s travel back in time to NASCAR in the mid-1980s. If you take a look around on race day, you’ll see the likes of Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott. In the midst of this, a young man walks by wearing a fire suit and carrying a briefcase. One can only imagine the whispered remarks those “good old boys” made as Alan Kulwicki walked past.

    Kulwicki was originally from Wisconsin, had a mechanical engineering degree and was a college graduate. To say that he was an oddity in NASCAR is putting it mildly. But Kulwicki didn’t worry about things like fitting in; he was there to win races.

    He was often described as a perfectionist and a control freak and perhaps that’s why he chose to work for himself. After all, no one else could measure up to his high standards.

    Kulwicki started his rookie Cup season in 1986 with Bill Terry but when Terry decided to end his support for the race team mid-season, Kulwicki started his own team. It was a one-man show starring Kulwicki as driver, owner, crew chief and mechanic.

    No one thought he would succeed.

    Kulwicki’s unconventional methods began to pay off when he won the 1986 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award. His first win came at Phoenix in 1988 where he first did his now famous, Polish Victory Lap, driving the opposite way on the track, with the driver’s side of the car facing the fans.

    Kulwicki expressed what that first win meant to him in Grand National Scene magazine.

    “It’s been a long road and it’s taken a lot of hard work to get here,” he said, “but this has made it all worthwhile. When you work for something so hard for so long, you wonder if it’s going to be worth all of the anticipation. Believe me, it certainly was.

    “And what do you think of my Polish victory lap? There will never be another first win and you know, everybody sprays champagne or stands up on the car. I wanted to do something different for the fans.”

    In 1992, Kulwicki’s commitment to excellence was finally rewarded. He overcame a 278 point deficit in the final six races of the season and won the Cup Championship at the last race of the season in Atlanta.

    That day was notable for several reasons although not all were immediately apparent.

    It was the closest title win in NASCAR Cup Series history until the Chase for the Cup format was implemented in 2004. Kulwicki was the last owner/driver to win the title, the first Cup champion with a college degree and the first Cup champion born in a Northern state.

    I wonder if those fans at the Atlanta race had a sense of the history being made on that monumental day. A friend of mine was there and shared his memories of that day and the feeling he had that he was watching something special.

    “I was there at Atlanta the day Alan won his championship,” he told me. “It was one of the most incredible and historic races I’ve ever seen, in person or otherwise. “The King” ran his last race and Jeff Gordon his first, but it was Alan who won the day, if not the race.

    “It was a cold and windy day and most fans wasted little time leaving at the race’s end, but I waited down by the first turn fence for Alan to take that ride around the track in the convertible as newly crowned champion. For reasons unknown, it was something I felt compelled to do.

    “As they drove slowly by my position I gave a yell of congratulations and a wave to the champ as he waved back. Little did I know we were waving goodbye.”

    Kulwicki’s reign as Champion was short-lived.

    The 1993 season had gotten off to a strong start and he was already ninth in the point standings when everything changed in the blink of an eye. On April 1, 1993, he was flying to the next race in Bristol, Tennessee when the plane carrying him and three others went down near Bristol. There were no survivors.

    Saturday morning at Bristol, all the drivers were there as the Alan Kulwicki hauler circled Bristol and left the track for the last time.

    Kyle Petty remembers that day vividly saying, “I’ve been around racing a long time and I’ve lost a son. I think the saddest thing I’ve ever seen at a racetrack was Alan’s truck leaving Bristol, Tennessee. We just sat and cried.”

    On Sunday, Rusty Wallace won the race and honored his friend by doing the Polish Victory Lap. During the remainder of the 1993 season, every winning driver completed the Polish Victory Lap to honor Kulwicki’s memory.

    Kulwicki was a bright light whose flame was extinguished far too soon and his life was a testament of hope that anything is possible. He did things his way and succeeded against all odds, believing in himself when no one else did.

    As Alan said, “If you don’t believe, you don’t belong.”

    • Repost – Originally published April 4, 2015

  • Weekend schedule for Atlanta – Racing postponed

    Weekend schedule for Atlanta – Racing postponed

    Update from NASCAR:

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 13, 2020) – “NASCAR has decided to postpone the race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend and Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend. We believe this decision is in the best interest of the safety and well-being of our fans, competitors, officials and everyone associated with our sport. We will continue to monitor this dynamic situation as we assess future race events.”

    All three national series head to Atlanta Motor Speedway for a weekend of competition. Brad Keselowski has won two of the last three NASCAR Cup Series races at the 1.54-mile track (2019,2017) and finished second in 2018.

    Christopher Bell, who currently competes in the Cup Series, won last year’s Xfinity Series race at Atlanta but is not entered in this weekend’s race. Kyle Busch won the 2019 Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series race and will compete in Saturday’s event.

