NASCAR HOF To Host Grassroots Racing Exhibit

The NASCAR Hall of Fame introduces a new exhibition in its Great Hall, Grassroots Racing: Where NASCAR Heroes Are Born, opening Monday, May 14.

The new exhibition tells the story of hometown racetracks, affectionately called “grassroots,” where many NASCAR drivers began their careers racing every Friday and Saturday night.

“It’s important to recognize that the NASCAR Hall of Fame is an educational institution for fans and guests,” said Winston Kelley, executive director of the facility. “It’s a vital part of our mission to preserve, uphold and be a resource for the sport and its history. This is the eighth new Great Hall exhibition since opening in May 2010 and it is with these exhibitions the Hall continues to present new chapters in the history book that the NASCAR Hall of Fame experience offers to visitors.”

Grassroots Racing: Where NASCAR Stars are Born explores four race tracks historically known and recognized to be the beginnings of NASCAR racing – Greenville Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C., Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, N.C. and South Boston Speedway in Boston, Va.

Highlighting the exhibition are historic race cars; David Pearson’s Ford Modified (1937), Richard Childress’ Plymouth Modified (1937), Dale Jarrett’s Busch Series Pontiac LeMans (1986) and Denny Hamlin’s Late Model Chevrolet (2003). Additional authentic artifacts  convey the story of these pivotal “grassroots” racetracks which paved the way for many of NASCAR’s biggest stars, many of which are NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees today.

The new exhibition kicks off May Days; a full lineup of special activities, NASCAR celebrity appearances, the unveiling of the 2012 Class Hall of Honor exhibition, exclusive Member-only events, Voting Day and the announcement of the 2013 Class of Inductees.

Grassroots Racing: Where NASCAR Stars are Born opens Monday, May 14 and runs through October.

COMMENTARY: Danica Still Has Some Learning To Do

Danica Patrick still has some learning to do.

The former Indy Car star has transitioned to stock cars on a full-time basis this season, running the complete NASCAR Nationwide Series championship schedule, in addition to a challenging, part-time effort on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Like most rookies, her results have been mixed, with solid finishes on larger tracks and less-encouraging results at the shorter venues.

Saturday was a good day for Patrick. She ran in the lead draft throughout the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway, and was in contention for the win until being shuffled out of the draft on a late-race restart. Contact with fellow  Indy Car alum Sam Hornish, Jr., compounded the agony, leaving Patrick’s GoDaddy.com Chevrolet a disappointing 13^th at the drop of the checkered flag.

After the race, Patrick hit Hornish from behind on the cool down lap, turning him nearly head-on into the wall and triggering a post-race dustup between the two former open wheel stars.  

“I’m mad to get wrecked after the race,” said a seething Hornish afterward. “I had a right-front tire go down coming off Turn 4 from earlier contact. (Joe Nemechek) and I got together and it started slowly going down. Coming to the tri-oval… I couldn’t turn and couldn’t keep it down.

“I was doing everything I could do (to avoid Patrick)," he said. "I was trying to wave off Elliott Sadler, to get him to quit pushing me. I couldn't hold it down, and I ended up getting in the wall before we got to the start-finish line."

Hornish confronted Patrick after the race, expressing unhappiness with being wrecked after checkered flag “while we were still going 160 mph.” He gave his version of the animated, post-race conversation with Patrick, saying she accused him of intentionally blocking her on the restart. “She said, 'Oh, I know your style,' and I'm like, 'Yeah, I'm going to drive into the tri-oval wall way before the start-finish line to prove (my) point.'

“I don’t know,” said Hornish. “She's got her head a little bit mixed up about what's going on out there, I guess."

“I’ve known Sam for a really long time,” countered Patrick, “and I know what to be ready for around him. I don’t know what happened… (and) I don’t know (if it was personal). He apologized, so I suppose it wasn’t.”

She also expressed frustration at being left out of the draft in the final laps, saying, “I have to get my arms wrapped around some more friends out there, so I can have more people want to work with me and go to the front. I've got a fast car.”

