Hendrick Basks In The Glow Of 200th Win

Jimmie Johnson claimed the 200^th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory for Hendrick Motorsports Saturday night at Darlington Raceway, fending off defending series champion Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin to win the Bojangles Southern 500. Johnson’s performance snapped the team’s 16-race ended a winless streak dating back to October 9 at Kansas Speedway.

"I can't believe we've won 200 of these things," said Hendrick. "I can't believe it took this long after 199. We've run so good this year and had such bad luck."

"We've been awfully close to winning the 200th for the last month or two,” agreed Johnson in a Victory Lane packed with members of Hendrick’s four Sprint Cup Series teams, plus dozens of friends, family members and well-wishers. “I'm just happy to be able to close the deal.

"My mind goes back to the early days of Hendrick Motorsports," he said, "and the people who won those early races and worked on the early cars. I think of (original crew chief) Harry Hyde, Tim Richmond, Geoff Bodine (who drove a Hendrick-owned Chevrolet to the team’s first win at Martinsville Speedway in 1985), Kenny Schrader and a lot of people over the years who put a lot of time and effort into this organization."


Bodine started it all in 1985

Bodine’s 1985 Martinsville win allowed Hendrick to secure his first sponsor – Northwestern Mutual Life – for the team then known as All-Star Racing. Had Bodine not claimed the checkered flag , the team would have closed its doors the following day. Instead, Hendrick Motorsports has now claimed at least one Sprint Cup Series win in each of the last 28 seasons.

Martinsville Speedway is also the site of Hendrick’s darkest day in the sport. The team owner lost son Ricky, brother John and eight other family members and friends when a team aircraft slammed into the side of Bull Mountain in foggy conditions while en route to the Virginia short track on October 4, 2004.

It appeared Hendrick would claim his 200^th career win in fairy tale fashion at Martinsville a few weeks ago, when Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., held top positions on a restart with less than five laps remaining. But a bizarre crash robbed the team of its expected victory, leaving its leader heartbroken once again.

"I thought we had it a few races back," said Hendrick Saturday night. "Martinsville was the one I thought would mean so much. With the first (win) and the accident there, it was special. But tonight I was thinking about Darlington, and how special this place is."

Richmond was a nine-time HMS winner

Hendrick’s first auto dealership – a faltering Chevrolet store in nearby Bennettsville, NC so small that it didn’t even have a showroom -- gave the aspiring businessman his start in the car business, charting his course toward becoming one of the most successful dealers in the country and the most dominant team owner in NASCAR’s modern era.  

Hendrick now trails only the legendary Petty Enterprises in all-time Sprint Cup Series wins, and while Petty’s 268-victory milestone is secure for now, the Hendrick juggernaut shows no sign of slowing its roll. The team has won at 25 different racetracks over the years, and since NASCAR’s modern era began in 1972, no Sprint Cup operation has more wins, Top-5 finishes (818), Top-10 finishes (1,352) or poles (181) than HMS.

The team has celebrated Sprint Cup Series wins with 15 different drivers. Gordon leads the way with 85 career victories, followed by Johnson (56), Terry Labonte (12), Richmond (9), Darrell Waltrip (9), Bodine (7), Mark Martin (5), Kyle Busch (4), Ricky Rudd (4) and Ken Schrader (4). Earnhardt Jr., Casey Mears, Jerry Nadeau, Joe Nemechek and Brian Vickers have each contributed a single victory to the 200-win total.

Waltrip scored a Daytona 500

Saturday night, a number of former HMS drivers paid their post-race respects to Hendrick. Each was greeted with a warm hug and a heartfelt expression of thanks from a team owner who seemed genuinely humbled by his own achievement.

“I’m happy to have contributed in some small way to that 200 wins,” said Busch, whose parting from HMS at the end of 2007 was less than seamless. “Rick Hendrick is a tremendous team owner and a great man, and I’m proud to have been able to race for him.”

