May is now synonymous with not only the Indianapolis 500, the Coca Cola 600, and the NASCAR All-Star Race, but also the announcement of the incoming class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

For those drivers, mechanics, team owners and miscellaneous characters that earn a coveted candidacy in this prestigious fraternity, it is a tense and emotional time. The many friends, family and fans of the possible inductees spend countless days encouraging everyone they know to vote for their candidate.

As a historian it is frustrating for me to not see a chronological and thus, to me, logical induction of NASCAR’s greatest. With only five inductees each year it is nearly impossible to make everybody happy.

But this year the NASCAR Hall of Fame has the opportunity to get some fabulous and deserving drivers into the Hall and show their appreciation for NASCAR’s rich history.

Darlington Raceway has its the race this weekend. NASCAR’s first race was run at Darlington in 1950. Since then a “Who’s Who” of racers has attempted to conquer this “Track Too Tough to Tame” and only a minority have claimed victory there. Among those names are several richly deserving candidates for the possible Class of 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees.

Curtis Turner had a volatile relationship with NASCAR and specifically “Big” Bill France. Turner was wildly popular and successful in the sport.

In 1956 Turner won the Southern 500 at Darlington held over Labor Day weekend. This win added to the enormous popularity Turner enjoyed and showcased his driving prowess and technique.

It would be another five years before France and Turner would go head-to-head about a labor union Turner wanted to bring to France’s NASCAR.

France won that battle and booted Turner out of NASCAR for four years, but eventually fences were mended and Turner came back to run in NASCAR.

His time in NASCAR, his undeniable record, especially in the convertible division, and his part in bringing Charlotte Motor Speedway to fruition all add up to reasons Turner needs to be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in the Class of 2014.

“Fireball” Roberts is another driver who found victory at Darlington and is being considered as a member of the Class of 2014. The Grand National Most Popular Driver of 1957, Roberts was one of NASCAR’s bona fide superstars.

His win in the 1958 Southern 500 only fueled his already huge presence in NASCAR. Although Roberts sided with Turner and Tim Flock about creating a labor union within NASCAR, he was spared the ban from the organization.

Five years after his first win there Roberts won again at Darlington in the same event. Sadly, Roberts’ life was cut short when he was involved in a fiery accident at the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1964. Several weeks of hospital care were not enough to save Roberts from his horrific end.

He succumbed to his injuries on July 2, 1964. But no one can deny Roberts’ bright, popular star in NASCAR.  His indelible mark deserves to be honored in NASCAR’s highest home, the Hall of Fame.

Joe Weatherly, good friend and mate of Turner’s, found Victory Lane twice at Darlington for the spring Rebel 300 in 1960 and 1963. His hard-partying ways may not be the type of characteristics the Hall of Fame would want to showcase, but Weatherly was a popular and fabulous race car driver despite his penchant for fun and mischief.

There is no denying the man’s domination on the track when he entered a contest. Weatherly won 49 out of 83 races in his first year of racing, 1950. He duplicated that statistic in 1952 when he won the NASCAR Modified National championship. The following year Weatherly earned another Modified championship, winning 52 races.

Weatherly changed course and entered the NASCAR Grand National Series in 1956. Five years later Weatherly won NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award. He followed that honor up with back-to-back championships with Bud Moore in 1962 and 1963.

Tragically, Weatherly died on the race track in 1964 due to injuries he sustained when his head twisted out of the car and hit a retaining wall at Riverside, Calif.

Like Turner and Roberts, Weatherly’s contributions to NASCAR are vast and colorful. His star shone brightly albeit for a short while. His time has come to enter the NASCAR Hall of Fame for all he did to get NASCAR to where it has arrived.

Like Weatherly, Fred Lorenzen won big in Darlington’s Rebel 300 in both 1961 and 1964. “The Golden Boy” of NASCAR or “Fast Freddie” were just a couple of the nicknames Lorenzen had when he wowed fans with his unmistakable driving talents.

In his first season at the Grand National level Lorenzen shocked his competitors and fans by winning contests at Martinsville, the aforementioned spring race in Darlington, and at Atlanta.

Lorenzen was heavy competition from the get go and wasted no time raking up wins.  After a victorious season in 1963 accumulating victories at six difficult tracks, Lorenzen followed up with another banner year in 1964 with eight major victories at NASCAR’s toughest contests.

Lorenzen was voted Grand National’s Most Popular Driver in 1963 and 1965. He clearly dominated during NASCAR’s golden era and continued making news. His wins at all of the finest tracks and races are more than enough reasons to induct him into the Class of 2014.

These racers – Turner, Roberts, Weatherly, and Lorenzen – are currently on the NASCAR Hall of Fame ballot. They individually accomplished incredible feats in NASCAR and deserved to be honored for such. Among the many things these drivers may have in common are their victories at Darlington Raceway.

Make your voice heard and vote for your favorite drivers daily before the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2014 Inductees are announced on May 22, 2013.

The time is now. Show these drivers of yesteryear that their names will always be remembered and be synonymous with NASCAR’s greatness.

http://www.nascar.com/HallofFame

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today we continue with the simple joys of those who make NASCAR races possible. Enjoy!

Brian Z. France, CEO and Chairman of NASCAR:

“That’s a really good question. Family; I have four children. Spending Thanksgiving with my family, that’s my simple joy.”

Richard Petty, The “King,” NASCAR Hall of Famer:

“Solitude. I just want people to leave me alone!” And then Mr. Petty flashed me his famous smile and swatted me on the tushy!

Brent Brush, Business Manager, Justin Lofton Racing:

“Sarcastic answers: The phone not ringing, Saturday morning, a one-way ticket, a beer on a Mexican beach, laughing when someone trips! Real answers: Success to all parties, an honest day’s work, winning a race, kind people, a day at the race track.”

Regan Smith, 2012 winner of the Ecoboost 300 Nationwide race in the No. 5 of JR Motorsports

“Snowboard, video games, animals and family.”

Andy Delay, creator and host of “Burning Rubber Radio:”

“Spending time with my son “Buster” (Robert), playing guitar, iRacing, and sitting on a bench watching my little eclectic town (Dunedin, FL).”

Todd Bodine, driver of the No. 11 NCWTS truck for Red Horse Racing:

“Under an umbrella on a beach drinking beer, doing nothing, watching TV – anything funny – and go to a bowl game for Notre Dame, maybe the Rose Bowl!”

Darrell Gwynn, The Darrell Gwynn Foundation:

“Feeling healthy with no pain and family.”

The Homestead Police Department – Andres Vergara, Gunnar Pedersen, Enrique Merblonado:

“Family, driving on a nice day by myself with nowhere to be, racquetball, movies, and cars.”

Darrell Wallace Jr., NASCAR K&N Pro Series and development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series:

“Photography at the races.”

Sergio Pena, NASCAR K&N East driver for Shigeaki Hattori:

“Basketball, outdoors, hunting, time at the cabin.”

Dakoda Armstrong, driver of the No. 98 ThorSport Racing truck:

“Watching football – the Colts – playing fantasy football and a week or time off with my family.”

Jack Baber, NASCAR official:

“Quiet Sunday at home with my wife reading the newspaper over breakfast and coffee.”

Johanna Long, driver of the No. 70 ML Motorsports car in the Nationwide Series:

“Spend time with my family and being at the track!”

Juan Carlos Blum, driver of the No. 41 Rick Ware Racing car in the Nationwide Series:

“Racing and playing golf.”

Rico Dominguez, intern, Media Relations:

“Motorcycle out on the road, wind bathing my skin, engine below me, going nowhere.”

Eddie Williams, marketing director, Homestead-Miami Speedway

“Escape schedule, deep introspective thought, on the beach, listen/be near the ocean, at one with my thoughts.”

Timmy Hill, driver for the No. 41 Rick Ware Racing car in the NNS

“Having a good time, best time racing, and iRacing!”

Marcos Ambrose, driver of the No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford:

“My two children.”

Paul Bergstrom, photographer:

“Red Bull in the morning, getting my photo on the front page of the sports section of a major U.S. city newspaper, and missing a class and not getting called out for it.”

Greg Minnick, premium services manager:

“Seeing my four-year-old daughter via Face2Face on my iPhone. Helping others for those who help themselves.”

Brendan Gaughan, driver of the No. 33 car in Nationwide Series and the No. 2 RCR truck:

“Watching your two-year-old do something new and peace and quiet!”

Chris Madigan, director of motorsports PR:

“Laughing. And that quote from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” ‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once and a while, you could miss it.’”

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 car for Joe Gibbs Racing:

“That this year is over! Yeah, that’s it. I guess I look forward to being back home with my wife unpacking boxes.”

Chris Buescher, 2012 ARCA Champion:

“Racing, bury my F250 in the mud, and motocross.”

Coach Wayne Deloriea, pit crew coach:

“Family.”

Chris Winchell, tire changer for the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports team:

“Life.”

George Winchell, Chris’ dad:

“Family.”

Getty Cavitt, jackman for the No. 55 MWR car:

“Family, my two lovely little girls.”

Jason Jones, mechanic for the No. 55 MWR car:

“My wife and our 18-month-old little boy. Vacationing at home.”