Patrick’s frustration is understandable. Unfortunately, it is also unrealistic.

No matter how hard she tries, Patrick cannot simply stamp her feet and demand the instantaneous respect of her fellow competitors.  At tracks like Daytona and Talladega, she must prove – over and over again -- that she is a stable, trustworthy, levelheaded performer in the draft. Incidents like Saturday’s do little to further that effort.

Like it or not, she must accept that in NASCAR, contact is part of the game. This is not the IZOD Indy Car Series, where open wheels and minimal bodywork make even the slightest contact a potentially deadly situation.  Fenders get creased in NASCAR, and while not every incidence of car-to-car contact rises to the level of attempted murder, intentionally sticking someone in the fence at 160 mph – especially after the checkered flag – is no way to make friends.

In Indy Car, Patrick was rightfully viewed as a veteran. In NASCAR, she has not yet earned that status. While possessing unquestionable talent behind the wheel, she is also developing a reputation as a finger-pointer; a driver who consistently calls-out fellow competitors while accepting little or no measure of blame for her own on-track incidents. If she really wants to be accepted in the NASCAR garage, she needs to talk less and listen more, lowering the volume and avoiding the urge to tell drivers with exponentially more experience how to do their jobs.  

Stewart Delivers Scathing Talladega Rebuke

Tony Stewart was in rare form Sunday night, delivering a scathing, tongue-in-cheek assessment of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. The three-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion met with the media minutes after seeing his hopes for victory dashed by a late-race crash, making it clear that he is no fan of the style of racing  that resulted in his 24^th-place finish.

"We didn't quite crash half the field which is what we normally look to do here,” quipped Stewart. “I was excited about it. I thought it was a pretty good race. I made it further than I thought I would before I got crashed. I call it a successful day."

"I'm upset that we didn't crash more. I feel like that is what we are here for." -- Tony Stewart

 

He criticized recent NASCAR rule changes that limited the size of radiator openings and caused a number of overheating issues on a 90-degree Talladega Sunday, saying, “It's fun to be able to race and have to watch the gauges at the same time. It makes us drivers have to do so much more. Being able to make yourself run on the apron and everything else to try to get clean air, it makes it fun. I'm sorry we couldn't crash more cars today. We didn't fill the quota for today for Talladega and NASCAR."

Asked if NASCAR should reverse field and allow wider grille openings, Stewart again opted to take the sarcastic route, saying, “I think they need to close it down. (And) if we haven't crashed at least 50 percent of the field by the end of the race, we need to extend the race until we at least crash 50 percent of the cars. It's not fair to these fans… not see any more wrecks than that, and more torn up cars. We still had over half the cars running at the end and it shouldn't be that way.

“I think we ought to just tape (the cars) off solid and run them until they blow up,” said Stewart. “I think it would make it a lot more exciting for the fans."

He also bemoaned the cost of repairing crashed race cars, saying, “I feel bad if I don't spend at least $150,000 on torn up race cars going back to the shop. We definitely have to do a better job with that. I'm upset that we didn't crash more. I feel like that is what we are here for."

The Stewart Haas Racing driver also suggested changes to the Talladega Superspeedway, quipping, “If we could make it a Figure Eight, it would be perfect. It would absolutely be perfect… better than what we have. My vote next week is that we make it a Figure Eight, and/or we can stop at the half way (point), make a break and turn around and go backwards the rest of the way. Then, with 10 laps to go, we split the field in half. Half go the regular direction and half of them go backwards."

Darlington Honored By South Carolina Legislature

This week has been named “Darlington Raceway Week in South Carolina” after the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate passed a concurrent Resolution.

“This is a tremendous honor for everyone at Darlington Raceway,” said Darlington Raceway President Chris Browning. “The Bojangles’ Southern 500 brings people to South Carolina from all 50 states and several foreign countries and it is a great time to showcase our state with a worldwide television audience watching.”

The famed track’s 63-year history is a major reason that the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives passed the concurrent Resolution, led by state Senator Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville. The Resolution outlines the historical significance of Darlington Raceway and addresses the role the track played in building the foundation of what has become one of the largest spectator sports in the country.

Bojangles’ Southern 500 race week will shift into high-gear Thursday, with the eighth annual Darlington Car Hauler Parade, which makes its way from the Florence Civic Center through the Darlington Square and finishing at the track “Too Tough To Tame.” The racing action will rev up Friday with a full day of on-track activity scheduled including practice and qualifying for the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 on Friday night at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, the Bojangles’ Southern 500 will take the green-flag at 7 p.m. with NASCAR’s biggest stars battling for the Johnny Mantz Bojangles’ Southern 500 trophy under the lights at the track “Too Tough To Tame.”

Tickets to the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 and Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 can be purchased by calling 866-459-7223, or by visiting www.DarlingtonRaceway.com. Kids 17 and under are half off for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 and FREE for the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 in the general admission grandstand.

McClure Remains Hospitalized After Talladega Crash



McClure was Medi-Vaced to UAB Hospital

Driver Eric McClure remains hospitalized at University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital today after a savage crash in the closing laps of Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.

McClure's No. 14 Hefty Toyota was part of a nine-car crash triggered when Kevin Harvick spun off the front bumper of Michael Annett’s Ford during an attempted green-white-checkered flag finish. McClure appeared to get hit in the left-rear corner, sending him hurtling across the track and head-on into the inside wall. The wall is protected by SAFER barriers, but emergency workers were forced to cut the roof off McClure’s demolished racer to remove him. He was taken from the car on a backboard and wearing a cervical collar, before being Life Flighted to UAB Hospital for treatment.

NASCAR spokesmen Kerry Tharp said McClure was “conscious, alert and talking to the attendants” during transport, and a subsequent update from his Tri-Star Motorsports team said he was “awake, alert and talking to family members” and would be kept overnight for observation. He is reportedly complaining of pain in his right arm and leg.

Saturday’s race was red flagged for 19 minutes after the crash for cleanup and repairs to the SAFER barrier. Joey Logano won the race with a last-second pass of leader Kyle Busch.

Photo Credit: Rainier Eherhardt -- AP   

NASCAR Hall Of Fame Profile: Raymond Parks

RAYMOND PARKS – Owner (b. 6/5/14 – d. 6/20/10)

Hometown: Dawson County, Ga.

Competed: 1949-55
Starts: 18
Wins: 2
Poles: 2

Raymond Parks is one of stock-car racing’s earliest – and most successful – team owners.  

Funded by successful business and real estate ventures in Atlanta, Parks began his career as a stock-car owner in 1938 with drivers Lloyd Seay and Roy Hall.  

His pairing with another Atlantan, mechanic Red Vogt, produced equipment good enough to dominate the sport in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Red Byron won the first NASCAR premier series title in 1949 in a Parks-owned car.

Though Parks’ team competed for only four seasons – 1949, 1950, 1954 and 1955 – his place in NASCAR history is secure. Parks’ team produced two wins, two poles, 11 top fives and 12 top 10s in 18 events. Drivers Red Byron, Bob Flock and Roy Hall drove his cars during the 1949 season. Byron drove for him again in 1950. Fonty Flock drove for Parks in 1954, and Curtis Turner drove for him in 1955. 

Parks retired from racing in the mid-1950s.  

This is the latest in a series of GodfatherMotorsports.com biographies profiling the 25 nominees for the 2012 class of the NASCAR Hall Of Fame. Each of the 25 candidates will be profiled in the coming weeks, in alphabetical order.

Bayne, Wood Brothers Add Four New Cup Races

The legendary Wood Brothers’ No. 21 Ford and driver Trevor Bayne will carry the colors of Good Sam and Camping World for four races this season, beginning with the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19. The No. 21 Ford Fusion will also represent Good Sam/Camping World in Sprint Cup races at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 2, Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 16 and Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 13.

The pairing is not the first for the two companies. Bayne drove the Good Sam/Camping World No. 21 Ford Fusion in last year’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Bayne adds four races

The latest deal with Good Sam/Camping World extends the Wood Brothers’ 2012 schedule from 12 to 16 races, and that’s important for the Woods and Bayne. “I’m excited to be back with Good Sam and Camping World,” Bayne said. “Getting to run more races is good for me as a driver and good for our race team.”

Bayne also feels like he has some unfinished business with Good Sam and Camping World. He was supposed to race for them in last year’s All-Star race, but was unable to because of an illness. “I wound up in the hospital and was really bummed about that,” he said.

Now; in addition to getting to run the All-Star race, he will have the opportunity to add three intermediate tracks to his schedule.

“Atlanta’s one of my favorite tracks,” he said. “I love running at Charlotte in the fall, and Chicagoland will be good too.”

For team co-owner Eddie Wood, it’s especially nice to add races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is just a couple of miles from the team’s shop in Harrisburg, and at Atlanta, where the Woods lead all others in race victories with 12.

“We’d like to thank Marcus Lemonis of Good Sam/Camping World for supporting us in these 4 races. “We’re really excited to get the opportunity to run the two races right here at Charlotte, and it’s great for our team to be returning to Atlanta and Chicago,” Wood said. “Donnie Wingo and the crew have built some really fast race cars lately, so the timing is perfect to add races to our schedule.”

"If You're Not First, You're Last"

Here’s the Ricky Bobby “Talladega Nights” paint scheme that adorns Kurt Busch’s No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. In addition to the familiar "ME" sponsorship, the car also sports the logo of the Armed Forces Foundation and the message "Text AFF to 50555 to donate $5". The car has been wildly popular here at Talladega so far; second only to Danica Patrick’s Mardi Gras beads!

NASCAR Hall Of Fame Profile: Cotton Owens

COTTON OWENS – Driver/Owner (b. 5/21/24)

Hometown: Union, S.C.

Competed: 1950-64 (Driver); 1950-73 (Owner)
Starts: 160 (Driver); 405 (Owner)
Wins: 9 (Driver); 38 (Owner)
Poles: 10 (Driver); 33 (Owner)

There are successful drivers and there are successful owners. But, rarely are there both.

Cotton Owens joins NASCAR Hall of Fame member Junior Johnson as masters of the two crafts.

Owens was more than successful behind the wheel, winning nine times in NASCAR’s premier series competition, including the 1957 Daytona Beach road course which marked Pontiac’s first NASCAR victory. He nearly won the 1959 championship, finishing second to NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Lee Petty. Concurrently Owens raced NASCAR modified stock cars and won the 1953-54 championships. 

But as an owner, Owens stood out as one of the greats of NASCAR’s early eras. His eye for talent was unmatched. He hired Johnson in 1962, the same season in which he began a future championship relationship with another NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, David Pearson. 

Johnson spent only four races with Owens but with Pearson, well, that was another story. Twenty-seven of Pearson’s 105 NASCAR premier series victories were recorded in a Cotton Owens car. The pair teamed to win the 1966 championship after Pearson, driving an Owens Dodge, finished third in points in 1964. 

In 1998 Owens was named one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers.  

This is the latest in a series of GodfatherMotorsports.com biographies profiling the 25 nominees for the 2012 class of the NASCAR Hall Of Fame. Each of the 25 candidates will be profiled in the coming weeks, in alphabetical order.

Smith Anxious For Darlington Return

Regan Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, pulled off one of the most surprising victories of the 2011 season when he held off a hard-charging Carl Edwards on old tires to win the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.


Regan Smith hoists the trophy.


Nearly one year later, he readily acknowledges his Southern 500 win as one of the greatest racing moments in his career. With his name now listed forever on the Johnny Mantz Trophy, Smith will return to Darlington Raceway for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 race weekend on May 11-12 with a different title – defending champion.

“Winning the Southern 500 last year was a memorable milestone for our team,” said Smith. “It’s still unbelievable that we pulled it off. I recently tweeted that I would rather win the Southern 500 than win the lottery, and I am not changing my stance on that! I look forward to coming back on May 11-12 and trying to defend my win. No matter what, Darlington will always hold a special place for me.”

While winning a race in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series is a career-defining moment for most drivers, and earning a first victory against the sport’s top drivers on the circuit’s toughest track earns even more respect; making your walk through the garage a little different – like you belong with the best of the best.

“We had special rings made up for our first Sprint Cup win and I wear mine proudly,” Smith said. “To do it at such a historic venue like Darlington Raceway means a lot. Many of the sport’s best drivers have never won at Darlington so to have my name listed on the Johnny Mantz trophy next to so many of the greats that have conquered the track that is Too Tough to Tame will always be one of my greatest racing achievements.”

Smith will return to Darlington on May 11-12 for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 race weekend, feeling like he has a home-court advantage as the defending champion.

“When we unloaded the car off the truck at last year’s Southern 500, I felt we were going to have a car that was fast enough to win the race, as I have felt at many tracks,” Smith said. “It just so happened last year that I was right. I think the feeling will be back when we get to Darlington in a few weeks. Being the defending champion, I’m very comfortable saying that.”

Tickets to the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 on May 12 and Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 on Friday, May 11 can be purchased by calling 866-459-7223 or by visiting DarlingtonRaceway.com. Remember, kids 17 and under are half-off for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 and FREE for the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200.

Humpy Wheeler Calls Out Former Boss, Says Night Racing Was His Idea

Charlotte Motor Speedway issued a press release this week, highlighting the 20^th anniversary of NASCAR’s first Sprint Cup Series night race; the 1992 “The Winston” All-Star event. At face value, the story seemed fairly innocuous, but one of its claims have sparked an angry rebuttal from former CMS president H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler.

Humpy Wheeler

The track release read, in part, “Bruton Smith floated the idea of installing a first-of-its-kind lighting system at Charlotte Motor Speedway… While some scoffed at the idea, Smith revolutionized the sport when he partnered with MUSCO to build the 1,200-fixture, $1.7 million lighting system.”

Wheeler challenged that assertion late yesterday, saying in a written statement, “suggesting that the lights at the track were Bruton Smith's idea is not true. I will not stand by and see history be rewritten.

“These are the facts,” wrote Wheeler. “I went with then sales manager Jim Duncan to Winston Salem in 1991 to visit RJ Reynolds Sports Marketing Dept. The meeting was with RJR director of sports T. Wayne Robertson to make a presentation for the 1992 Winston All Star Race. Our contract was always for one year. We yearly made a presentation to them to get the event back.



Bruton Smith

“I was really worried that year because Richmond… promoter Paul Sawyer really wanted the event. So, we made our presentation and presented them with five promotional ideas. Wayne and his group didn't like any of them and I thought we were going to lose the race. Right before the meeting ended I said: `Ok, I have another idea...let's run it on Saturday night.’ Wayne looked at me like I was crazy and so did my associate, Jim Duncan.

“No one had ever run a superspeedway race at night. Wayne thought it was a great idea and said. `if you can do it and NASCAR approves, then let's do it.’

“When I got out into the parking garage, Jim Duncan said, `Are you crazy? When did that idea come up?’  I told him it just came out of my head. We got back to Charlotte and at some point I told Bruton Smith that was what I wanted to do. He said `OK.’

“After I contacted several lighting companies and got nowhere, we went ahead with the announcement. It shocked everybody. Bill France Jr., called and asked me if I had lost my mind. He and I liked each other, but often differed on the direction the sport was going. I told him it was going to happen and knew NASCAR would cooperate.

“I will admit that things got edgy, because a lot of people in the sport were against it citing danger as their reason,” said Wheeler. “What made this tough was I didn't want high poles in the infield. Finally, I invited MUSCO, a lighting company from Iowa, down to meet with us. MUSCO president Joe Crookham and chairman Myron Gordon came. Bruton was not even in the meeting. Gordon said if he could take the Petty Driving School he could figure it out. He did, and then they went to work on this and came up with the most ingenious lighting system in sports history.  

“I am proud of my idea,” said Wheeler. “Bruton and I did a lot of great things together. I think we helped to change NASCAR in some way. A lot of the things we did at Charlotte were mutual ideas. The lights were not one of them.”

Furniture Row's Joe Garone: "I Have Talked To Kurt Busch"

Furniture Row Racing general manager Joe Garone confirmed today that talks have taken place between the team and driver Kurt Busch, but said those conversations are not a result of dissatisfaction with the team’s current driver, Regan Smith.

FRR's Joe Garone

“I have talked to Kurt Busch,” said Garone, “but it was about a team we don’t even have yet. We are working diligently on getting a second (Sprint Cup) car for next year, and I’m trying to get my hands around some of the guys that will be available going onto 2013. I wanted to make an introduction to Kurt, and just let him know what our plans are for the future.”

Smith currently ranks 25^th in Sprint Cup championship points, and has failed to record a Top-10 finish in nine starts this season. Despite those struggles, Garone said his conversation with Busch, “is not about being unhappy with Regan Smith. (Regan) is in a contract year, and if he does not return (in 2013) it’s because he’s not getting the job done. But honestly, our mile-and-a-half program is struggling right now, and that has nothing to do with Regan.”

Garone said he believes Smith and Busch would make good teammates, saying, “Kurt and Regan have worked well together on the superspeedways in the past. They have drafted well together and talked well back and forth. Adding a second team would be a major boost for Furniture Row Racing, and we’re all working hard to try and make that happen.”

TBR/Golden Corral Partner For Three Speedway Races

Golden Corral will be back on board Tommy Baldwin Racing’s No. 36 Chevrolet for the three remaining superspeedway races this season.

Golden Corral returns at Talladega

Dave Blaney will drive the No. 36 Golden Corral/Camp Corral Chevrolet this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, as well as at Daytona International Speedway in July and Talladega in October. Golden Corral sponsored the team in 21 events last season, and will focus this season on spreading the word about Camp Corral; a free summer camp for children of wounded, disabled or fallen military families. It is launching this summer at nine camps across the country, allowing 1,800 children to attend. Camp Corral provides a fun and developmental experience for kids ages 8 to 15 years old to participate in traditional camp activities, including horseback riding, swimming and fishing, with kids who share similar family situations.

Golden Corral will also continue its “Top-10 Kids Eat Free” promotion in all three events. Each time the No. 36 Golden Corral/Camp Corral Chevrolet finishes in the top-10, Golden Corral will offer a one-day “Kids Eat Free” promotion the immediate Monday following the top-10 event.

“We are pleased to be back on the track with the No. 36 team and to share our Camp Corral initiative and Kids Eat Free promotion with race fans,” said Shelley Wolford, Vice President of National Marketing and Media at Golden Corral.

Blaney finished third in last year’s fall event at Talladega Superspeedway, and led a total of 25 laps in the four superspeedway races. He finished 15th in the 2012 Daytona 500. “Golden Corral was a great partner for us last year,” said team owner Tommy Baldwin. “Not only were they a pleasure to work with, but their support got us to where we are today. We are pleased that they decided to have a program with us this year as well. We love racing to feed America’s families and hope we can bring awareness to Camp Corral as well.”

NASCAR Hall Of Fame Profile: Fred Lorenzen

FRED LORENZEN – Driver (b. 12/30/34)

Hometown: Elmhurst, Ill.

Competed: 1956-72
Starts: 158
Wins: 26
Poles: 32

Despite often competing in only a partial schedule of events, Fred Lorenzen was one of NASCAR’s first true superstars. In 1964, he entered only 16 of the scheduled 62 races but won eight, including five consecutively – and finished 13th in the NASCAR premier series standings. 

In 1965, he won two of NASCAR’s “major” events – the Daytona 500 and the World 600. 

Lorenzen was extremely popular with fans, and was given several nicknames by the media, inclduing “The Golden Boy,” “Fearless Freddie” and “The Elmhurst Express.” 