Uncharacteristically content with a third-place Darlington finish, Stewart smiled from the shadows while Johnson celebrated his race-high 134 laps led. "To win a 200th race, you don't want to back into the win," said the three-time Sprint Cup champ. "They dominated it and took it the way they should."

As the midnight hour came and went, Johnson’s team performance the requisite post-race “Hat Dance,” shuffling through a variety of hats adorned with various sponsor logos. Team members repeatedly turned their hats backward in memory of Ricky Hendrick, pointing to the heavens as if to share the moment with their fallen comrade.

Gordon leads with 85 wins.

Rick Hendrick, meanwhile, received a steady stream of well-wishers, deflecting credit to those around him while keeping his eyes firmly focused on the challenges ahead. Earnhardt and Johnson continue to assemble championship-caliber seasons, currently ranking third and fifth in points, respectively. Newcomer Kasey Kahne is climbing out of an early season hole, surging to 16^th in points after a solid eighth-place Darlington finish. But Gordon – the elder statesman of the team -- is enmeshed in the worst season of his 21-year Sprint Cup career, plummeting to 24^th in the championship standings after a crash-marred 35^th-place finish Saturday night.

There’s plenty of work still to do, but Hendrick took time early Sunday morning to recall the day he snuck into Darlington Raceway to watch the final laps of the 1976 Southern 500.

“I had (that) little Chevy dealership over in Bennettsville," he recalled. "My wife and I, about a third of the way through the race, drove into the track and pulled up behind the stands’ (We) didn't buy a ticket, (just) parked the car, walked up into the stands and watched the race. I don't know how we did that.

“It's been a lot of years since then."

Help Motor Racing Network Choose The Most Memorable All-Star Race Of All Time

The staff at Motor Racing Network has selected its top five NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race finishes and now, fans will have their say with online voting, beginning this weekend.

Motor Racing Network – “The Voice of NASCAR” – is inviting fans to visit MotorRacingNetwork.com and cast their vote, selecting the most memorable All-Star Race from the following list:

1987 – Dale Earnhardt’s dramatic drive through the infield of the Charlotte tri-oval -- known as the “pass in the grass” -- after contact with Bill Elliott, which helped “The Intimidator” hold off Terry Labonte for the win. 

1989 – A post-race war of words between winner Rusty Wallace and Darrell Waltrip came after the two made contact in the fourth turn while racing for the white flag. This led to a post-race scuffle between their respective crews as Wallace’s winning car was being rolled into Victory Lane. 

1992 – In the first prime time running of the All-Star Race, Earnhardt collided with Kyle Petty on the final lap – with Davey Allison taking the checkered flag before sliding across the track and into the outside wall amid a trail of sparks that lit up the night. 

2000 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined his dad as the only father-son duo to win the race. 

2001 – Jeff Gordon joins Earnhardt as the only three-time winner of the event, in spite of his involvement in a first-lap accident that occurred as rain began to fall over Charlotte Motor Speedway. Since the event was a non-points race and the first lap had not been completed, NASCAR allowed teams to use their backup cars and restarted the race. 

The "Pass in the Grass"

“With 27 years of All-Star highlights to choose from, narrowing this down to the top five was challenging,” said MRN President and Executive Producer David Hyatt. “Through that process, we see once again what a spectacular event this is. We’re excited about bringing our fans into it by giving them a voice in selecting the best race.” 

Fans can vote by visiting www.motorracingnetwork.com, with balloting ending on “NASCAR Day” Friday, May 18. The fans’ choice will be announced during Motor Racing Network’s pre-race coverage of the Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 19. Air time for the 28^th running of the non-points special event is 6 p.m. (EDT). Carl Edwards of Roush Fenway Racing was victorious in 2011, the race’s eighth different winner in the last eight years.

Motor Racing Network’s 2012 broadcast slate features 87 live events from 33 venues across the country. In addition to serving a nationwide network of affiliate radio stations, all programming is streamed live at individual stations’ websites as well as www.motorracingnetwork.com – and on mobile devices.

