How would you like the opportunity to do something you love, while doing something to help other people? That is exactly what Donovan Price is doing. For his 2013 racing season, he will be racing in the Legends series across Ontario while raising money for breast cancer awareness.
“I decided to give back to the fans that have supported local short track racing and what better way to do it by racing for a cause – breast cancer,” Price said. ”One in nine women have a chance in their life to be effected by this so every Saturday night of racing, there are fans in the stands that have been effected by this one way or another.”
The goal is to raise money to help researchers find a cure so we can lower that number. Price has also been affected by breast cancer personally, as he knows two ladies that have had cancer and what they went through.
The idea came about when Price thought about painting his legend pink.
“You don’t see to many hot pink race cars on the track every weekend but I’m a bit of a goof ball so it suits me,” Price jokes. “I also tape my hockey stick with pink hockey tape and people always tell me ‘only Donovan can get away with it’. I also am trying to get a pink racing suit; nothing like a 6″2 250 lbs guy wearing a pink driver suit.”
Price has been in contact with the Canadian Breast Cancer foundation, receiving approval for the idea. The Canadian Breast Cancer foundation will be posting a page on their website about it, while being supportive to Price in his goal.
Price is set on raising over $5000 and if he can get enough sponsorship money, he will donate his winnings as well. Currently, he has five sponsors, but is looking for more as racing isn’t cheap and the more money he gets, the more he will be donating to charity. 50% of the sponsorship money goes to the racecar, while the other 50% goes directly to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
Beyond collecting sponsorship money, when he races at Peterborough Speedway, they are letting him put donation jars at the gates to raise money. He will also be selling t-shorts with 100% of the proceeds going to breast cancer research.
“I figure if I can get enough media exposure on this neat way of raising money, people will donate more money and more companies will come forward and help me reach my goals and maybe raise more than $5000,” Price said.
With 12 years of racing experience, Price is hoping that it equals to success on the track while raising over $5000 for research.
Fans can follow Donovan Price’s progress by following him on twitter @donovanprice and by liking his ’96 Racing’ facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/96Racing?fref=ts).
While 2012 has been a year of change for NASCAR driver David Ragan, including getting married in the off-season, 2013 will be the year of motivation for the 27 year old behind the wheel of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Fusion.
“We’ve had a lot going on and it has been busy,” Ragan said. “We got married, Jacquelyn (Butler) and I, on December 15th.”
“We got to go to St. Lucia on our honeymoon for a few days and enjoyed that,” Ragan continued. “And then we spent Christmas and New Year’s with our family back home.”
“Being able to celebrate our marriage with our close friends and family is what I will remember most from the wedding,” Ragan said. “With the racing schedule we have, we are on the road and don’t get to see our family much.”
“So, getting to see my family and Jacquelyn’s family all in one place was probably the biggest thing that was enjoyable.”
“So, we’ve had a good off-season and it’s gone by extremely fast,” Ragan said. “But we’re happy the New Year is here.”
In 2013, the year will be all about motivation, as well as preparation for Ragan and his team, who have been working on their new race cars literally non-stop.
“Clearly the guys at the race shop have been working extremely hard getting these race cars, the 2013 Fusions, ready to go,” Ragan said. “I think most people don’t realize the amount of work and long hours that the guys at the shop are putting in over the off season.”
“We can take a few weeks off but the guys who work at the fab shop and our body hanging department, I think they got Christmas day and New Year’s Day and other than that, they have been working every day and even on Saturdays,” Ragan continued. “There are a lot of hours going into these new cars.”
“We’ve had good meetings to improve our race cars and this is giving a small team an opportunity to build new race cars and freshen our equipment,” Ragan said. “In the past, we haven’t done that so we feel like we’ll be more competitive going into 2013.”
Ragan is also trying to ensure that he himself is a motivator, particularly in the New Year. And he wants to not only motivate himself but also every single member of the race team and in the race shop.
“I think the biggest thing that drivers like myself and teammates David Gilliland and Josh Wise can do is be with the team and be motivators and cheerleaders and just try to be supportive,” Ragan said. “We try to come up with new ideas to with the parts and pieces on the race car so we can make our cars better.”
“During the racing season, you have every weekend to be at another race which keeps everybody motivated,” Ragan continued. “But during the off season, you have to set goals and have something to look forward to or you can kind of get lost in that period of time.”
“I haven’t taken my tool box up yet, but I do go to the shop, show interest and keep any eye on how things are progressing.”
Ragan is also motivated to not only test the new car on the track but to also get a first hand read on how the fans will react to the new car.
“I haven’t tested the current model yet,” Ragan said. “We’re looking forward to having a car at Daytona and at Charlotte in a couple of weeks.”
“As we build these cars, we just have to take our time and do it right,” Ragan continued. “We’re building these cars to the best of our abilities and will make sure they are fast.”
“I think we will be fast with a little bit more downforce and overall a little lighter,” Ragan said. “So, that equals more speed and I think the cars will be a lot of fun.”
“And the cars look great,” Ragan continued. “They look like a race car and they look cool so that is excellent.”
Ragan acknowledged that he also hopes the new race cars will be motivating when it comes to selling them at the dealership. And he also feels strongly that the new car is just plain important to the sport.
“I think it’s important for the fans to have a sense of relationship with the cars we are racing on the track and those they can buy at the local Ford dealership,” Ragan said. “This is the National Association of Stock Car Racing.”
“We’re not racing an Indy or open wheel car,” Ragan continued. “Our cars are steel. They have a stock appearing look to them.”
“That’s something that goes back to the roots of when NASCAR was conceived,” Ragan said. “So, I think the die-hard, core fans are going to appreciate that and the new fans coming to the sport will appreciate that as well.”
“The fans are excited and the manufacturers are excited,” Ragan continued. “And me, having our Ford dealership down in Georgia, it’s cool.”
“You can see the Ford Fusion sitting on the lot and it looks a lot like the race car we’re going to be racing, so, that’s pretty neat.”
Ragan admitted to being most motivated to address three of his biggest challenges in 2013. And if those three challenges are addressed, Ragan admits that then his motivation will be all about getting to Victory Lane.
“I think three things we need to do a better job to make the next step is to cut our DNFs back, to zero or one, we need to qualify better and we need to be better on pit road,” Ragan said. “If we can eliminate some DNFs, qualify better and the pit crew steps up a bit, there are those three or four positions that we need to be ahead.”
“We realize we are still a growing team and a building team,” Ragan continued. “But it would be great to get Front Row Motorsports their first win and I think we can do it at a couple of races throughout the season.”
“If we can put ourselves for consistent runs and have a chance to win some races, then that would be a successful season.”
Ragan is also motivated by his two teammates, full-time driver David Gilliland and part-timer Josh Wise. And he is most motivated by his sponsors, both new and repeaters such as McCall Farms Peanut Patch.
“We’ve all got a great relationship,” Ragan said of his teammates. “I’ve known David Gilliland through being a part of the Ford Racing family years ago when he was at Yates and I was a newcomer.”
“I knew who Josh was and watched him run some open wheel and Nationwide races and got to talking to him,” Ragan continued. “And I realized that he lived five houses down from where I lived and our back yards adjoined each other.”
“We’re all trying to grow our organization slowly and deliberately each year,” Ragan said. “We want to be smart how we do things.”
“Our owner has a great game plan and we all contribute to that effort.”
“The Peanut Patch and McCall Farms were a great partner last year and saw some good return,” Ragan said. “So, they will be on the car in 2013 for three or four races.”
“We hope that some others will join in as well to announce in the next few days,” Ragan continued. “I think we really want that one full-time sponsor to take the heart of the schedule but we are fortunate that our owner can subsidize some of our races through the Taco Bell and Long John Silver brands.”
“So, we have some good partners and we hope to continue to grow that and to attract a few more,” Ragan said. “That would certainly help us get to the next level, the top ten or fifteen, on a regular basis.”
But most of all, Ragan is motivated by working hard, having fun and the story that he hopes to one day be able to tell.
“Just a few years ago, there was not even a Front Row Motorsports team in Sprint Cup,” Ragan said. “So, in that short time, they’ve done a lot.”
“We’ve had a lot of fun being a part of it,” Ragan continued. “I feel like I have a lot more time to help these guys get to the next level.”
“That would be a great story to sit back one day and talk about how we achieved our goals and had a lot of fun at the same time.”
“But I’d say 2013 will be the year of not giving up and working hard,” Ragan said. “We have a lot of motivation to get on the track and have some fun.”
[media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”222″][/media-credit]Jeff Gordon, four-time NASCAR champion driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, not only picked up the Heisman Humanitarian Honor this evening but also the praise of one of his primary sponsors, the AARP Foundation.
“The Heisman Trophy Trust’s recognition of Jeff confirms something we’ve known for awhile, that he is as great a person off the track as he is behind the wheel of a race car,” Jo Ann Jenkins, President of the AARP Foundation, said. “Jeff’s commitment to philanthropy and helping others in need was a critical factor in the decision by AARP and the AARP Foundation that NASCAR could be a good platform for our work to help end the problem of older adult hunger.”
“Since launching Drive to End Hunger, Jeff has been a committed champion to helping people who struggle to put food on the table,” Jenkins continued. “Whether he’s winning races or packaging meals to help hungry older adults, we couldn’t have a better champion than Jeff Gordon.”
“While this award celebrates the contributions that Jeff has made over the years, we are particularly excited about what is still to come,” Jenkins said. “There are nearly nine million older Americas who face the risk of hunger.”
“The fight against older adult hunger is the contest of a lifetime and Jeff, like the AARP Foundation, hates to lose.”
Gordon became the seventh recipient of the prestigious Heisman Humanitarian Award, recognizing people in sports who demonstrate notable commitment to helping others.
“This year, the Heisman Memorial Trust is delighted to add one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history as the seventh name on the list,” Jim Corcoran, Heisman Trophy Trustee said. “The Trust decision to honor Jeff was very easy.”
“Like the Heisman Trophy itself, Jeff Gordon has created a legacy of excellence both on the field of competition and for the greater good of society.”
Corcoran said that Gordon was honored specifically for his work with helping children with serious illnesses, through the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation and through his launch of a comprehensive cancer care center in Rwanda.
“This Humanitarian award is something I’m very proud of,” Jeff Gordon said. “This is truly an honor.”
“But the award is given to all walks of life and sport,” Gordon continued. “To be a part of this list is something that I never expected and something that I’m very honored by.”
Gordon joins other Heisman Humanitarian winners, including two Olympians, three NFL players, and an All-Star center from the NHL. Joey Check, an Olympian and philanthropist, was the inaugural winner in 2006, recognized for donation of his gold medal bonus to the Right to Play Organization to help children in need.
Other winners include George Martin, NY Giants defensive end, who helped those impacted by the 9/11 tragedy; Pat LaFontaine, an NHL great who founded an organization building interactive children’s playrooms; Mia Hamm, world-famous soccer player for her work with the Foundation that bears her name dedicated to helping those with aplastic anemia; William Dunn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers star who founded Homes for the Holidays; and Marty Lyons, another NFL great, who became a surrogate father to a critically ill child.
“This is a big day for me,” Gordon said. “You always want your efforts to be recognized and today this is a very, very proud moment.”
“It doesn’t get any better than being recognized by excellence, which is what the Heisman is all about.”
Gordon acknowledged that NASCAR as a sport has enabled him to be so involved philanthropically. In fact, given his sponsor, the AARP Foundation’s Drive to End Hunger, he is even more involved in charitable works on and off the track.
“I feel so privileged to be a part of this sport,” Gordon said. “I think of NASCAR and what it’s given to me.”
“It’s given me so many opportunities but it’s also given me a great platform and way to give back,” Gordon continued. “I see such a giving community and environment.”
“Everybody really wants to help and that’s what drove me to start my own foundation,” Gordon said. “And it continues to drive me in ways that I never expected.”
“My own sponsor, the first ever cause-driven sponsorship, just continues the work,” Gordon said. “This award just solidifies all the efforts that makes my work what it is and takes us to places we never thought we would go to help so many children and to find those treatments and cures.”