Lorenzen, now living in Oakwood, Ill., retired in 1967 at the age of 33 but made a brief comeback from 1970-72. He didn’t win a race those last three years but he did post 11 top-five finishes along with capturing two poles.

In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers.

This is the latest in a series of GodfatherMotorsports.com biographies profiling the 25 nominees for the 2012 class of the NASCAR Hall Of Fame. Each of the 25 candidates will be profiled in the coming weeks, in alphabetical order.

Skinner To Drive For Hamilton Means Racing

Former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Mike Skinner will drive the No. 52 Hamilton Means Racing Toyota in the Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway May 12, and for the remainder of the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season.

"We are incredibility excited to have Mike come on board,” said HMR team principal Kelly Owen today. “He will certainly bring a great deal of knowledge and wisdom to our team's efforts for the remainder of the season. Best of all, he brings stability so we can make our plans, knowing that we have a commitment from an experienced driver that can get the job done."

The No. 52 Toyota will be sponsored at Darlington by Crusader's Staffing

Fastenal To Back Three RFR Drivers In Coke 600

Fastenal will sponsor all three Roush Fenway Racing entries in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27. The Fastenal paint schemes for Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth will also incorporate the “NASCAR Unites – An American Salute” red, white and blue theme. This is not the first time Fastenal has sponsored the RFR fleet. Last year all three RFR Nationwide Series Fords displayed the Fastenal colors at the Charlotte race in May. The team placed first (Kenseth), second (Edwards) and fourth (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.).

“As a sponsor, it doesn’t get any better than this,” said Cory Jansen, Fastenal’s executive vice president, operations. “Not only are we the primary for three legitimate championship contenders, but we’ll be helping Roush Fenway Racing shine a spotlight on our military and their families. It’s going to be a huge honor to see the No. 99, the No. 17 and the No. 16 covered from spoiler to splitter in red, white and blue.”

“NASCAR Unites – An American Salute” is a patriotic initiative uniting the NASCAR industry and fansthis summer to celebrate America andsupport U.S. military families.

“I’m thrilled to be part of a sport that does so much to support the military and their families,” said Edwards. “It’s an honor to support ‘NASCAR Unites – An American Salute,’ and display the red, white and blue on the Fastenal cars. I know all my teammates and I look forward to showing appreciation for those who serve our country.”

Confirmed: NASCAR Sanctions Six NNS Teams

NASCAR announced today that six NASCAR Nationwide Series crew chiefs have been fined and placed on probation for violations during last weekend’s event at Richmond International Raceway. In addition, the teams’ respective car chiefs have also been placed on probation for the remainder of the year.

Crew chiefs Luke Lambert (No. 2 team), Danny Stockman (No. 3 team), Trent Owens (No. 30 team), Jimmy Elledge (No. 31 team), Ernie Cope (No. 33 team), and Mike Shiplett (No. 38 team) have each been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Additionally, the teams’ respective car chiefs – Phil Gould (No. 2), Robert Strmiska (No. 3), Shannon Rursch (No. 30), Ronald Hornaday III (No. 31), Paul Balmer (No. 33), and Christopher Meyers (No. 38) – have likewise been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

The rules violations referred to Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20-A of the rule book); 20A-2.1E (streamlining of the contours of the car, beyond what is approved by the series director will not be permitted. Installation of air directional devices, underpans, baffles, shields or the like beneath the car or the car’s hood and fender area, front firewall, floor, rear firewall area, rear deck and quarter panel will not be permitted. If, in the judgment of NASCAR officials, any part or component of the car not previously approved by NASCAR has been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance, will not be permitted. All cars must remain standard in appearance); 20A-3.10A (front upper bumper cover must be from the respective OEM manufacturer and must be approved by NASCAR. The front lower bumper cover and rear bumper cover must be from an approved manufacturer and must be approved by NASCAR. Once approved, the front lower bumper covers may be used on all approved models. NASCAR officials may use bumper covers provided by the respective manufacturer as a guide in determining whether a competitor’s bumper cover conforms to the specifications of the NASCAR rule book. Unless otherwise authorized by the series director, cutting and reshaping of bumper covers will not be permitted.)