McClure On `Dega Crash: "I Just Braced For Impact."

Eric McClure spoke to the media Friday at Darlington (SC) Raceway for the first time since being helicoptered out of Talladega Superspeedway after a violent NASCAR Nationwide Series crash last Saturday afternoon.

McClure sustained a concussion and internal bruising after crashing head-on into the inside wall during the multi-car backstretch wreck; a crash magnified by brake failure on his Hefty/Reynolds Wrap Toyota.

Eric McClure

"I remember bits and pieces of it," said McClure today. "(My memory is) certainly spotty at times after the impact. I remember being really excited. We were in a good position (and) I felt like we had an opportunity for our first Top-10. We were in a pack… and I saw the smoke ahead of me and went to hit the brake pedal and the brakes were not there. It was a little bit of a heart-sinking feeling. It created the impression that I was speeding up or going faster than everyone when I hit, which obviously I was.

“I remember getting hit by someone and going toward the wall,” said McClure. “At that point, I just braced for impact. That's really all I remember." NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp confirmed that officials found a mechanical failure with McClure's brakes in the aftermath of the crash.

McClure, who spent three nights under observation at University of Alabama Birmingham Medical Center, said he believes HANS devices, SAFER barriers and improvements in car construction in recent seasons prevented his injuries from being more serious. “I’m definitely sore and battling some things,” admitted McClure. “(But) I'm thankful to be here and certainly very thankful for the safety initiatives.”

While NASCAR has not released any black box data from the crash, McClure said he has been told the impact registered a "really high number" on an in-car data recorder.



McClure was flown to UAB Hospital

He revealed there is no immediate timetable for his return, but that he plans to be evaluated by a NASCAR-approved neurosurgeon next week. The sanctioning body requires that drivers who sustain on-track concussions be cleared before returning to competition. He characterized his status as “week to week," and while others might question his decision to return to the cockpit, McClure said he has never second-guessed his line of work. "I live to race," he said. "Sometimes I question how good I am, but I never had a doubt about (competing). I look forward to going through the process NASCAR has laid out and getting the right clearance."
Former NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Jeff Green will replace McClure in tonight’s “VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200. Green has 18 career series starts at "The Lady in Black," with one win, five Top-5 and nine Top-10 finishes there.

For now, McClure said he will concentrate on healing and reassuring his four daughters – who range in age from two months to five years old -- about his eventual return to the sport. "I'd be lying if I said it didn't affect the eldest daughter just a little bit," he said. "They were at the track but didn't see it live. Fortunately, my wife is a nurse. She's had experience with this. I'd hate to have them go though anything like that (again).

"The three-year old brought stethoscopes in and said she'd make my heart better and try to rub the bruises,” he said. “I think they are doing OK with it."

Biffle Claims Southern 500 Pole

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point leader Greg Biffle captured his second pole of the 2012 season, turning a fast lap at 180.257 mph to top qualifying for tomorrow night’s Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Biffle topped Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne by .105 seconds for the pole, after the Hendrick Motorsports teammates turned identical laps at 27.386 seconds earlier in the session. Johnson will start third Saturday night by virtue of a higher rank in owner points, with Kahne third. Ryan Newman and Kyle Busch completed the Top 5, with Martin Truex, Jr., Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, defending Southern 500 champion Regan Smith and Jeff Burton finishing the Top-10.

Defending Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will start 17^th Saturday night, with current second-place point man Dale Earnhardt, Jr., in 24^th. Four drivers failed to qualify; Scott Riggs, Michael McDowell, Stephen Leicht and Mike Bliss.

Photo Credit: Autoweek.com

Michael Waltrip Racing Announces 2012 Fan Fest

Michael Waltrip Racing will hold its sixth annual Fan Fest at its race shop in Cornelius, N.C. on Wednesday, May 23. MWR NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Martin Truex Jr., Mark Martin and Clint Bowyer will sign autographs from 1-3 p.m.