    After Busch scored his 57th career victory last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, there was the usual uproar about Busch competing in a lower series. This prompted Kevin Harvick to offer a $50,000 bounty for any full-time Cup Series driver who could beat Busch in one of his four remaining Truck Series races. RV & Outdoors CEO Marcus Lemonis responded by matching Harvick’s bounty, for a total payout of  $100,000. This weekend at Atlanta, Chase Elliott will try to collect the bounty.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, March 13

    1:35 p.m.- 2:25 p.m.: Truck Series first practice – Stream on NASCAR.com

    2:35 p.m.- 3:25 p.m.: Xfinity Series first practice – FS1

    3:35 p.m.- 4:25 p.m.: Cup Series first practice – FS1

    4:32 p.m.- 4:57 p.m.: Truck Series final practice – FS1

    5:02 p.m.- 5:27 p.m.: Xfinity Series final practice – FS1

    5:35 p.m.-6:25 p.m.: Cup Series final practice – FS1

    Saturday, March 14

    10:05 a.m.: Truck Series Qualifying (Impound – Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions) – FS1

    11:05 AM Xfinity Series Qualifying (Impound – Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions) – FS1

    12:05 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying (Impound – Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions) – FS1/PRN

    1:30 p.m.: Truck Series Vet Tix/Camping World 200 race (Stages 30/60/130 Laps = 200.02 Miles) – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    4 p.m.: Xfinity Series Echo Park 250 race (Stages 40/80/163 Laps = 251.02 Miles) – FS1/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Sunday, March 15

    2 p.m.: Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 race (Stages 105/210/325 Laps = 500.5 Miles) – FOX/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

  • Weekend schedule for Phoenix Raceway

    Weekend schedule for Phoenix Raceway

    This week the NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series travel to Phoenix Raceway. The NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series is off this week and will return to competition at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 14. The ARCA Menards Series will make its first trip to the one-mile track in Arizona.

    Kevin Harvick has won three of the last five spring Cup Series races at Phoenix, in 2015, 2016 and 2018. Ryan Newman won the event in 2017 and Kyle Busch is the defending race winner.

    There have been five different Xfinity winners going back to November 2017 when William Byron won. Brad Keselowski  earned the win in March 2018 while Christopher Bell went to victory lane in Nov. 2018. Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in March 2019 and Justin Allgaier won in November 2019. Former winners Busch, Keselowski and Allgaier are entered in this weekend’s race.  

    Ty Gibbs won the K&N Series West event at Phoenix in 2019.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, March 6

    Noon: ARCA Menards Series Final Practice – No TV

    2:35 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.: Xfinity Series First Practice – FS1

    3:35 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.: Cup Series First Practice – FS1/MRN

    4:30 p.m.: ARCA Series Qualifying – Impound (Group Qualifying) No TV

    5:02 p.m. – 5:27 p.m.: Xfinity Series Final Practice – FS1

    5:35 p.m. – 6:25 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – FS1/MRN

    7 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150 – FS1

    Saturday, March 7

    1:05 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying – Impound (Single Vehicle/Two Laps All Positions) – FS1

    2:35 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying – Impound (Single Vehicle/Two Laps All Positions) – FS1/MRN

    4 p.m.: Xfinity Series LS Tractor 200 (Stages 45/90/200 Laps = 200 Miles) – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Sunday, March 8

    3 p.m.: Cup Series FanShield 500 (Stages 75/190/312 Laps = 312 Miles) – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

  • Weekend schedule for Auto Club Speedway

    Weekend schedule for Auto Club Speedway

    This week the NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series travel to Auto Club Speedway. The NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series has two weeks off and will return to competition at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 14.

    The last five Cup Series races at Auto Club Speedway have been won by five different drivers: Kyle Busch (2019), Martin Truex Jr. (2018), Kyle Larson (2017), Jimmie Johnson (2016) and Brad Keselowski (2015). Cole Custer won last year’s Xfinity Series race at the 2-mile track.

    There are 36 cars on the Xfinity Series preliminary entry list and 38 cars on the Cup Series preliminary entry list.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, February 28

    3:05 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice – FS1

    4:05 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Practice – FS1/MRN

    5:02 p.m. – 5:27 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Final Practice – FS1

    5:35 p.m. – 6:25 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice – FS1/MRN

    Saturday, February 29

    1:05 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying – Impound (Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions) FS1

    2:35 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Impound (Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions) FS1/MRN

    4 p.m.: Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race (Stages 35/70/150 Laps = 300 Miles) FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio


    Sunday, March 1

    3:30 p.m.: Cup Series Auto Club 400 Cup Series race (Stages 60/120/200 Laps = 400 Miles) FOX/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio