From 2011 to 2013, Pastrana raced in 42 Xfinity Series events. When it comes to NASCAR, Ryan Newman is a go-to driver teams depend on. These people today, the sport has changed for me and I know the worlds changing, but I dont see the passion I saw with a lot of the guys I grew up with.. They all went on to enjoy successful seasons, and several became hall of famers after stockpiling wins with regularity. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Bodine was one of the longest-tenured drivers in the sport, actively driving for a team well into his 60s. After racing, Bodine did the next most common thing for retired drivers and opened a Honda Power Sports dealership in West Melbourne, Florida. But Petty wasnt merely being friendly, welcoming the newest kid to NASCAR. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. And things are going . Nascar is one of the most popular sporting events in the world and has millions of dedicated fans. After he quietly retired from racing, Stewart carved out a reputation of knowledge and dependability. He got into the automotive dealership business, opening both Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Buick-GMC-Cadillac in Tallahassee, Florida. There arent a lot of celebrities that have been able to cultivate the career that Wallace has done for himself. Today, the 60-year-old Spencer wishes he could have some of that time back. The two Elliott men can now both say that they each won a championship the same years (1988, 2020) that the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers both won titles. Trenton, New Jersey (Trenton Speedway) used to be a real tough race track when they put the dog leg in the back straightaway, and Dover, Delaware (Dover International Speedway) was a real tough race track because youd spend 5 hours in that heat, at 130 degrees in that race car, he said. The modified racing legend and retired NASCAR executive was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. In a series first, NASCAR will award medals to the top three finishers in a Cup race. To go to the event and earn my spot is really important. It's rare for a NASCAR driver to walk away from the sport just as he or she was coming into the prime of their racing career. It is certainly not easy, but somehow Craven did it. I still have friends from my modified days in Connecticut. After a lengthy career, whats a NASCAR star to do? Youd think that Burton would have slowed down at the age of 59, but that isnt the case. 67, will be a teammate to Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. Between his 33 starts in the 500, Marcis became one of NASCARs most prolific drivers, making 883 career starts, behind only Petty (1,185), Ricky Rudd (906) and Terry Labonte (890). 9 NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series drivers. His reputation for risk-taking and speed helped to secure the driver a fair amount of championships over his career. I miss the officials, seeing the crew members, seeing the drivers, having a good time. For the longest time, Sadler was the face of racings younger generation. Nicknamed "Rocketman," Newman has been at the forefront of winning and losing over his 20-year career. I stay busy, I dont sit around., Oh sure, I still follow it, he said. Fans still come up to me today and say, You were a damn good racer, and I enjoyed you when you were racing, and stuff like that, he said. His story of surviving not one, but two major injuries is an uplifting one. I was winning in the Busch Series and made some comments to the media about some officiating. He added three more championships to his already impressive resume, bringing his total to seven. Marlin followed the same path as a lot of drivers do and owned both a Chevrolet dealership and a Dodge dealership. Before he retired after the 2016 season, the 56-year-old Milwaukie, Oregon, native developed a reputation that he would drive anything, anywhere and for anybody. He was though, one of the best modified racers ever. That was my first big race track, Marcis said when asked what it was about Daytona that kept him coming back. His driving style was unique and netted him the moniker Million Dollar Bill, which is a name Elliott carries to this day. Prior to his retirement, Bodine took part in the inaugural Daytona 250 Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Currently, he is also a spokesperson for Nationwide Insurance, which he had as a sponsorship deal for his racing team. He operates the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation and is the official spokesperson for Virginias 34 state parks since 2003. To go to the event and earn my spot is really important. He set a record by being named Most Popular Driver 16 times and ultimately withdrew his name from the ballot. Marcos Ambrose re-energized, reinvigorated in his native Australia By Jerry Bonkowski NASCAR.com February 23, 2021 at 12:03 PM When longtime NASCAR fan favorite Marcos Ambrose decided to end. After a long career in racing, Allison is a spokesperson for CSX Transportation. Labonte won this award alongside other greats from his generation such as Dale Earnhardt and Harry Gant. He entered the 2001 season seeking a record-breaking eighth championship. When Hut was younger, several members of his family owned scrap yards and Hut has followed in their footsteps. There have been a few instances where Martin will pop up on NASCAR TV, but for the most part, he is enjoying the quietness of retirement. Upon entering retirement, Jarrett took on the role of being a NASCAR commentator for a few different networks, something he still does today. Thanks to his personable appearance and attitude, Sadler appeared on the cover of the NASCAR 07 video game in addition to numerous other forms of media. One of those 26 is Steve Park. I used to follow him back home by reading Hot Rod Magazine. stories written since the inception of this series in late 2016. Another popular name in NASCAR for two decades was Mark Martin, who had the most wins in the Xfinity Series with an impressive 49. Jarrett was one of the originals in NASCAR racing, and when many think of the sport, his name comes up first. When it came to the toughest foes he faced on the track, Marcis said the late Dick Trickle, a fellow Wisconsin native, was the toughest on Midwest short tracks, while Petty was among the hardest on NASCARs bigger tracks. Motorsport has grown exponentially, but many people wonder what happens to superstar racers after retirement? In the racing world it is no different. That came in the 1988 