 

Leonard Wood of the legendary Wood Brothers and 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee:

“Family life and gatherings, racing, building engines that perform beyond expectations.”

Jack Roush, team owner Roush-Fenway Racing for No. 6, 16, 17, and 99 cars in the NSCS

“Sleeping, aviation, and helping young people realize their dreams like I did when I was young.”

Scott Wood, gasman for the No. 11 JGR car:

“Mountain biking.”

Andrew Nabb, second race simulation engineer for the No. 2 Penske Racing team:

“I love cars. I am working on a 442 fix up. I race go-karts. I enjoy power boating. I am a private pilot and have an ER Coup.”

Justin Reissmann, gasman for the No. 16 RFR team:

“Xbox, working out and time with family.”

David Green, 1994 Nationwide Series champion:

“Ten years ago I would have said, ‘Racing, racing, racing!’ Now I’ll tell you family.”

Stevie Reeves, spotter for the No. 27 RCR car:

“Family and scuba diving!”

Grant Hutchens, engineer for the No. 27 RCR car:

“Family and racing.”

Collin Pasi, tire carrier for the No. 17 RFR car:

“Friends and lake life.”

Brad Pickens, gasman for the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports car:

“Spending time with my three kids and my wife.”

Travis Gordon, back-up gasman for the No. 24 HMS car:

“Beach. Dogs.”

Bob Pockrass, NASCAR journalist for Sporting News:

“Sitting on the coach watching television – politics.”

Jeff Fender, jackman for the No. 18 JGR car:

“Week off, time with family and friends and good food!”

Rob Lohr, fire department/pit road supervisor from Daytona International Speedway:

“Riding my Harley and fishing.”

Roy Wilkie, fire department/driver/operator of Scooter-1 from Daytona:

“Traveling in a motorhome and going in a hot air balloon.”

Ed Watkins, gasman for the No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing car:

“Time with my kids, my daughter who is three and my son who is two.”

Greg Engle, NASCAR media, Fox News/Examiner.com:

“My simple joys come from knowing my friends and family are happy and my greatest joy comes from seeing a soldier return home safely and into the arms of those they love…”

Dale Inman, NASCAR Hall of Famer:

“Watching football, time with my family, and getting ready for Daytona!”

Claire B. Lang, NASCAR media, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

“Appreciating the time I spend with my family.”

NASCAR once again proves that family is the heart of the sport.

Wishing you all a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving and Simple Joys all along the way!

 

 

 

The 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion has been crowned at Miami-Homestead Speedway after the running of the Ford EcoBoost 400.

Brad Keselowski gave his team owner something no other NASCAR driver heretofore could produce, a championship season. It is the top prize that the man known as “The Captain” has coveted for decades.

Only two seasons ago Keselowski earned Penske’s first NASCAR championship by winning the Nationwide Series title. The Sprint Cup must be all the sweeter.

Now, the off-season is upon us. It is a long wait until Daytona. As I roamed the garages, pit stalls and grounds at Homestead, I gathered responses to a question that wasn’t racing-related, which caused most to grin widely.

I asked NASCAR Hall of Famers, champions, drivers, team owners, crew chiefs, crewmen, track personnel, police officers, firemen, caterers, interns, journalists and more the same question:

“What are your simple joys?”

Responses were varied, in fact, they ran the gamut. Nobody rebuffed the question and most enjoyed answering.

As you settle in to take part in your Thanksgiving weekend, please enjoy reading about the simple joys of your favorite NASCAR personalities and people who work together to make races accessible to the fans.

Champion Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge:

“My phone!”

Champion team owner Penske:

“Being with my grandchildren.”

Richard Childress, owner, Richard Childress Racing:

“My grandsons!”

Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 RCR car in the Nationwide Series:

“Racing, hunting and fishing and being in the out of doors.”

Ty Dillon, driver of the No. 3 RCR truck in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

“Racing, being outdoors and spending time with family.”

Brandon McReynolds, Turner Motorsports driver in Trucks/ARCA/KNN and son of Larry McReynolds

“Racing, faith, family, friends and racing. Notice I put racing on the list twice!”

 

Jessica Green, NCWTS driver Joey Coulter’s girlfriend and a driver in her own right:

“Family, Florida, ocean, beach, racing.”

Cole Whitt, driver of the No. 88 JR Motorsports car in the Nationwide Series:

“Fishing out on the water.”

Bruce Cook, crew chief for the No. 88 JR Motorsports Nationwide car:

“Golfing.”

Justin Lofton, driver of the No. 6 NCWTS team for Eddie Sharp Racing.

“Yelling at people! No, no, no, I’m just kidding! Mountain cycling, video games, basketball, J6 Ink Vinyl Co. I’m a visual person. Weekend Warriors Productions – country music, sports marketing, film industry with Brett.”

Brett Bortle, crewman and business partner of Justin Lofton, No. 6 NCWTS for ESR:

“Filmmaking and Chicago Bears football.”

Kerry Tharp, NASCAR Senior Director, Communications/Competition:

“Having a nice quiet dinner with my wife, a strong cup of coffee on the deck with the sports page, tailgating at a SC football game, and, in five weeks, holding my first grandchild. That will go up there with my wife.”

Kris Cook, cameraman for the Speed Channel:

“Seeing my daughter.”

John Luzzi, field producer for the Speed Channel:

“Getting paid to travel!”

Rusty Wallace, Class of 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee:

“Aviation, boating, and family. I really enjoyed that, thank you!”

Kenny Wallace, driver of the No. 99 Nationwide car for RAB Racing and on-air personality for Speed Channel:

“Running well in competition, any competition, even practice! Baseball, Bud Lite and a bag of peanuts.”

Mike Wallace, driver of the No. 01 Nationwide car for JD Motorsports

“Get on my Bobcat and, using different attachments, cleaning up the grounds and moving dirt around.”

Tomorrow, I’ll offer more of the simple joys from your favorite NASCAR people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

While waiting to board my flight at Newark Liberty International Airport, bound for Miami to cover the NASCAR championship races this weekend, I was drawn to a family of five.

I, too, have a family of five so that may have been enough to attract my attention. The children were adorable so that was reason enough to stay fixated on them. I am traveling alone so I had time to notice them.

But really what struck me was the dad and one of the sons each had on a No. 48 Lowe’s hat perched on their heads.

New Jersey is not known for being a bastion of NASCAR racing enthusiasts, so my curiosity was peaked. Before I could engage the dad in conversation the plane began boarding.

As luck would have it, the family was seated directly behind me on the plane. I inquired if the family was off to the championship races at Homestead-Miami and was shocked with the answer.

“No,” the pretty wife said as she attended to all three of her children simultaneously. “We are on our way to a vacation.”

“You’re kidding,” I mused, incredulous that such obviously devoted NASCAR fans were heading toward the venue of the last race of the season, with Jimmie Johnson in contention for his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup title, and this family was going to miss it.

I had to get the story – the whole story – and, being direct like I’ve always been, asked the dad to write his name and family’s names down so I could include them in a story. I gave him a notepad and pen.

Half an hour later, the dad handed back to me my official NASCAR Sprint Cup notepad, I had gotten from my time in the media center during second Pocono this year, filled with a ton of information. I am compelled to share it with you.

Scott Nied and his wife Vanessa are the parents of Sydnie (8), Jake (7), and Jaxson (2). They are from Holmdel, NJ. Scott and his boys are avid NASCAR fans who root for Johnson and the rest of the Hendrick Motorsports stable.

Vanessa admits she is not a fan, yet she asks every Sunday how the No. 48 team did and has a strong plethora of NASCAR information floating around her head.

She has even designed racing-themed undergarments for her business – they do really well much to her surprise and delight.

Nied attends four or five races per year and takes his boys. He has met Johnson personally four times in the last 15 months. Scott beamed about this, something that warmed my heart.

Recently I had heard many fans complain that the drivers were largely inaccessible. Nied doesn’t feel that way at all about his favorite driver.

Nied let me know that he is a NASCAR fan who spends a lot of money at the NASCAR.com Superstore. In every picture he has on Facebook, Nied is wearing apparel featuring the No. 48 team colors and logos.

Nied’s son even has the six-foot tall Johnson “Fathead” in his room. Clearly this family loves their NASCAR.

Nied told me that Pocono and Daytona are his “home tracks.” He has, in fact, his 2013 tickets for Daytona for the Thursday through Sunday events. Nied explained he goes to every Pocono race and tries to attend the Dover races as well. He hopes to take his boys to Bristol or Martinsville next year.

Nied has high NASCAR aspirations for his oldest son.

“I am grooming my seven-year-old son to be a crew chief,” he said. “His mom doesn’t want him driving.”

Nied told me he watches every race from start to finish and begins his race days with the television coverage on Speed and ESPN. He also loves to Tweet such NASCAR media stars as Kyle Petty, Bob Pockrass, Jeff Gluck… and now, me.

Nied said that while on vacation this week, “We will be watching on Sunday from the pool in St. Kitts with my 48 gear on! We even brought our toy 48 hauler for good luck!”

When I asked Nied about the championship this year he replied, “I am dying right now thinking that the 48 may not win!”

Nied said, “I have been doing a prayer every night this week for the No. 2 (Brad Keselowski) to spin, blow a tire or wreck on Sunday. His bad luck is the only way for the No. 48 to make up 20 points.