“Life is a journey and racing has been a big part of my journey,” Gordon said. “I’ve been able to experience winning more than I ever thought.”
“I was thinking how hard we have worked to try to win and put so much effort into it,” Gordon continued. “Yet ten or fifteen years, what it is all going to mean?”
“Those trophies are nice but they tarnish,” Gordon said. “But when you save a child’s life and you have something as meaningful as this, those are things that stick with you for a lifetime.”
[media-credit name=”Credit: espnmediazone.com” align=”alignright” width=”150″][/media-credit]Perfecting what you do is always difficult. It takes time, patience and pure talent to perfect something. Mike Massaro is one person who has perfected sports journalism coverage, especially in the sport we all enjoy, NASCAR. You may see Mike on ESPN’s NASCAR Now or you may hear his voice on your television each week, hearing about what’s going on in the NASCAR world.
Mike, a New England native, has been covering motorsports for almost twenty years now. In his time covering motorsports, he has perfected his coverage and journalism skills. Mike has been working in the NASCAR journalism world for thirteen years and he has brought you excellent coverage of the sport loved by many, NASCAR. The story behind Mike’s venture into the NASCAR journalism is an inspiring one, especially to someone like me who would love to one day be involved in the NASCAR journalism world, like Mike currently is.
I was able to interview Mike recently and he gave some great insight on his job along with how he came to work in the NASCAR journalism world.
Many young aspiring sports journalists, like myself, would want to know, how did you get your start in journalism?
“When I graduated high school I set my sights on a career as a television sportscaster. Subsequently, I attended Emerson College and earned a degree in Communications. That’s where the roots of my career were set. ..It wasn’t until a few years later that I received my first opportunity to be “on-air.” It was as a volunteer PA announcer at a local racetrack in Connecticut (Stafford Motor Speedway). I later became the PR director at the speedway which led to other opportunities in the NASCAR industry, including an announcer’s job with the Motor Racing Network (MRN). From there, things progresses steadily to where I am now with ESPN.”
What are some jobs you have occupied in the sports journalism world?
“Following my time at Stafford in the mid 90’s, I moved to Charlotte to pursue my television career. My first broadcast TV job was as a reporter for a show called “Inside NASCAR” which aired on TNN. During this time I also freelanced with NBC Sports and TBS as a pit reporter for the NASCAR races they carried in 1999 & 2000. In 2001 there was a major shakeup in the NASCAR TV industry and I was lucky enough to land at ESPN as a Sportscenter & RPM 2Night reporter. In the past 12 years with ESPN I’ve worked as a reporter on many shows including Sportscenter and Outside the Lines. Currently I am a NASCAR Now anchor and field reporter and occasionally work on pit road for ESPN race broadcasts.”
How did you get your start covering NASCAR?
“It all started at Stafford Speedway. …The Arute family operates the track. Notably, successful racing reporter Jack Arute was the president of the track. I approached Jack at the season opener in 1994 and asked if I could help with the announcing duties. Half expecting him to turn me down I was surprised when he asked, “How soon can you start?” That was the first break of my career.”
What are some of the highs and lows of your job?
“I’ve been privileged to have many great experiences at ESPN. Too many to list. Not only have I been able to live my dream by interviewing NASCAR stars and covering the sport’s biggest events for the past 12 seasons but I’ve also been asked on occasion to cover other sports. The opportunity has allowed me to report on athletes such as Tom Brady, Cal Ripken & Curt Schilling. Perhaps the coolest assignment I’ve ever been given was to report on the atmosphere and reaction in Boston the day after the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years (2004). As a lifelong New England sports fan this is an experience I will never forget.”
“There have been few drawbacks to the job but if there is something that can be difficult, it’s the travel. It can be exhausting. Couple that with the fact I miss a lot of things with my family and children while I’m away.”
What are some of the more memorable experiences you’ve experienced through your job?
“As I mentioned earlier, my experience in Boston the day after the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series was amazing. I’ve also covered the Patriots in the playoffs and UCONN Basket ball before and after they’d won National Championships. I’ve also covered every Daytona 500 since 1999 and been able to do countless stories and interviews that I’ve been very proud of. All fun experiences.”
”My most memorable experience though, I would not describe as fun. Coincidentally it was my first month on the job with ESPN. The very first race I was assigned to was the 2001 Daytona 500. As you know, this was the race where Dale Earnhardt suffered his fatal crash.”
“I had done many reports that week leading up to the race but nothing could prepare me for what would transpire following it. I will ever forget the people I spoke with and the sentiment of shock that enveloped the sport.”
“I remember doing live shots for various ESPN shows well past midnight that night. We continued reporting, not only the next morning, but every day until the next race (Rockingham) was complete the following Monday.”
Could you give some secrets away regarding the preparation you do for every episode of NASCAR Now?
“There is no secret really. It requires quite a bit of writing. The show producer lays out what is called a “run down.” Essentially it is an outline of how the show will flow, minute by minute. My job is to script each segment accordingly. I will spend a few hours before each show writing lead-ins to news packages, voice over’s for various elements and of course planning interviews.”
You get to work with some pretty big names in the sport, including yourself, who are some of your favorite co-workers?
“It’s impossible to name my favorite co-workers. I work with so many of the nations’ most talented television personalities. For that I consider myself very lucky.”
What are your thoughts on the new champion, Brad Keselowski?
“Brad is an unbelievable talent. Remember it wasn’t that long ago (2008) he won his first Nationwide race. In five seasons he claimed his first Nationwide and Cup wins and has secured Championships in both series. That’s incredibly impressive, especially when you consider the caliber of drivers who have still not won a Sprint Cup title.”
What do you believe will be the greatest impact the new car will bring in 2013?
“First off, they look cool. Secondly, I think the car provides more brand identity for the manufacturers so from a marketing standpoint, not only for them but also the sport, that’s a plus. Remember, just as they like rooting for individual drivers, fans also root for specific manufacturers. So I think the 2013 car helps in that regard.”