Transouth 500 at Darlington. Last season of racing was 2005 in Xfinity Series at age of 48. Wallace had a close rivalry with Dale Earnhardt Sr. which lasted until Earnhardts death, although both drivers had mutual respect for each other. Bill Elliotts NASCAR Challenge for MS-DOS being the first officially licensed game by NASCAR, influencing the popularity of these games fans have to this day. These will be tremendous prizes for our drivers who are competing inside a venue thats hosted two Olympic Games and is preparing for a third, said Ben Kennedy, NASCARs senior vice president for racing development and strategy. Bodine finished his NASCAR career with over 200 wins in modifieds, 18 wins in Cup and six Xfinity Series wins. It is interesting to see how drivers have evolved over the past couple of decades. On occasion Speed races in karts which is where he began his racing career. Id work night and day so half the time Id be worn out by race day. You decided to do that. That ship has sailed, he said. The famed driver was also inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2015, a prestigious honor that was bestowed on him at a young age (still in his sixties). Newman and his wife Krissie operate Rescue Ranch. Today he owns RKM Enviroclean which is an environmental cleanup service. The racing of yesteryear was an entirely different sport than it is today, with a lot more risk and less technology. The race winner will receive a gold medal, the runner-up will receive a silver medal, and the third-place finisher will be given the bronze medal in the exhibition race. More recently, Busch has become a mentor for new drivers in the sport, mentoring his younger brother Kyle as well as Bubba Wallace, whos had an up and down few seasons. He logged 82 top 10s and five wins over 13 years. 00; Full-time, Part-time; Gaylord, MI 49735; Apply Now Elliot Aviation Inc Avionics. The famed driver was also inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2015, a prestigious honor that was bestowed on him at a young age (still in his sixties). Gordon was always a people person, and his outgoing personality made him an instant star. He won a total of seven Daytona 500 races, had 200 wins in his career, and 27 wins in one season (including 10 in a row) in 1967. His expertise has been used by various racing teams and Elliott is still a commentator for NASCAR to this day. Martin was always a major proponent of driver health and fitness, which enabled him to drive well into his fifties. (NASCAR Vice Chairman) Mike Helton sent me a (hard card) so I can go. Rudd has a whopping 374 top 10s under his belt, a feat many drivers can only aspire to. Winning numerous championships throughout the 1980s and 1990s, his career was long and varied. He got into the automotive dealership business, opening both Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Buick-GMC-Cadillac in Tallahassee, Florida. Did I think I might have Jimmie and Helio trying to qualify for four spots? Hed have done some things differently. Youre just as determined as he was and you probably will.. Toward the end of his career, the driver was focused on mentoring the next generation of drivers. Read his storyhere, Captain's Corner: Assessing the NASCAR season entering Easter break, Bottas wants talks over Alfa Romeo F1 future "quite early" in 2023. But gas was only 27 cents a gallon. The race winner will receive a gold medal, the runner-up will receive a silver medal, and the third-place finisher will be given the bronze medal in the exhibition race. Catching up with Brian Scott. Few racers have as short and sweet of a run as Burton did. Sep 5, 2017, 1:00 PM. Faith, family and home-life stability ultimately won out over checkered flags and chasing wins and championships. Martin also opened up four car dealerships in his hometown of Batesville, Arkansas. I was one of his heroes. During my career, I made fans and so many friends. His all-time favorite racing memory revolves around, like many other drivers, Daytona International Speedway. Being able to come to NASCAR and try it, it was just hard to believe that we could even do it. The loss of the M&Ms/Mars sponsorship at JGR was a key in Buschs departure. The Rooster built a reputation for being an "ironman" during his NASCAR career, starting 788 consecutive races from 1981- 2005. I still watch some races, Spencer said. If anyone was wondering, Lake Speed is no relation to Scott Speed. Earnhardt Jr. was just coming into his own when his father passed away in a tragic racing crash. Four heat races, two last-chance qualifying races and the feature will take place Feb. 5. In addition to operating his Powersports dealership, Bodine has also provided commentary on televised NASCAR events. There arent a lot of drivers who had the short but meaningful success Benson Jr. had. He was also a key part of helping bring a new manufacturer into the sport and continues to work in the industry today. Even though his best finish in the 500 was sixth (in 1975 and 1976), Marcis didnt consider Daytona his toughest track. He most recently competed in NASCAR in a Craftsman Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the fall of 2020. I said Im giving it all up. Ricky Rudd finished the 1990 season seventh in points after winning one race and finishing in the top-five eight separate times. Drivers who participate in sporting events not only get fame but also fortunes and a reputation that can last for decades. I want to add some value to this. Superstar NASCAR Drivers: Where Are They Now. He cut his career short in 2010 and faded into a quiet retirement ven though he still appears on NASCAR TV from time to time. Now that he is retired, he serves as a Hall of Fame voter and occasionally takes part in a go-kart league in North Carolina. The competition for those positions will be intense, with seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Zane Smith and perhaps IndyCar kingpin Helio Castroneves in the group. Read his storyhere, This trucker's name was almost synonymous with Ford Performance. Its not a top priority anymore, but I miss it. Lewis Hamiltons ultimate mission at the Mercedes Formula 1 team is unchanged since the day he joined: it is taking himself and his team to world championship glory. France continued to draw on the paper, adding grandstands, a pit area and a clubhouse. Photo Credit: NASCAR Newman and his wife Krissie operate Rescue Ranch. Youd think that Burton would have slowed down at the age of 59, but that isnt the case. 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