“I believe this will be the No. 48’s most epic victory of his soon-to-be six Cups!”

Nied is so passionate that even “the guys at work are following NASCAR now because I’ve been giving sporadic NASCAR lectures to a few.”

Curious as to Nied’s thoughts about the situation surrounding Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon he said, “Bowyer deserved it! ‘Mr. Jokester,’ No. 15, has been rubbing the No. 24 all year.”

Of course, Nied and his family are all HMS fans.

“The No. 48 is No. 1 in our house,” he said. “Nos. 5 (Kasey Kahne), 24 (Jeff Gordon) and 88 (Dale Earnhardt Jr., are all tied for second.”

These are, of course, the opinions of one NASCAR fan. What makes it a story to me is that I found this family of fans in the most unlikely of places – New Jersey.

When I assumed they would be at the races, I was wrong.

I loved Nied’s passion, his willingness to share the sport with his family and friends, his staunch views of the NASCAR world and his willingness to talk about it all with me.

There are no better fans in the world than NASCAR fans – and that certainly includes the ones from New Jersey!

As the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers descend on Phoenix International Raceway for Chase race No. 9 of 10, I am drawn to the rivalry between five-time champion Jimmie Johnson and determined Brad Keselowski, who is anxious to earn his first title.

As a fan of tennis I am reminded of a time when American Andy Roddick was playing against champion Roger Federer in the Wimbledon finals.

The TV correspondent questioned Roddick on the rivalry between the two – who had met in several finals in those years.

Roddick said, “First of all, we can’t call it a rivalry until I win one.”

Keselowski has certainly won races, especially during this season. He has doggedly gone after the championship, has won during the Chase and positioned himself well. He’s kept the pressure on Johnson.

Johnson, on the other hand, still seems to be the leader of the juggernaut that is Hendrick Motorsports. He, too, has been winning races – the last two in a row, in fact – and currently holds the points lead over Keselowski heading into the penultimate race of the 2012 season.

Throughout NASCAR’s storied history great rivalries have been produced since the first moonshiner strapped on his makeshift helmet and hit the dirt in competition.

“Big” Bill France, Lloyd Seay, Roy Hall and Bob, Fonty and Tim Flock were all rivals in the early days of stock car racing. France credited Seay as “The greatest stock car driver who ever lived.”

The Flock brothers also contended for wins against World War II hero Red Byron who was, like Seay and Hall before him, funded by the deep pockets of businessman Raymond Parks and wrenched by the renowned Red Vogt.

Curtis Turner and Lee Petty were often in close competition along with the ever-present Flock brothers and Herb Thomas.

Later, Junior Johnson found himself in direct competition with drivers like Ned Jarrett, “Fireball” Roberts and Richard Petty.

Richard Petty was in contests with David Pearson, Bobby Allison – whom many consider his greatest rivals – and a mouthy Darrell Waltrip. Petty was the target of Waltrip’s many tirades when he spoke of “dethroning” the undisputed “King” of NASCAR.

Allison carried a chip on his shoulder and he called it “Richard Petty.” He also had a huge rivalry with Cale Yarbrough and Waltrip.

Allison could create a rivalry with anyone on the track. He certainly had it out for any driver who drove for Junior Johnson after he did in 1972. From Yarborough to Waltrip, Allison made it his business to do battle.

Via the press, Yarbrough’s bouts with Waltrip were legendary and precipitated Waltrip’s forever nickname “Jaws.”

Waltrip, along with the aforementioned Petty, Allison, and Yarbrough, was in many battles with Dale Earnhardt.

In the years he raced, Earnhardt found rivals in the form of Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte, Tim Richmond and Mark Martin – among dozens of others.

When Earnhardt was on the track everybody was his rival.

Jeff Gordon has had contentions with the likes of Earnhardt, Martin and Jeff Burton. His years of domination also led to myriad rivalries.

And then there are rivalries that have taken place between Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Although Earnhardt Jr. has the edge on championship wins in the Nationwide Series with two, Kenseth has the Cup title that eludes Earnhardt Jr.

Throughout their careers they have been pitted against one another. But their rivalry has never been for a Sprint Cup championship.

Jimmie Johnson has had rivals that have included Gordon, Martin, Denny Hamlin, Kurt and Kyle Busch. As Johnson is still in the limelight of his career, the list continues to grow, with Keselowski at the top this season

When there is more than one person in competition, a rivalry exists. NASCAR’s history proves that to be true.

What rivalries from NASCAR’s past do you remember and relish? Be sure to leave your recollections below.

 

 

 

When Denny Hamlin had a disappointing showing at arguably one of his best tracks – Martinsville Speedway – it got me thinking about how he will not, once again, win a championship.