“From a competition standpoint I’m not sure yet but am hopeful it will enable drivers to do more side by side racing and complete passes easier than with the 2012 car. From the comments I’ve heard from drivers so far, it seems there is reason to believe that will happen. They seem genuinely excited about it.”
Who are some of the drivers you believe will have success next season?
“I guess the safe answer to that question is Jimmie Johnson. He’s never had a bad year. Of course, this time of year there’s lots of optimism. I expect Keselowski will again be strong. Kasey Kahne seemed to hit his stride with Hendrick. You should never count out Jeff Gordon. Matt Kenseth should be good with Gibbs. I expect Carl Edwards, with new crew chief Jimmy Fennig, to bounce back. Greg Biffle should continue to be solid. Tony Stewart is always a threat. A couple drivers I’m curious about are Clint Bowyer, coming off a career season and Dale Earnhardt Jr trying to build on a solid 2012.”
What is some advice you would offer to younger people who dream of having a job in journalism like yours?
“Be persistent and willing to do whatever it takes to get “on-air.” Networks want to hear and see what you’ve done, so find a way, even if it’s volunteering at a local short track like I did, to be on air. The experience will serve you well as you hone your craft and it will enable you to put together a tape you can present to a potential employer down the road.”
You can follow Mike on twitter (@MikeMassaro) and catch him on ESPN from time to time in the off-season as well as watch his coverage of NASCAR once the 2013 season gets under way.
Whenever I’m covering a NASCAR race or other event, I often record countless driver interviews. Some of them find their way into articles and some are set aside.
I recently ran across an audio recording that I made in November 2011 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame for a fan question and answer session. Winston Kelley, the Executive Director of the Hall of Fame, hosted the event.
Dale Jr. was in rare form. I distinctly remember thinking to myself that he was more relaxed and confident than I had seen him in quite some time. He didn’t seem like a driver fulfilling an obligation. It was more like a conversation among friends and as usual, he left his fans wanting more.
Winston Kelley: “In addition to your father, who were the guys you looked up the most to, that you admired or wanted to be like? Who were the guys that were Dale Earnhardt Jr’s heroes growing up?”
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: “I always liked Jimmy Means a lot. He was a driver and now is a car owner in the sport. His son was a friend of mine so we palled around the racetrack together every weekend. So I spent some time around Jimmy and watched Jimmy do what he did. I just admired how hard he worked and how dedicated he was to what he was doing.
Cale Yarborough was a guy that I thought a lot of, how he carried himself around the racetrack and how he handled his business.
I thought David Pearson was pretty cool but I didn’t really know him enough or get to know him well enough as a driver. But watching old films and old footage, reading and stuff like that, he seems like an interesting character.”
Winston Kelley: “When you did the “Back in the Day” show, you seemed to really enjoy the history of the sport.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: “I do. I’m sort of mystified on how the cars have changed over the years and how much they’ve changed. It really is interesting to me to look back at some of the older machines and wonder as a driver how they drove and how they went around the track and what those cars felt like when you raced with them compared to what we have today.
I wish that if I could go back in time I could race in the 70’s with the old Chargers and old Oldsmobiles and stuff like that. It would be a lot of fun to be a part of.
I think the sport was different then and simpler in a lot of ways but I definitely enjoy the history a lot.”
Fan: “Are you superstitious?”
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: “I’m not really that superstitious. I believe in the typical things that your parents or your family teaches you when you’re growing up like breaking mirrors or stuff like that but nothing else.”
Winston Kelley: “Green used to be a really big deal. Was that something your Dad was superstitious about? You’re driving a green car now. It kind of started to go away with the Mountain Dew car.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: “I don’t think Dad was that superstitious but I’ve heard through my grandmother that Ralph Earnhardt was pretty superstitious about the color green and peanuts and stuff like that. They say in racing you’re not supposed to eat peanuts around the race cars. I don’t know why. Apparently at Concord Motor Speedway one night he chased some fellow off with a gun for eating peanuts around his racecar.”
Fan: “Whenever you’re racing, do you ever feel your father watching over you?”
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: “I think so. I think you carry that with you all the time with everything you do. If I need to make a decision I’ll bank on what he taught me or what we talked about or if we ever discussed it before and try to make the right decision with his help. And I do feel like his spirit rides with me and keeps me safe.”
[media-credit name=”Photo Credit: Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]While it may have been Clint Bowyer’s first season ever with Michael Waltrip Racing, it was the best season of his career.
And the driver of the No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota couldn’t be happier, finishing second in the Chase standings, just 39 points behind champion Brad Keselowski and a mere one point ahead of third place finisher and five time champ Jimmie Johnson.
“Can you believe I beat Jimmie Johnson?” Bowyer said in the media session following his runner up speech at the banquet. “It was a whopping one point.”
“That’s like winning.”
Bowyer most likely never dreamed that he would finish the year so strongly, especially after leaving Richard Childress Racing at the end of 2011 and signing with new team Michael Waltrip Racing.
“Those were nerve-racking times in the winter last year,” Bower said. “I had lost my ride at RCR and walked into a new program with a lot of unknowns.”
“But I had a lot of confidence in what was going on,” Bowyer continued. “They paired me with Brian Pattie (crew chief) and a lot of good people and that’s what it takes to be successful.”
Bowyer made the Chase with three victories in the year, including wins at Sonoma, Richmond and Charlotte. He also scored ten top-5 and 23 top-10 finishes for the 2012 season.
Bowyer’s first win was one of his sweetest, coming at the road course of Sonoma, where he had never won before. He dominated that race, leading 71 or the 112 laps.
“It was awesome,” Bowyer said of that first victory for MWR.”I run well at Sonoma.”
“It’s one of those tracks where I’m comfortable from the very first laps I run,” Bowyer continued. “It just came effortless.”
“You’re at the top of the board in practice and, if you’re not, you knew just what kind of adjustment you needed to put you at the top of the board,” Bowyer continued. “I’ve just always been able to find good speed there.”
“I’ve learned to enjoy those road courses.”
Bowyer has also learned to enjoy fuel mileage racing, winning his next two races at Richmond and Charlotte by saving gas and playing that strategy.
At Richmond, Bowyer recovered from a spin midway through the race due to a cut tire in a close encounter with Juan Pablo Montoya, saved fuel at the end, and went on to Victory Lane. This win put Bowyer in the sixth position to start the run for the championship.
“Thank you, Juan Pablo, for wrecking me and then winning me the race,” Bowyer said exuberantly. “It’s a good way to bounce back headed into the Chase after the bad race last weekend in Atlanta.”
Bowyer’s third win, also in fuel conservation mode, came at Charlotte in October. The driver actually ran out of gas during his burnout celebration and walked with team owner Michael Waltrip to Victory Lane.
For Bowyer, these three wins, as well as finishing second in the Chase were the capstones for his successful season.
“My season highlights were all about winning,” Bowyer said. “Winning on my worst race tracks, a mile and a half and a road course.”
“That says a lot about what we’ve got going on as a race team.”
Unfortunately for Bowyer, however, there were also some lowlights of the season that have, according to the driver, almost overshadowed all of the accomplishments. And those lowlights involve fellow competitor and four-time champion Jeff Gordon.
Interestingly, Gordon and Bowyer have had an interesting relationship throughout the season, clashing on the track but yet also having good runs together at the same time.
When Bowyer won at Sonoma, he spied a picture of Jeff Gordon, five-time Sonoma winner, in the media center after the race, and noted how much bigger that made his win there.
“I looked up and Jeff Gordon was there on the wall, won this race many times, he’s a champion of this sport and I just beat him,” Bowyer said. “You have no idea…I’m a young racer from Kansas.”
“You don’t forget stuff like that.”
Bowyer’s Richmond race was also intertwined with Gordon’s in that, while Bowyer stood in Victory Circle, Gordon scored his own brand of victory with Bowyer, beating out Kyle Busch for the final spot in the Chase.
But it was the altercation with Jeff Gordon at Phoenix, the next to the last race of the season and in the Chase, that has consumed all of the attention, much to Bowyer’s chagrin.
At that race, with Gordon intentionally crashing Bowyer late in the race, leading to a melee in the pits, and Bowyer’s now infamous run to catch Gordon, the spotlight shifted from accomplishment and finishing second place to the newest rivalry in the sport.
“It’s a bad thing,” Bowyer said. “I want to get this behind me because I’ve had such a great year.”
“And I hated that happened at the end of the year because that’s all you guys in the media wanted to talk about,” Bowyer continued. “That’s the story, but that’s what sucked for me, knowing how good of a year we had, how much pride we had, and because of a stupid thing there, that’s what we’re talking about, not how we ran in the Chase and in the season.”
Does Bowyer think that the Phoenix altercation with Gordon cost him the championship? Although still smarting from it all, Bowyer definitely acknowledged that there were other factors that led to his second place Chase standing finish.
“No, we got behind at Talladega and never really bounced back,” Bowyer said. “I knew that was going to be a hard one to overcome, especially as hard as Jimmie and Brad were running.”
“But, look at the way we ran in the Chase,” Bowyer continued. “A bad race was sixth, you know.”
“When you’re running like that, it’s pretty rare,” Bowyer said. “And if we can continue to build on that like I think we can, it gives me a lot of confidence and a lot of pride.”
And that pride and sense of accomplishment is what Bowyer fully intends to focus on for the remainder of 2012, the offseason, and into the New Year.
“When we made the Chase, my realistic goal was to be in the top five,” Bowyer said. “To exceed that…you can’t ask for more.”
“I’m with a group that I can really enjoy,” Bowyer continued. “Anytime you’ve had success the way we’ve had success, you’re bound to have fun and build confidence within yourself.”
“I feel like this year I ran the way I was capable of running and it was super-cool to be a part of it.”
[media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”217″][/media-credit]As Kasey Kahne completed his first full season with Hendrick Motorsports, finishing fourth in the Chase standings, the 32 year old driver had just one thing on his mind.
“I want to win more,” Kahne said simply after giving his speech at the NASCAR championship banquet in Las Vegas.
This was Kahne’s third time qualifying for the Chase, doing so after a two year hiatus. Although rough at first, Kahne rallied later in the 2012 season to finish with two wins, one at Charlotte and the other in the other at Loudon, and four poles.
“It’s been great to be back in Vegas this year,” Kahne said. “I took two years off so it felt really good to be back from where we started the season.”
“The way we put it together as a team and made the Chase was awesome,” Kahne continued. “It would have been terrible to miss the Chase and have the other three in it.”
Kahne has enjoyed every minute of his time with Hendrick Motorsports this year. He especially treasured the 200th win for HMS, as well as his own win shortly after at the Coke 600, which was team Hendrick’s 201st.
“Being part of the 200th win was awesome and Jimmie (Johnson) deserved to win that one,” Kahne said. “Then 201 a few weeks later felt really good and made me feel a part of HMS now that we have a win.”
“I’ve shown Mr. H. that I can win and I want to win more.”
By his own admission, a big part of Kahne’s success has come about thanks to his partnership with long-time crew chief Kenny Francis, who has followed the driver through various team moves over the years. Kahne paid tribute to Francis in his banquet speech and in his remarks afterwards.
“We’ve been a lot of places and ended up at HMS,” Kahne said to Francis. “Thanks for sticking with me.”
Kahne also paid tribute to the skills that Francis has brought to Hendrick Motorsports, particularly his expertise at the mile and a half tracks. But he and his team have also benefitted immensely from the HMS approach and integration of all four race teams.
“I think Kenny (Francis) brought some things front-end wise that all the teams ran and really liked throughout the season,” Kahne said. “That was a big gain.”
“Everything that HMS, from the drivers to crew chiefs to those building the cars, added so much to what myself and Kenny had in the past,” Kahne continued. “It’s been great to be a part of all that and be given so many great tools.”
One of Kahne’s biggest pleasures this past year has been participating, twice, in the HMS time-honored tradition of ringing the bell back at the shop after a race win.
“It was great,” Kahne said. “There were a lot of people that I didn’t even know existed.”
