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NASCAR BECAME A WHOLE NEW WORLD WHEN GORDON/DUPONT ENTERED THE RACE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 21, 2012) “A Whole New World” appropriately was the No. 1 song on the pop charts the year Jeff Gordon came on the NASCAR Cup Series scene in the rainbow-colored Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet and took the motorsports world by storm.

But the irony goes beyond the song title. Gordon’s first Cup Series start was seven-time champion “King” Richard Petty’s final Cup Series start at the season finale in Atlanta in 1992. The torch seemed to be passed that day as Gordon went on to accumulate four championships in his first nine full seasons and now is third on the all-time win list with 85 career victories. David Pearson is second with 105, and Petty reigns with a record 200 wins.

Continue reading “20 Years of Jeff Gordon and the #24 DuPont Chevrolet”

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Thousands Enjoy Return Of Offseason Fan Event In Charlotte

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2012) – For one day at least, Sam Alverson of Jacksonville, Fla., could lay claim to being NASCAR’s No. 1 fan. It wasn’t just because of his devotion to the sport; it’s because he was first in line.

After a marathon 26-hour campout session, Alverson was the first of thousands of fans through the doors Saturday for the inaugural NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center. The fan-friendly event, part of NASCAR’s Acceleration Weekend, followed an overflow crowd for Friday evening’s NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony of Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough.

Many fans were in line the day before the event, forming a human chain that went halfway around the convention center and weathered cool, drizzly conditions. For Alverson, the reward of a 5 1/2-hour drive and extensive wait in the elements was a chance to greet his favorite driver, four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon.

Continue reading “Photos: NASCAR Fan Preview Event Builds 2012 Season Excitement”

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DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 20, 2012) — Within one week, Regan Smith went from driving the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway to the high ski slopes in Telluride, Colo.

And that begs the question: Why was the 28-year-old Smith, dressed in his Furniture Row firesuit, driving the race car at 9,000 feet above sea level on icy and snow-packed roads where tandem drafting would never work no matter how many rule packages were introduced?

While last week’s Daytona test session was all about preparation for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500, Telluride was all about shooting scenes earlier in the week (Monday and Tuesday) for the annual Warren Miller Entertainment ski movie.

Continue reading “Regan Smith takes 78 car for a spin in the snow”

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Busch Brothers Join World Class Lineup of Monster Athletes to Announce Joining Monster Energy Team

A collection of world class Monster Energy action sports athletes welcomed Kyle and Kurt Busch to the Monster Energy team today with the announcement of a multi-year agreement as primary sponsor of the team’s No. 54 Monster Energy Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

With multi-time X Games and Dew Tour Champion Jamie Bestwick serving as announcer, a freestyle moto-x demo kicked things off at the headquarters of team owner Kyle Busch’s race shop. “It’s great to have the Busch brothers join the Monster team and be wearing the Claw – they have the right attitude for Monster, and they’re proven winners, which is what Monster is all about,” said Bestwick, who was joined in the announcement by a lineup including seven-time Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath, multifold Freestyle Motocross X Games Medalists Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg, Kyle Loza and Adam Jones, off-road champion Johnny Greaves and BMX legend Dave Mirra in making the announcment in front a slack-jawed platoon of NASCAR media members who very likely saw moto-x backflips live for the first time in person.

Continue reading “Photos: Busch Brothers #54 Monster Energy Camry Paint Scheme”

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Variety Spices NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Third Class
Legends Inman, Waltrip, Wood, Yarborough, Evans Enshrined In Charlotte Ceremonies

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 20, 2012) — “A legend for everyone” describes the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s third class of inductees enshrined tonight, Friday, Jan. 20.

FULL PHOTO GALLERY AFTER THE BREAK BELOW

Here’s the versatile list. Dale Inman – an eight-time champion, he’s the first to be inducted based on his primary role as a crew chief. Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough – a pair of three-time NASCAR premier series champions, who won a combined 167 races. Glen Wood – the legendary car owner whose team has raced in seven decades, compiling 98 wins. And the late Richie Evans – a nine-time NASCAR Modified champion, the first to be inducted from outside NASCAR’s premier division.

Continue reading “Legends Inman, Waltrip, Wood, Yarborough, Evans become class of 2012”