Hamlin is still relatively new in Sprint Cup so he has time to find a way to win the championship he seeks.

Many other drivers, however, have had to come to terms with always being a bridesmaid, and not the bride, in NASCAR.

“Second place is just the first loser,” is a quote attributed to seven-time Winston Cup Champion Dale Earnhardt. He was adamant about winning and did it a lot.

He was livid when in 1989 he came in second for the title, 12 points behind Rusty Wallace. It outraged Earnhardt so much that he refused to talk to the media.

But it was the man who came in third that season that springs to mind – Mark Martin. When I started watching Cup regularly in 1991, I was not a fan of Martin and was glad he wasn’t winning as my driver, Earnhardt, was.

Over time, however, I began to notice how talented Martin was – and is. He’s a clean racer, well respected, constantly up front – but unable to parlay his prowess into championships.

From 1989-2009 Martin was in contention for a Cup many times. He was the runnerup an astonishing five times. He was third four times and among the top 10 eight more times.

In fact, Martin ranks first of the all-time winners in NASCAR who has not won a championship. He’s got 40 victories, 17^th on the all-time list.

That could be a distinction that may be hard to swallow, but Martin seems content with it nowadays.

The names surrounding Martin on the all-time victory list all have won championships.

To find a driver on the list that also has not earned a championship, one would have to get to Fireball Roberts, who is 23^rd with 26 victories.

In recent years Kevin Harvick might be one who pops into mind about coming close to a championship. He finished third in both 2010 and 2011.

But no one comes close to Martin’s reign of “almost” titles.

Looking back to 1992, the year of the infamous pit call that lost a championship, crew chief Tim Brewer of Junior Johnson’s team was the culprit.

In Atlanta, the last race of the year, Bill Elliott was gunning for what would have been his second career championship. The title was going to go to Davey Allison, Elliot or Alan Kulwicki.

Allison was wrecked early in the race and that left Elliott and Kulwicki to battle it out to the end.

Brewer called for Elliott to come into the pits instead of staying out to collect more led laps. Kulwicki remained on the track and won the championship by 10 points over Elliot.

Even though Elliott won the race, Kulwicki led 103 laps to Elliot’s 102, thus propelling Kulwicki into the record books.

Second place has an odd position in NASCAR. Rarely do people remember who was runnerup in a race or a championship run, yet Martin has made a bona fide career out of it.

Some would say he is the best driver who has never won a championship and I would heartily agree.

Who are the best “bridesmaids” in NASCAR in your opinion and do you feel that their second places diminish them?

I know that it takes a lot of skill, teamwork and luck to win a Cup title. The tenacity of a team is of utmost importance. The list of champions in NASCAR is relatively small.

Martin may not be on it, but he is certainly noteworthy.

 

 

Martinsville it is on deck for Chase race No. 7. It is a track rich in history.

Today, fans think of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin as drivers who have “owned the track”.

But for NASCAR historians and “old-timers,” Martinsville is synonymous with one team – the Wood Brothers and their No. 21 Ford.

Wood Brothers’ Racing began in 1950 when brothers Glen and Leonard Wood created it in their native Virginia, an area near Stuart.

Inspired by Curtis Turner from nearby Floyd, who had a reputation for winning or crashing, the Woods – there were five – each served as a mechanic for the team. The team began accruing wins at places like Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem and Martinsville.

From 1953-1964 Glen Wood piloted the Wood Brothers Ford to four victories.  Wood didn’t start winning races in NASCAR until 1960 where he took checkered flags in Winston-Salem three times.

Wood’s fourth win came in 1963 at the same venue.

But he was not the only driver in the Wood Brothers’ car. Competitors like Jimmy Massey, Curtis Turner, Johnny Beauchamp, Junior Johnson, Joe Weatherly, Speedy Thompson, Banjo Matthews, Fred Lorenzen, Marvin Panch, Dan Gurney, A.J. Foyt, Cale Yarborough, Donnie Allison, David Pearson, Neil Bonnett, Bobby Rahal and Kyle Petty were among the illustrious who drove for NASCAR’s oldest continuously operating team.

The Wood Brothers’ team was and is ever-present at Martinsville.

This week I spoke to Glen Wood from his Stuart home.

“We won fewer races than we lost,” Wood reminisces. “We won a lot at Daytona, us and Richard Petty. Petty had more wins at the 500 and we had more at the 400.”

But the NASCAR Hall of Famer recalls, “Martinsville has been a dear place for years. It is close to home. People like to see hometown racers and root for them.”

The Wood Brothers were raised on a farm and “had very little besides bare necessities. I guess you don’t miss what you don’t have,” according to Glen.