Up to 300 wrist bands for each driver will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 21 in the MWR team store. A wrist band is required for an autograph. Wrist band distribution is limited to one band per fan per day until all bands have been distributed. No purchase is required to obtain a wrist band. 

To guarantee an autograph from all three drivers, express passes to all autograph lines will be available for fans that purchase more than $100 in merchandise from the team store on May 23. 

Team business partners plan to bring interactive displays and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will broadcast from MWR. Music, a free poster, prizes and the MWR transporters will also be part of this year’s event. Food will be available for purchase. Due to out-of-state commitments, Waltrip and Brian Vickers will not be present.  

Michael Waltrip Racing is at exit 28 on I-77 in Cornelius, N.C. about 15 miles north of Charlotte, N.C. The team's race shop and team store will be open to the public throughout the day.

Postal Worker Wins $1M Judgement Against Mayfields, Shana Mayfield Files For Bankruptcy

Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield and his wife have been ordered to pay $1 million to a postal worker attacked by dogs at his North Carolina home.

Jeremy and Shana Mayfield

Postal employee Mary Bolton was attacked by five dogs owned by Mayfield and his wife, Shana, while attempting to deliver a package in April of 2011. She was severely injured before Mayfield called off the dog, assisted her into his home and called an ambulance. Bolton sued in civil court, claiming that her physical injuries and resulting nerve damage prevented her from working for several months.

Mayfield did not appear at any hearings related to the case, and told the Hickory Daily Record that he could not afford to hire an attorney to defend him. Despite prevailing in Wednesday’s ruling, Bolton may have difficulty collecting on her $1 million award. Mayfield has accumulated millions of dollars in legal fees related to a recently abandoned lawsuit against NASCAR, and recently saw his Catawba County, NC home sold at public auction.

In a related story, The Sporting News reported that Shana Mayfield filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in U.S Bankruptcy Court Wednesday, in an effort to delay a scheduled eviction from their Catawba County home.

The Mayfields took out two mortgages totaling $3,127,500 on the home and its surrounding 455-acre property in July of 2006, but stopped making payments shortly after the former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver was suspended for failing a drug test. Approximately $2.3 million in principal is still owed, and foreclosure proceedings began in December of last year. Mayfield’s lender, Carolina Farm Credit, purchased the home at public auction for $1.725 million April 30, and allowed new bids to be submitted for a period of 10 days.  Mayfield was required to pay the entire balance due by the end of business yesterday, or vacate the property.

In the bankruptcy filing, Shana Mayfield claimed less than $50,000 in assets, against liabilities of between $1 million and $10 million. The filing will allow the Mayfields to postpone foreclosure and remain in the home, at least temporarily.

Photo Credit: AP

Kvapil To Drive Third BK Racing Toyota at Darlington

BK Racing has announced that Travis Kvapil will drive the No. 73 Dr Pepper Toyota in Saturday's Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Kvapil's car will be a third entry fielded by BK Racing and will run in addition to the organization's No. 83 Toyota driven by Landon Cassill and No. 93 Toyota driven by David Reutimann.  

This will be BK Racing's first attempt to field three cars for an event. Ben Leslie will serve as Kvapil's crew chief.

Kvapil To Race at Darlington

Kvapil will return to the No. 93 car for the Sprint All-Star Showdown next week at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 83 and No. 93 cars have competed in all 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events and are inside the top-35 of the owner point standings. 

Kvapil has five career starts in Sprint Cup competition at Darlington, leading two laps and recording one Top-10 finish. Leslie has guided his drivers to one pole and one Top-5 finish in eight Sprint Cup starts at Darlington.

"I'm really excited to be racing at Darlington," Kvapil said. "I want to thank Dr. Pepper and BK Racing for putting this together. It's a big step for BK Racing to field a third car. We didn't open our doors until February and we've managed to make every race and stay inside the top-35 in points. Now we're fielding a third entry. That says a lot about our progress and this team's determination. 

"I'm looking forward to working with Ben. The guys at the shop are working really hard to prepare the car and get everything ready for this weekend. We're proud of what we've accomplished so far and hope that this race is another step in our growth."

LaRussa Named Infineon Grand Marshall

Tony LaRussa, one of the greatest managers in the history of Major League Baseball, has been named Grand Marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Infineon Raceway, June 22-24. 

Tony LaRussa

LaRussa will be honored on Friday, June 22, of race weekend at the Children's Champions Grand Marshal's Banquet at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma. The gala is a fundraiser for the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. He will also take part in pre-race activities on Sunday, June 24, and participate in the official command of, "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines." 

LaRussa, who still calls the Bay Area home, posted three World Series victories during his 33-year managerial career, one coming with the Oakland Athletics (1989) and two with the St. Louis Cardinals, most recently in 2011. His other world championship with the Cardinals came in 2006. He retired after the 2011 season. 

He was named Manager of the Year four times -- three in the American League -- and posted 2,278 victories as a manager; third all-time behind Connie Mack and John McGraw. Overall, he managed 5,097 games, joining Mack as the second manager or coach in American sports history to reach 5,000 games. While with the Athletics, LaRussa guided the team to three consecutive American League pennants and the one World Series title in 1989. In 1988, led the Athletics to a 104-58 record. 

"I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR weekend,” LaRussa said. “Competition in sports has been at the heart of my professional life. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is an outstanding example of competition and I'm excited to be able to observe it up close and personal at Infineon Raceway. I'm also looking forward to raising awareness about the important ‘rescue’ work that ARF provides." 

In addition to baseball, LaRussa and his wife, Elaine, founded the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), based in Walnut Creek (Calif.) ARF saves dogs and cats that have run out of time at public shelters and brings people and animals together to enrich each other’s lives. ARF strives to create a world where every loving dog and cat has a home, where every lonely person has a companion animal, and where children learn to care. To find out more about ARF or to get involved, visit arf.net. 

"Tony's a true Northern California hero. Not only has he brought championships to the Bay Area, he has been a tireless champion on behalf of lost and abandoned pets...including our dog Grover. Tony will be a terrific grand marshal and great addition to the race weekend,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway.

Great ticketing options are still available for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend in Sonoma. Visit www.infineonraceway.com/nascar or call 800-870-RACE (7223) for details.

Kenseth To Change Numbers? Roush Fenway Announcement To Come Monday

Matt Kenseth’s familiar No. 17 will change as part of a new, soon-to-be-announced sponsorship agreement.

Could Kenseth have a new number soon?

Roush Fenway Racing will make an announcement at the NASCAR Hall of Fame next Monday regarding a new number for Kenseth’s Sprint Cup Ford Fusion, as well as a new multi-year partner for RFR and the 2012 Daytona 500 winner. Kenseth and team owner Jack Roush will be on hand to make the announcement, along with representatives of the new sponsor.

No further details have been released.

Darlington Fans Flames of Busch/Harvick Feud

Busch and Harvick are downplaying their past issues

Darlington Raceway is promoting Saturday night’s Bojangle’s Southern 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race as “Round 2” of the ongoing feud between Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch, and neither driver is particularly happy about it.

Harvick and Busch clashed – both on and off the race track – at Darlington a year ago, culminating in a pit road skirmish that saw Harvick attempt to punch Busch through the window of his No. 18 M&Ms Toyota on pit road after the race. Busch accelerated away from Harvick, hitting his unoccupied Budweiser Chevrolet and pushing it into the pit wall.

Both drivers were fined $25,000 and placed on probation by NASCAR for their actions, and continued to express unhappiness with each other through the balance of the 2011 season.

Now, however, the rivals say they disapprove of a Darlington promotional campaign that features Harvick glowering at a celebrating, boxing-glove equipped Busch above the warning, "Don't Miss Round 2" of the battle between "Hitman" Harvick and "Rowdy" Busch.

The campaign – which includes highway billboards throughout the region, radio and internet ads – has been called “dumb” and “pretty stupid" by Busch, with Harvick saying the manufactured drama makes it tougher to do his job, adding, “It’s just easier not to be involved.” Darlington Raceway President Chris Browning said he approached both drivers to take part in a “Round 2” promotion for this weekend’s race, but was politely rebuffed.

For their record, the two have raced trouble-free this season, and even drafted together last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway without incident.

Photo Credit: daylife.com

Edwards To Join ESPN Nationwide Broadcast Team

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Carl Edwards will move from his race car to the broadcast booth as he becomes an analyst for ESPN on two upcoming telecasts of NASCAR Nationwide Series races.

Cousin Carl to the TV booth

Edwards will make his debut during ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway this Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET. Edwards also will serve as analyst for the June 29 event at Kentucky Speedway.

For the Darlington race telecast, Edwards will join lap-by-lap announcer Allen Bestwick and analyst Andy Petree in the booth. While Edwards has never called a race, he has worked closely with ESPN the past two years during ESPN’s portion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule by doing post-race analysis for SportsCenter.

“I am humbled by this opportunity to broadcast for ESPN and be part of their team,” said Edwards. “This Friday in Darlington, I will hop out of my Sprint Cup Car and trade my firesuit for a suit and tie to see the Nationwide race from a totally different perspective.

“I am honestly a little nervous as it will be my first time being part of the broadcast,” he said. “ESPN has been a great partner for everyone in NASCAR and I hope I can add some insight for the fans.”

Edwards, who drives for Roush Fenway Racing, stopped competing in NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season after racing fulltime in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series the past seven years. He was the Nationwide Series driving champion in 2007, and earned the 2011 series owner’s championship for Roush Fenway Racing, but decided to concentrate his efforts on the Sprint Cup Series this season.

“Having a past NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and active NASCAR Sprint Cup driver in the booth will certainly bring some unique perspective to our viewers,” said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice president, motorsports, production. “We have a very strong on-air team for NASCAR and this addition makes it even stronger.”

Photo Credit: Coastal181.com

She's On The List! Martina McBride To Perform National Anthem at Indianapolis 500

Grammy award-winning country superstar Martina McBride will sing the national anthem during pre-race ceremonies for the 96th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

A Kansas native, McBride is known for having one of the most spectacular voices in any genre of music. She is a four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and has sold more than 18 million albums, producing six No. 1 hit singles. Three-time ACM Female Vocalist of the Year McBride was most recently nominated for Female Video of the Year at the upcoming CMT Music Awards on June 6. 

"I am extremely excited that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has invited me to this year's Indy 500," McBride said. "It is a huge honor to sing the national anthem at what is known as 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.'"  

"We welcome Martina McBride to IMS to perform 'The Star Spangled Banner' shortly before the engines fire for the 96th Indianapolis 500,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. “Her unforgettable voice and stage presence will add special meaning to this tribute to our country and the veterans who have served it with great dedication and sacrifice." 

McBride's first album on Republic Nashville, "ELEVEN," includes her current single, "Marry Me," a collaboration with Train's Pat Monahan that is the follow-up to her 25th career Top 10 single, "I'm Gonna Love You Through It."

Having completed a winter arena tour with fellow country music superstar George Strait, McBride recently embarked on an intimate theater tour across the country, giving fans a memorable and unique experience that also highlights her multitude of hit songs and fan-favorites. For tour dates and more, visit www.MartinaMcBride.com.

Photo Credit: People/zap2it

Hendrick Motorsports Schedules Fan Appreciation Day

Hendrick Motorsports will host a fan appreciation day on Friday, May 25 during Charlotte Motor Speedway race weeks. The Hendrick Motorsports Fan Fest will be held at the team’s Concord facility and feature an array of family-friendly activities, including scheduled appearances by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Free and open to the public, the Hendrick Motorsports Fan Fest will run from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. ET.