“We went into some shops that I hadn’t been to before,” Kahne continued. “Every employee gets excited when we ring the bell.”
“Everyone gets a shirt or sticker,” Kahne said. “It’s nice to be a part of that.”
“I’m proud to be a part of the company where everyone is working towards the same goal, getting all four teams the chance to win.”
As with most of the top-ten drivers, Kahne admitted that making his fourth-place finishing speech at the banquet was one of his least favorite things to do. In fact, he admitted that he would much rather be working out and maintaining his intense fitness regime than speaking in front of his racing peers.
“It’s definitely not what I enjoy doing,” Kahne said after making his speech.” I’d much rather be involved in working out, training.”
“That doesn’t make me near as nervous as talking to those people at the banquet,” Kahne continued. “I feel good about myself when we train.”
Kahne did, however, enjoy his time in Vegas, especially getting to know the new champion, hanging out with some of some of his fellow competitors, and celebrating with the fans.
“I don’t know Brad (Keselowski) real well, but I’ve talked to him a little bit all year long,” Kahne said. “He’s a good guy and I like what he’s done.”
“I’m impressed with how he has driven the car and how he’s involved in a lot of things,” Kahne continued. “I have a lot of respect for the guy.”
“I have a lot of favorite moments from Vegas,” Kahne said. “I think driving the cars on the Strip was a high point.”
“There were a lot of fans watching and so that was exciting,” Kahne continued. “Enjoying it with these guys and getting to spend time with them has also been great.”
“At the track, we don’t get a lot of time together so away from the track, we’ve all had some fun,” Kahne said. “I’ve had a blast with (Kevin) Harvick and (Clint) Bowyer.”
But most of all, Kahne is looking forward to putting all of the bad luck from the beginning of the 2012 season far behind him and capitalizing on the latter part of the season as he looks to 2013.
“There were a few of those bad luck moments this past season,” Kahne said. “We had speed and would run upfront but then something would happen.”
“As soon as the luck changed, we put together a pretty decent season,” Kahne continued. “It was a good season and we came from a ways back.”
“To build on that next year at a stable organization will be great.”
Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, was not just relieved when his NASCAR year-end banquet speech as the fifth place finishing driver was over. He was also “very proud of what we did this year.”
Biffle and his team scored two wins in the season, with 12 top-five finishes and 21 top-ten finishes. He led the point standings, made the Chase, and had an average finish for the year of 10.2.
“I was nervous at the beginning of this year because this was really a brand new team,” Biffle said. “It takes a while to get your legs under you.”
“Out of seventeen guys, only three of them were same from the year previous,” Biffle continued. “And they were all hand-picked by Matt Puccia (crew chief).”
“I figured we were going to have our challenges ahead of us,” Biffle said. “So to come out of the gate like we did and lead the points all the way through when the Chase started was amazing for me.”
“I was really excited about that.”
After a bit of a victory drought, Biffle scored his first win of the 2012 season at Texas Motor Speedway in the spring race, the Samsung Mobile 500. He went on to visit Victory Lane a second time in the Michigan 400 in late summer.
“It was such a relief,” Biffle said of his Texas win. “And I was so excited.”
“When you win there is so much emotion,” Biffle continued. “So much goes through you.”
“I was more excited for the team and Matt Puccia for his first Cup win,” Biffle said. “And it was the first Cup win for more than half the guys on my team.”
“I’ve won 17 or 18 times or however many,” Biffle continued. “It’s special to me each time you get there, but it’s neat every time to take people to Victory lane.”
“And it was kind of a dry spell for me,” Biffle said. “So, it was nice to get back in there to Victory Lane.”
Biffle, like most of the top-ten drivers, was honored to have finished fifth in the final point standings. But he was dreading his banquet speech, stating he just had to rely on the teleprompter to get through it.
“I’ve got too much ADD so I had to use a teleprompter,” Biffle said. “I’ll talk about one thing and forget about what’s next.”
“I’ve thought about trying to do bullet points on the teleprompter like ‘team’, ‘Jack Roush’, ‘thank the sponsors’, and ‘NASCAR’,” Biffle continued. “It just doesn’t work for me because I get rambling on and can’t transition to the next thing very well.”
“I’m better off just to write a short and simple speech,” Biffle said. “I have to write the speech because I have to put it in my words, the way I say it, instead of trying to read something that’s unnatural.”
“Then I do better with it.”
In addition to the NASCAR festivities, Biffle also enjoyed his time in Vegas by bonding with some of his team over drinks and a little gambling.
“I’ve had a lot of fun gambling and playing craps with some of the guys,” Biffle said. “Just enjoying the city, going out and enjoying a few drinks has been fun.”
“Normally, when I’m racing, Monday I might have a beer or two sometimes,” Biffle continued. “But it’s nice to come here and enjoy the city and not have to get into the race car the next day.”
While many of the drivers who have been trying their hands at the Vegas tables have lost some significant dollars, Biffle stated that he has been holding his own in the casino.
“I’m about even, which means I won because I’m having a lot of fun and I’m doing it for free right now,” Biffle said. “I don’t have a lot of money to lose and I work very hard but I’m going to have a little fun.”
“It’s like going to the amusement park and you’ve got to pay for it, but with this, you have the opportunity to win a little.”
Of the new champion, Biffle admitted that he really did not know Brad Keselowski all that well. But he also admitted to feeling a certain kinship with the new young champion.
“Brad’s been pretty busy,” Biffle said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know him a little bit better.”
“We’ve done a few things or talked about doing a few things away from the track.”
“I see a lot of myself in Brad,” Biffle said. “Brad wasn’t given anything.”
“He didn’t have anyone paying the bills all the way for him,” Biffle continued. “He worked hard.”
“I remember him at the race track when he was 14 or 15 years old helping his dad when his dad was running the Truck Series,” Biffle said. “So then Brad raced the Truck Series and Nationwide and got an opportunity to step into the 2 car.”
“They weren’t fast right away but with time and hard work, they’ve gotten up on the stage,” Biffle continued. “That’s a credit to how hard he’s worked.’
Just like the new champion, Biffle also intends to work hard in the 2013 season. And next year, he hopes to have an even more consistent season, especially with the new race car.