Wood added, “Daddy was a mechanic. I figure that’s where Leonard got his mechanical ingenuity.”

Having sons myself, the concept of brothers working together in harmony fascinated me. Wood said that it was just what they knew.

But beyond his relationship with his own brothers Wood stated, “In all my years, including my own brothers, I have never seen brothers get along better than my own sons Len and Eddie.”

Len and Eddie Wood currently run the Wood Brothers Racing Team.

Curious as to how much Glen was involved with the day-to-day operations of the Wood Brothers Racing team he answered, “I’m not there. The shop is located in Harrisburg, N.C. and I still live in Stuart. I don’t get involved with the daily operation. I suppose I’d tell them if I didn’t like something, but they are doing a fine job running things.”

The No. 21 on the Wood Brothers’ car is as iconic as the No. 43 is to Richard Petty. Wood explained that the No. 50 was the first number they used as the year was 1950 and they’d spent $50 on their first car, a Ford.

Unfortunately, that car had a terrible demise in a fire and the number unlucky to them.

Searching for a new number the brothers had heard of a No. 16 car that had done quite well. They wanted the good luck so adopted that number. Then they fielded a second car.

Wood said, “We had wanted to field a second car and had heard of a No. 21 car doing real well down in South Carolina so we put that number on our car. Later we dropped the No. 16 and got the No. 21 and added the No. 22 to run for Modifieds.”

Wood continued, “Back then I was running a convertible with the No. 22 and Fireball Roberts a hard top. Wouldn’t you know it he was running the No. 22 so I was forced to switch to the No. 21. Pretty much from then on we ran the No. 21.”

The Wood Brothers have been involved in racing for nearly 63 years and in that time they have worked with some phenomenal drivers. Currently young Trevor Bayne helms the car.

“Trevor Bayne,” Wood says, “is as nice as he can be. Religious boy. He doesn’t go storming around the car running his mouth.

“When we got him and entered him in the Daytona 500 (in 2011) I never dreamed of him winning. He had never been in a Cup car and had never driven the track. Then, after his first practice, I felt there was a chance of doing this.”

Of course, Bayne won the Daytona 500 that year.

Bayne is just the current name in a long line of drivers whom Wood recalled. Wood never hesitated when he stated the best driver who ran for the team was David Pearson.

“Just because of the numbers, David was the best,” Wood stated matter-of-factly.

Reminiscing over six decades of competing in NASCAR Wood said, “It’s rewarding to know we’ve been here 63 years coming up. We won a lot of races and lost more than that.

“The proud moment for us is the fact that we have had a relationship with only one manufacturer, Ford Motor Company, for the whole time we’ve been in racing. They are a family-owned business and the Wood Brothers is a family-owned business. I like that we’ve had that relationship for our whole career.”

Currently, as it is for all teams, Wood said, “It’s hard to get somebody to step up and pay. The economy is bad even though they tell us it is getting better. There’s an election coming up so we’ll have to see what’s going to happen.”

The Wood Brothers’ plan is to run in 2013 a similar schedule it ran this year. That includes four or five Camping World Truck races and several Cup races.

With Bayne in the cockpit winning the 2011 Daytona 500, the Wood Brothers can claim they have won at least one race every year over the last six decades, something no other team in NASCAR can match.

Bayne will not be on the entry list for the Cup race at Martinsville this week, but Leonard Wood will be there along with five other NASCAR Hall of Fame members – Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, and Dale Inman – to help celebrate the track’s 65^th anniversary.

Martinsville just wouldn’t be the same without the Wood Brothers.

Hearing the tales come out of 87-year-old Wood’s mouth was a ticket back in time to the heyday of NASCAR.

Their dedication, perseverance, ingenuity, and prowess makes the Wood Brothers legends in this sport – Glen and his brother Leonard are both in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The No. 21 Ford still shines brightly on the track. Its history is still being written.

Last week’s mention of the Professional Driver Association, led by Richard Petty that boycotted the inaugural race at Talladega, intrigued me.

I also referenced the Federation of Professional Athletes created by Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts and Tim Flock.

That’s when it hit me that this era of NASCAR history, and Turner specifically, needed to be spotlighted for those who might not know about it.

I contacted Turner’s daughter, Margaret Sue Turner Wright, to help fill in the gaps in my research. This gracious lady worked tirelessly to help flesh out the history I was seeking.

It shed ever more light on her father’s life and accomplishments. She is a proud daughter who thinks quite highly of her father.

Turner was born in Floyd, Va., and began his racing career in his early ‘20s. Being a bootlegger in his native state resulted in a knack for racing fast.

In his first race Turner finished 18^th out of 18. But he went out and won his very next event.