“Our fans make everything possible,” said Marshall Carlson, president of Hendrick Motorsports. “Social media has given us the opportunity to engage with them online, and this event will be an extension of those efforts. It’s another way for us to show appreciation for their support and interact the old-fashioned way. We’re looking forward to a fun day together.”
In addition to driver appearances, the Hendrick Motorsports Fan Fest will feature activities for children, interactive sponsor displays, food vendors and a stage with live music and question-and-answer sessions. The Hendrick Motorsports crew chiefs and teams will be on hand for autographs and athletic demonstrations.

Throughout the event, the Hendrick Motorsports Museum and Team Store will offer merchandise discounts and feature special displays. Fans will be invited to visit the race shops of Kahne, Gordon, Johnson and Earnhardt, who are scheduled to take questions and be available for autograph sessions.

Autograph session wristbands will be distributed at 11 a.m. the day of the event on a first come, first served basis. A maximum number of 225 wristbands will be available for each driver (one autographed item per wristband; one wristband per person).

Fan Fest parking will not be available on the Hendrick Motorsports campus. Free parking will be at Lot Z off Bruton Smith Boulevard in Concord, courtesy of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Shuttles will offer roundtrip transportation to Hendrick Motorsports from Lot Z beginning at 9 a.m.

More Hendrick Motorsports Fan Fest information -- including maps, parking directions, schedules, autograph session details and additional event announcements -- will be available at www.HendrickMotorsports.com/FanFest and via social media. Fans unable to attend in person will be invited to submit questions and follow the event live on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TeamHendrick.

NASCAR Fines Penske Nationwide Crew Chiefs

NASCAR announced today that two NASCAR Nationwide Series crew chiefs from Penske Racing have been fined and placed on probation for violations during last weekend’s event at Talladega Superspeedway. In addition, the teams’ respective car chiefs have also been placed on probation for the remainder of the year.

Crew chiefs Jeremy Bullins (No. 22 team) and Chad Walter (No. 12 team) have each been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Additionally, the teams’ car chiefs – Thomas Clavette (No. 22) and Raymond Fox (No. 12) – have 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 May 3.

NASCAR Hall Of Fame Profile: Benny Parsons

BENNY PARSONS – Driver (b. 7/12/41 – d. 1/16/07)

Hometown: Detroit, Mich.

Competed: 1964-88

Starts: 526

Wins: 21

Poles: 20 

Benny Parsons, a Wilkes County, N.C. native who called Detroit home after driving a taxi for a living during his years in the northern city, won the 1973 NASCAR premier series championship in one of the most dramatic fashions in series history.  

Parsons could be called an everyman champion: winning enough to be called one of the sport’s stars but nearly always finishing well when he wasn’t able to reach Victory Lane. He won 21 times in 526 career starts but finished among the top 10 283 times – a 54 percent ratio. 

One of Parsons’ biggest victories came in the 1975 Daytona 500. He also was the first driver to qualify a stock car at more than 200 mph (200.176) in 1982 at Talladega Superspeedway. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. 

Parsons also was known as a voice of the sport making a seamless transition to television following his NASCAR career. He was a commentator for NBC and TNT until his passing on Jan. 16, 2007, at the age of 65. 

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.

McClure Released From Hospital, Status For Darlington Uncertain

Eric McClure, driver of the No. 14 Hefty/Reynolds Wrap Toyota, was released late yesterday from the UAB Medical Center in Birmingham, AL where he was airlifted Saturday following a hard crash at Talladega Superspeedway.

McClure suffered a concussion and mild internal bruising and is expected to make a full recovery. He is resting at his home in Chilhowie, Va., today and will consult with a specialist today or tomorrow to determine his status for this weekend’s race at Darlington Raceway. NASCAR requires drivers who suffer concussions to receive clearance from a neurosurgeon before returning to competition.