The infractions were discovered during opening day inspection on April 26.

No Points Penalty For Sadler Team

Elliott Sadler’s NASCAR Nationwide Series-leading team escaped without a championship point penalty today, when NASCAR sanctioned the team for a body violation discovered during pre-race inspection for last weekend’s race at Richmond International Raceway.  

Sadler’s One Main Financial Chevrolet team was one of six teams – three from Richard Childress Racing and three from Turner Motorsports -- forced to remove the nose pieces from their cars when NASCAR officials determined they had been altered from their stock condition. Sadler finished sixth Friday night at RIR and saw his championship lead trimmed to just two points over defending series champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. 

While NASCAR has not yet released its official announcement, Sadler told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius XM Speedway with Dave Moody that crew chief Luke Lambert has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation through the end of the 2012 season. The team’s car chief, Theo Gold, was also placed on NASCAR probation through the end of the year.

 

 

Crafton Happy With Pocono Repave

There’s something to be said for being late to the party. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers staged their first race at Pocono Raceway in 2010, and as a result, don’t have much to unlearn. 

Matt Crafton

After undergoing its first repaving since 1995, the 2.5-mile triangular layout will be a fresh canvas when the series returns to eastern Pennsylvania on Aug. 4. It’s doubtful the bumps and gouges navigated over the past two seasons will be missed. 

Matt Crafton, part of a group of seven who participated in last week’s Goodyear tire test, pronounced the new surface interesting, fun and fast.

“They outdid themselves on the pavement. It’s definitely one groove right now, but I’m sure, as you get more race cars on the track, they’ll be running side-by-side, and it’ll be interesting to see,” said Crafton, who finished third and eighth in his two trips to the “Tricky Triangle.”

Like the majority of his rivals, Crafton had no preconceived notions of Pocono, only what he’d seen on television. 

“Everybody always talks about the tunnel turn, and you have no idea how tight that tunnel is. TV doesn’t do it justice at all,” said Crafton. “I took my crew chief (Carl Joiner Jr.) around it in my truck, and I said, ‘Yeah, I think we’ll be wide open through here.’ He goes, ‘You’re an idiot. There’s no way.’ I said, ‘I guarantee it.’” 

By his third lap of testing, Crafton was up to 90 percent throttle.

“I love coming to the place. It’s like they always say, it’s like a road course but kind of going in a circle, but it’s a blast,” he said.

Darlington Schedules Driver Autograph Session

Darlington Raceway is offering its fans an opportunity to participate in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series autograph session with drivers Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin, Paul Menard and defending Bojangles’ Southern 500 champion Regan Smith.

The autograph session will take place on Friday, May 11 from 10-10:30 a.m. in the Darlington Raceway Fan 101 Tent, located in the fan display area behind the frontstretch grandstands.

The autograph session is open to fans that present a ticket to either the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 or Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500. An infield camping admission may also be used to attend the autograph session. Each driver will sign one item for each guest and photographs will not be permitted due to limited timing.

“We’re always looking for further ways to enhance the experience for our guests so adding an autograph session for our ticketholders and camping customers is just another way to accomplish that goal,” Darlington Raceway President Chris Browning said. “This is the perfect time to get those special and unique collectables or souvenirs autographed by great drivers like Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin, Paul Menard or our defending champion Regan Smith!”

Tickets to the May 12 Bojangles’ Southern 500 and Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 on Friday, May 11 can be purchased by calling 866-459-7223 or by visiting www.DarlingtonRaceway.com. Remember, kids 17 and under are half off for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 and FREE for the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 in general admission.

Darlington Raceway, or the trackToo Tough To Tame as it is known to many, is where the purest of NASCAR competition meets true southern hospitality. A NASCAR staple since 1950, Darlington Raceway has seen some of motorsports most talented drivers thunder to Gatorade Victory Lane. On Mother’s Day weekend, May 11-12, 2012, NASCAR’s biggest stars return to battle the track Too Tough To Tame in the Sprint Cup Series Southern 500® and Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200.