Talented, formidable and focused, Turner earned 17 wins in the NASCAR Grand National Series.

He was also known as a hard-partying drinker. He wasn’t the only one.

He had an eye for business. Turner conceived and built Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1959. According to Humpy Wheeler’s book “Racing’s Most Outrageous Promoter Tells All,” both Bruton Smith and Turner were planning to build superspeedways on opposite sides of Charlotte – much to the delight of fans.

But the reality was neither man could find the financial backing to see his dreams come to fruition.

Wright explained, “When we moved to Charlotte, it was with a lot of fanfare with reporters around all the time, not just because my father was a racing celebrity, but more especially because they knew daddy was going to build a great speedway near Charlotte.

“After the initial announcement about the building of what dad named and pre-incorporated as The Charlotte Motor Speedway, the press became aware that another gentleman, Smith, had also wanted to build a track somewhere near Charlotte.”

Wright said that Doc Morrison, a family friend, had his own account of the happenings surrounding the Charlotte track.

“According to Morris’s account about Charlotte,” Wright said, “Bruton did finally meet up with daddy and convinced him he also had backers. So at some point they did merge into an agreement as partners for the track.”

Smith and Turner decided to join together for the common goal to create Charlotte Motor Speedway. The men had a history. Smith was a dirt-track promoter and Turner had raced for him several times. They were even traveling companions.

As was typical in those days, money ran out long before construction of the speedway was complete.

Because of the extreme measures needed to fill and grade the land, funds ran dry. At one point Smith, Turner and their creditors faced off with shotguns. But no shots were fired.

Said Wright, “Monies were disappearing and stockholders were leaving. They wanted their payouts before the track they saw as doomed went completely down and out. People were jumping ship.

“The acting attorney was Richard Phillips, who recommended an expert accountant and lawyer named William W. Rabin be called in. Rabin knew Jimmy Hoffa.

“Rabin set up the bookkeeping, raised some money from a stockholders meeting asked for more time. He finally organized contact with the Teamsters Union for a loan request.

“Dad had offered a large personal check for $75,000 to pay off some creditors so they agreed to hold off the first race – which was finally selling out.”

Turner promised the Teamsters to unionize the NASCAR drivers.

Turner reasoned that the drivers in NASCAR were not being looked after financially – neither for the present nor the future.

He sought to form a union among the drivers with the help of Roberts and Flock. His goals were to secure bigger purses, a share in the broadcasting rights and retirement benefits.

“Big” Bill France was vehemently against the unionization of the drivers in his series. He was adamant in his assertation that he paid handsomely to drivers in Grand National events.

France even worked hard to offer championship monies to encourage the drivers to run an entire season of races and not just the big-purse ones.

In a bold move, France threatened to close down every speedway if the drivers did not cease and desist. The union failed.

France, who was never going to loosen the reins on NASCAR, banned Turner for life, squashing the Federation of Professional Athletes.

Wright confirms, “Dad had agreed to organize the drivers to also support the idea of a union for the professional racing athletes that would help them and give them a voice to be heard they had not had before.

“However, in the end the union loan did not happen and neither did the union for the professional racing athletes.

“France got out his pistol to stop it. All who had signed up dropped out except for dad’s longtime friend, Flock. Therefore, they were both banned from racing.”

Although Turner continued to race during the years of his ban, he and Flock sued NASCAR and France for lost wages.

Meanwhile, Smith and Turner were out of favor with the Teamsters and unable to get a loan from any bank.

Forced to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy by a judge, Smith and Turner lost their speedway. Turner’s future looked bleak.

Four years later Turner was reinstated in NASCAR. France was reeling from the deaths of superstars Joe Weatherly and Roberts and desperately needed big names to draw crowds. Turner was still wildly popular, so France reversed the ban.

Turner was a multi-faceted man. His most famous quote published in his first biography by Doc Morris, “Timber on the Moon,” was:

“Do you have a job to do? Then begin it. Action has genius in it. Only begin it and the mind grows heated. Commence it and the work will be completed.”

It was a treacherous road for Turner but he found success along the way. Charlotte Motor Speedway, site of this weekend’s race, is one of his crowning glories.

Turner died after he crashed in his own plane on Oct. 4, 1970. He was only 46 years old. He left behind a daughter who had this to say about her dad when I extended my condolences 42 years after his passing:

“It is ALL important – every bit of information for people to help them get to know a most incredible human being.

“He was a successful entrepreneur, excellent race car driver, speedway owner and president, race promoter who just happens to be my dad.

“How did I get so lucky? I do not know. But I know I am so grateful to him for so many things.”

And the sport is better because of Turner, one of NASCAR’s pioneers and greats.