Tri-Star Motorsports spokesperson Emily Brandt said McClure is "sore and needs to rest a few days, be with his family go to his doctor appointments.” He is scheduled to meet with the media in the Jim Hunter Media Center at Darlington Raceway Friday.

Superstitious Martin Waves Off Lucky Charms

Mark Martin has spent 30 years in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing. He has competed against many of the sport’s greatest drivers, including Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip and modern day heroes like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. He has raced at the 200-mph superspeedways and banged fenders on the bullrings in the days before SAFER barriers, HANS devices, full-faced helmets and roof flaps.

Nothing has ever unnerved the 53-year-old Batesville, Ark. Native, who has made 40 trips to Victory Lane. But, there’s still one thing in racing he says makes his skin crawl.

“It’s good luck charms,” laughs Martin. “I don’t like them at all.”

When well-intentioned fans hand him four-leaf clovers, rabbit’s feet or other supposed good luck charms, Martin immediately hands them off to the first person he can find.

“I try not to insult fans when they give me something,” he said. “I try to be nice and say thank you, but I can’t get rid of them fast enough.”

That’s unusual in a sport where some drivers carry good luck charms in their cars, tape inspirational verses to the dashboard and put lucky coins in their uniform pockets. Through the years, drivers have shunned green paint schemes, eating peanuts in the garage area and the No. 13; all believed to be harbingers of bad luck.

Martin insists he has good reason to shun those trinkets, dating back to a Sunday afternoon in 1993 at North Wilkesboro (NC) Speedway. A well-meaning fan gave Martin a four-leaf clover for luck that day, and he taped it to the dash of his car.

“I got hit in the back right after the green flag came out,” Martin recalled. “I got hit so hard it destroyed my car and ruined our race. We got all tore up.”

That was the end of good luck charms, and the Michael Waltrip Racing driver insists, “I have been anti-lucky charm ever since.”

Reutimann Back With BK Racing at Darlington

David Reutimann will return to the wheel of the No. 93 BK Racing Toyota this week at Darlington Raceway in the Bojangles' Southern 500.  

Reutimann raced the season-opening Daytona 500 with BK Racing, but has driven the balance of 2012 events with Tommy Baldwin Racing. Travis Kvapil will return to drive the No. 93 Burger King/Dr Pepper car next week at Charlotte. 

Reutimann drove the #93 at Daytona

"I'm looking forward to getting back and racing with the BK guys. We had some good stuff going at Daytona and didn't get a chance to finish what we started there. I hope we have a good run at Darlington. I know Travis has been doing a great job and helped build the team. It's fun to watch the team progress and get stronger, get their feet underneath them and start moving forward. Hopefully I can be a small part of that process and keep plugging away at it.  

Reutimann said the tough Darlington oval is sure to provide a challenge. "There are a lot of tracks that you go to where you feel like you finally got the hang of it,” he said. “Darlington is not one of those places. I'm not sure it ever will be. It can be an evil race track. It's tough to get a hold of. It's tough to master. Some guys seem to do it, but for me, I don't know that I'll ever go there thinking that I have it all figured out. 

"I got my first Darlington stripe back when the Truck Series raced there. The whole time in practice I was really, really tentative. They told me, 'You have to get right up against the fence.' At the end of practice, I got up against the fence and didn't even realize that I got a stripe. It was a small one. They said, 'You're doing it right if you can do that and not realize you hit anything.' During the race, though, I realized I hit it a couple of times. There was no questioning that. It is one of those race tracks that if you leave it with your right side attached, you probably weren't trying hard enough." 

Reutimann has five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Darlington. He scored his best finish (11th) in 2010. In NASCAR Nationwide Series competition, Reutimann has three starts, with a best finish of third (2008). His first time racing at Darlington was in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2004, which he started 12th and finished 28th. 

The No. 93 team scored BK Racing's best finish (16th) last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, after opening its doors for the first time in February. The team is currently 30th in the owner point standings.