“I want to be in the new Fusion every day,” Biffle said. “But there again, testing is limited.”
“NASCAR is going to do a few tests at Charlotte,” Biffle continued. “But I don’t think we’ll get a lot of tests before we get going.”
“Last year, we just weren’t as prepared and weren’t as ready,” Biffle said. “We went from a good group of tracks for us to something a little different and that’s what really caught us off guard.”
“What I think we learned is that we won’t make that mistake in 2013, especially if we’re lucky enough to make the Chase next year.”
With the 2012 champion Brad Keselowski officially crowned, it was time for Tony Stewart to close the door on being the past champion, give new the new champ a little advice, and move on to the exciting events of the 2013 season.
“I feel good,” Stewart said in the media room after making his ninth place remarks at the banquet in Vegas. “I’m not used to being done by now.”
“I get to go back and enjoy everybody’s speeches and not be nervous about giving my own.”
Of the new champion to whom he has now passed the baton, Stewart has just one word. He finds Keselowski simply “refreshing.”
“It’s nice to see somebody that speaks from the heart,” Stewart said. “That’s the way all of us should.”
When asked if he and past five-time champion Jimmie Johnson had been indoctrinating the new champion Keselowski into his new role, Stewart noted that “Brad has had a busy enough week.”
“It is a long week for a champion,” Stewart said knowingly. “You wouldn’t trade it for anything obviously but by Thursday night you’re starting to get worn out.”
“And you can see it in Brad’s eyes that he’s getting tired.”
“The one thing that Jimmie and I sat down and told him was to enjoy every minute of it,” Stewart continued. “It seems like when you look at the schedule in the morning you think, “Oh my God, they’re wearing me out,” but every moment you have to enjoy and have fun with it because there are 40 plus drivers that want to be where you are this week.”
Stewart also had a few words of advice for the media when it came to their treatment of the new champion Keselowski.
“To be perfectly honest, I hope you (the media) continue to treat Brad the way that you are now,” Stewart said. “That gives him the opportunity to be himself and that’s what the fans want to hear.”
“I’m so scared that at some point somebody is going to turn on him,” Stewart continued. “And then it goes downhill from there.”
“So, I hope you guys in the media keep doing what you’re doing,” Stewart said. “I’m proud that you are giving him the chance to be open and I think it’s great for our sport.”
“The sponsors and the fans really enjoy that,” Stewart continued. “I think there’s always a lot more positive stuff than negative each week but sometimes that gets overshadowed.”
“I hope Brad is able to keep doing what he’s doing.”
Although the NASCAR season has officially come to an end with the banquet, Stewart said he has just a little bit more racing to do before closing out 2012.
“I’ve actually still got three races before the end of this year is over,” Stewart said. “I’m going to be almost at 95 races.”
“I’m excited about that,” Stewart continued. “That’s still what I love to do.”
While in Vegas to celebrate the new champion, Stewart took a little time out to raise money for charity, at both Keselowski’s and Jimmie Johnson’s PR rep’s expense. During the After the Lap celebration at Planet Hollywood, both Stewart and Johnson pledged donations in order to see champ Keselowski and Kristine Curley share a dance together on stage.
“Between Jimmie Johnson and myself, I raised my donation to $10,000 and Jimmie donated $5,000 to Victory Junction Gang Camp,” Stewart said. “So, we both ended up raising $15,000.”
“Yes, it’s been a fun week and we always have a lot of fun with our PR reps obviously,” Smoke continued. “It was a fun moment.”
Stewart also took the opportunity to reflect on many of the past season’s accomplishments, from those of his competitors to his own team and drivers.
“I thought there were some great performances,” Stewart said of the 2012 season. “I think Marcos (Ambrose) and Brad (Keselowski) at Watkins Glen was a great example and Jeff Gordon’s run at Richmond to get into the Chase was a great performance.”
“There were a lot of those individual examples this year that were noteworthy and made for a good year.”
“I think winning Las Vegas was great for Stewart-Haas Racing,” Smoke said. “To win at a track we hadn’t won at before was special for me personally.”
“To get Ryan another win and see Danica progress and gain confidence towards the end of the season was great too.”
Stewart admitted that as much as he has enjoyed his reign as 2011 champion and the past year, he is most certainly looking forward to the new season ahead. One of the biggest challenges will be adjusting to the new car, which was just unveiled earlier in the week by Chevrolet.
“It can be big,” Stewart said of the new 2013 Chevrolet SS. “Anytime you start with anything completely new, it’s an unknown variable.”
“So, it’s something that’s going to take a lot to figure out.”
“Nobody knows who is going to find the right combination with this new car,” Stewart continued. “So, until we get a couple races, we won’t know.”
“Even with that, a lot will change during the season.”
“You have to establish a base first,” Stewart said. “The hardest thing is getting cars built right now.”
“We’re sitting there with a race shop full of bare chassis that don’t have sheet metal on them yet,” Smoke continued. “And here we are at the beginning of December, so we have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time.”
While he may be stressing about the 2013 season and building new race cars, Stewart has been most excited about other promises that the next year will hold. One area of excitement is that several sponsors have extended their commitments to his team and the other is that the Truck Series will be racing on dirt at his beloved Eldora track.
Stewart-Haas Racing recently announced that four sponsors will return in the New Year for Ryan Newman and his SHR No. 39 team.
“Obviously, we’re very proud to have WIX Filters, Outback Steakhouse, Aspen Dental and Code 3 Associates back with our race team,” Stewart said. “We work really hard to deliver on the racetrack, but we work just as hard to understand each one of our sponsor’s businesses so we can help them accomplish the goals they have, be it in racing or with their customers.”
“It’s great seeing these partnerships grow and we look forward to another year of success with each of them.” And finally, Stewart will most look forward to serving as host as the NASCAR Truck Series, which will make its dirt debut at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. The half mile track, owned by Stewart, will be the host to the first of two Wednesday night races, with the Eldora race being held the Wednesday before the Indy weekend.
“It’s just really a dream come true for us not only as a promoter but to imagine that 42 years later we’re going to be taking a national NASCAR series back to a dirt track at Eldora Speedway is a huge honor for us,” Stewart said.
So, what will Stewart miss most as he closes the 2012 season and opens the door to the 2013 season? Well, one thing is certain and that is that he will not miss the close encounters of the media kind, with the exception of the off microphone conversations at least.
“Oh God no,” Stewart replied when asked if he would miss the media, many with whom he has had a somewhat mercurial relationship.
“But as much as I like to battle with you all season, there are a lot of times when we don’t have microphones and we all talk about different things other than racing,” Stewart said.
[media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]While the spot light is on new NASCAR champ Brad Keselowski and the other Chase drivers during the Vegas Championship Week celebrations, the generosity and caring of NASCAR has also taken center stage throughout the festivities.
First-time Chase contender and MWR racer Martin Truex Jr. spoke passionately about his Foundation work, especially in light of Super Storm Sandy, which deeply affected his home state of New Jersey.
“My family made out very well for the situation and the area they are in,” Truex said. “They are a mile from people that lost their homes and had serious flooding and a very bad time of it.”
“They were very fortunate and all my close friends and family didn’t have major problems which is great,” Truex continued. “But at the same time, a lot of people in the community are struggling.”
“Places where I grew up at the Jersey shore are in shambles,” Truex said. “We’re trying to do all we can do to help.”
“My Foundation has set up a fund and we’ve raised over $150,000 up until this week,” Truex continued. “We’re already starting to disburse those funds to help families and those who really need it.”
“We took a truckload of supplies up there two weeks ago and we’re getting ready to take another one up,” Truex said. “We’re just trying to do all we can to try to get those people on their feet because it’s been a tough time for them.”
Some of Truex’s most favorite memories have been at the Jersey shore, which has led to his passion to help. Yet, as much as he wants to return home, he also dreads seeing the destruction.
“I haven’t been back and I won’t be until Christmas,” Truex said. “We just always went to the beach and did a lot of fishing in the bay.”
“There are a lot of landmarks there that I remember that are probably not there anymore.”
One of the most memorable philanthropic moments came during the annual NASCAR/NMPA Myers Brothers Award luncheon when Jeff Gordon was honored for his charitable work. Gordon was named the 2012 recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brother award, one of the most prestigious philanthropic awards in NASCAR.
“Off the track, he has raised countless funds for charity through his Foundation for pediatric cancer research,” Burt Myers, grandson of Billy Myers, said on presenting the award to Gordon with his brother Jason Myers. “He has traveled to Rwanda to aid with health care as well as partnering with an organization to put it on the side of his race car as a drive to end hunger.”
Gordon’s voice was choked with emotion as he took the stage to receive the award.
“Oh boy, this is a surprise,” Gordon said. “I’m having a hard time composing myself.”
After the conclusion of the luncheon, Gordon reflected further on his award and why he reacted so emotionally.
“On the race track there is instant gratification but for something like this, to be recognized among your peers at an event that I’ve been coming to for a very long time, it just one, surprised me because I didn’t feel like I had earned that and yet at the same time I’m very proud of the work that we’ve done.”
“I can tell you that it was a shock,” Gordon continued. “You saw as raw emotions as it gets with me and it was very difficult to keep my composure.”
“When you’re being recognized by your peers for something you’ve put so much of your heart into, it brings out those emotions,” Gordon said. “It was a huge honor.”
Gordon shared that the award also meant so much to him because of the people before that he had seen receive it. And he, for one, did not see himself in that same company, at least at this stage in his life and career.
“Coming to the luncheon for all these years and seeing the others that have been recognized and what they did to achieve that award, I don’t feel like I put myself in that category,” Gordon said. “I thought they made a mistake, but at the same time it was reality.”
“It means a lot to me,” Gordon continued. “That was just wearing it on my sleeve.”
Gordon acknowledged that he has definite plans to continue his philanthropic work in the New Year and throughout the 2013 race season. He also said that he would further expand his work with children to other countries in need, in addition to his work in Rwanda.
“We’ve got some great things happening,” Gordon said. “We’re just gaining momentum where we’re starting to be recognized among elite groups when it comes to pediatric cancer.”
“So, not just the work that we’re doing but the future work that can be done not just in the US but also in Rwanda,” Gordon continued. “We hope that is something we can duplicate in other countries.”
“I’ve met people who do great work in other countries and that has intrigued me,” Gordon said. “Now that we’ve done work in Rwanda, I want to look at doing more.”
“I’m interested in other countries that have the same kind of potential with a structured government and a great need.”
“There are many places that need it,” Gordon said. “We try to do everything we do right.”
“Once we feel like we are in place and have our feet solidly on the ground, then we take the next steps to take it to the next level.”
Gordon advised that more announcements about his charitable endeavors in the New Year will be revealed shortly.
“We’re not allowed to announce something that we have coming out in January but I’m very excited about it,” Gordon said. “It’s not an award but being tied to a children’s book that is going to benefit our Foundation.”
“It’s something that I’m proud that they looked at us as a recipient of that.”
On a lighter note, another bit of philanthropy during the Championship week celebrations occurred at NASCAR’s After the Lap. This wide-open, tell-all event hosted by ESPN reported Jamie Little was sold out at Planet Hollywood, with all proceeds benefitting the NASCAR Foundation.
“The first year we did this, it was free to see what kind of feedback and turnout we would get,” After the Lap host Jamie Little said. “When it became such a great event, we started charging $20, with all the proceeds benefitting the NASCAR Foundation, a non-profit that raises funds for children’s charities all over the nation.”
One final moment of charity came when, after a tremendous amount of coaxing from fellow Chase drivers and the After the Lap fans, Denny Hamlin once again reprised his version of the Dougie dance that he had done during driver intros at Bristol earlier in the season. With his busting of moves, Hamlin earned $2,500 for the Foundation that bears his name.
How would you like the opportunity to do something you love, while doing something to help other people? That is exactly what Donovan Price is doing. For his 2013 racing season, he will be racing in the Legends series across Ontario while raising money for breast cancer awareness.
