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. 67, will be a teammate to, NASCAR to award medals to top three finishers of Busch Clash, MORE: Kyle Larson, Rick Hendrick and the road to the Indianapolis 500, in his first season driving for the Welcome, N.C.-based team. Because the CRWA season lasted just three months. He was involved in a fiery accident in which his truck went up into the air and into the catch fencing at 190 mph. Allisons legendary Miller #12 Monte Carlo was a hallmark and one of the most popular cars on the track. 17 Hesco Exhaust-sponsored Chevrolet. In addition to operating his Powersports dealership, Bodine has also provided commentary on televised NASCAR events. In 1995, the series. The modified racing legend and retired NASCAR executive was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. Named the 1983 Rookie of the Year he was hired by Roger Hamby to drive the No. More recently, Martin and his wife left Arkansas and moved to Montana, where he enjoys spending the summers. Currently, he is also a spokesperson for Nationwide Insurance, which he had as a sponsorship deal for his racing team. The venture is an animal rescue foundation that focuses on rehoming companion animals in shelters. Craven famously had a crash with Kurt Busch at the 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400. He was known for being an owner/driver and driving the number 83. Shepherd still races and competed in 12 Xfinity Series events in 2019. With the determination and fortitude to win you can bet that Wallace will be a part of NASCAR for the foreseeable future. After 2018, driving took a backseat for Earnhardt and he honed in on his many other business interests. The loss of the M&Ms/Mars sponsorship at JGR was a key in Buschs departure. Youd think that Burton would have slowed down at the age of 59, but that isnt the case. He followed the path of most retired NASCAR drivers who go onto open a car or motorcycle dealership of some type. He still finished the season near the top of the leaderboard, but many people wondered if Martin would have won the trophy. Excitement has finally slowed down. But he also knows he missed a lot while competing not only in the Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Trucks Series but also modifieds and late models in the Northeast early in his career. When Johnson isnt burning up the asphalt, he also operates the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, which helps communities and families who are in need. Another interesting fact about Bill Elliott is the fact that he was one of the first mainstream NASCAR drivers to be the face of a video game. The modified racing legend and retired NASCAR executive was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. Martin took part in 882 races over his 31-year Cup career, winning 40 and securing 453 top-10 finishes. Steve Park . I enjoyed it there, the fans and everything. Because his team does not have a charter, Pastrana will have to earn one of the four non-charter spots to make the 500 field. Even with the lengthy NASCAR career he enjoyed, Marcis has never forgotten his short track roots. I used to follow him back home by reading Hot Rod Magazine. None other than The King, Richard Petty, was the first to greet Marcis, the wing-tipped short track wonder from Wausau, Wisconsin. You can submit your ideas to nascarmailbag@motorsport.comor directly to Tim Southers at Tim.Southers@Motorsport.com. He has won seven championships across supercross, motocross and rally racing and has amassed 11 gold medals in moto and rally car events at the X Games. Scott Riggs, who raced for 15 years in NASCAR's top three national series, now is guiding the racing career of his 20-year-old son, Layne. After speeding through much of his life, Mr. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Oympics. He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and still races Go-Karts in the Charlotte area at the GoPro Motorplex. Currently, he is also a spokesperson for Nationwide Insurance, which he had as a sponsorship deal for his racing team. In the racing world it is no different. Cook was the first driver featured in the series in late 2016. 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). Allison was part of the infamous Alabama Gang, a well-known group of drivers from Alabama who raced short tracks with high purses. Martin was one of those drivers who never made it to a superstar level but still managed to do well for himself. There was one other incentive, Marcis said with a laugh from his North Carolina home: One thing Ill always remember is around Easter time, they were running at Hickory (Motor Speedway), while we were still shoveling snow back up in Wisconsin. Hed have done some things differently. He operates the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation and is the official spokesperson for Virginias 34 state parks since 2003. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. Shepherd continued racing in the Cup Series on a full-time basis until 1998. Even at 47 years old, Kevin Harvick has continued to prove his worth in NASCAR's highest level. In those days, everybody had to qualify and sometimes you had 62 cars trying to qualify for 40 or so places.. Today Jarrett has also dabbled in other types of competitions, he is a championship shooter and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2014. Although Newman's career is nearing its end, there are outside activities Newman is involved in as well. Wallace has managed racing teams as well as kept his name in the sport by commentating and mentoring. Throughout the 90s, Craven managed to score highly and drive with the precision youd expect out of a more seasoned driver. Martin was always a major proponent of driver health and fitness, which enabled him to drive well into his fifties. Today he owns RKM Enviroclean which is an environmental cleanup service. In the latest edition of the popular series "Where are they now?", Motorsport.com caught up with Rick Wilson to talk about his nearly two-decade career in NASCAR's national series and what he's up to these days on his family farm in Bartow, Florida. After a lengthy career, whats a NASCAR star to do? He could drive and won a pair of NASCAR Xfinity Series championships and now is a key innovator of safety in NASCAR. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Eric Phillips will be the teams crew chief. Stewart was among one of the major celebrity drivers that propelled NASCAR to unfathomable heights. Now Wallace owns and operates eight car dealerships in East Tennessee. None other than The King, Richard Petty, was the first to greet Marcis, the wing-tipped short track wonder from Wausau, Wisconsin. He was most well-known for his fierce rivalry with Dale Earnhardt Sr., which went on until Earnhardts death in 2001. 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. But two years earlier, Marcis won 52 races in the Central Wisconsin Racing Association, a confluence of 1/3- and 1/4-mile asphalt paved tracks. But when it comes to racing the thing that was his life for more than half of it is just not as important as it once was. This is bigger than anything Ive done. Initially racing for his father, Labonte won the coveted NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. Gordon was always a people person, and his outgoing personality made him an instant star. Elliott had a storied run in NASCAR over the last 30 years, doing everything from winning the Budweiser 500 to competing in various cups. Photo Credit: NASCAR Newman and his wife Krissie operate Rescue Ranch. Thats when he looks at me with a stare and I knew I was in trouble, Spencer said. The two drivers provide unique in-depth perspectives of the next generation of drivers. Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing have picked up multi-race sponsorship from financial services company Netspend. Initially racing for his father, Labonte won the coveted NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. Nowadays Johnson has remained in the limelight and has expressed interest in racing the Indianapolis 500. Theres a lot of memories when you race the number of years I did, moving from the ranks of a short-track guy who really had nothing and no big sponsorships and running the 1/3- and 1/4-mile tracks, Marcis said. That ship has sailed, he said. Bodine was well respected in the pro racing circuit. Today Jarrett has also dabbled in other types of competitions, he is a championship shooter and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2014. He was always my idol when I first started racing. They would become close friends. * NASCAR Cup Series career: 882 starts, 40 wins, 271 top-five and 453 top-10 finishes. I said Im giving it all up. Cook resides in North Carolina and still attends races - especially modified events. The driver operated Rusty Wallace Racing until 2012m when he moved onto full-time commentating. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Travis Pastrana to attempt Daytona 500 with 23XI Racing, RCR, Kyle Busch add sponsorship from Netspend, Pastrana, who will drive car No. Bodine rolled nine times and suffered numerous injuries, missing 10 races of the Cup Series season. Stewart will undoubtedly go down as one of the most popular drivers. This is bigger than anything Ive done. For a list of active NASCAR drivers, see List of NASCAR drivers. There arent a lot of names that resonate with racing as much as Gordons does. Marlin is another driver that had a fair amount of success in a short period. I was going to go to Atlanta last week to watch Johnny Sauter, who I know pretty well, in the pick-up truck race, but obviously that race didnt take place (due to the coronavirus outbreak).. Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness has put retirement rumours to bed as Honda has confirmed him in its road racing line-up for 2023. Some of the sport's biggest names competed for the championship and several wins over the 29-race schedule. When asked how many more years he can still race, he answered with a huge laugh. When 26-year-old Dave Marcis went south to pursue fame and fortune in NASCAR, he received a true royal welcome when he pulled into the Daytona International Speedway garage for the first time in February 1968. While reading these stories, readers and NASCAR fans also have an opportunity to submit ideas for future stories they would like to see on Motorsport.com in the future. NASCAR racing has changed a lot over the years and Terry Labonte will remain a part of it. As NASCAR takes its first break of the 2017 season for the Easter holiday, Motorsport.com wanted to provide an opportunity for readers to revisit some of the 'Where are they now?' After a lengthy career, whats a NASCAR star to do? Well, for Gordon, it meant becoming a top executive at Hendrick Motorsports and announcing on NASCAR TV. The Busch last name has become synonymous with racing, and Kurt was the original superstar. Marlin followed the same path as a lot of drivers do and owned both a Chevrolet dealership and a Dodge dealership. Elite racing is intense motorsport with a lot of danger and risk, something that doesnt equate to pleasant golden years. Halifax Medical Center officially pronounced his death at 5:16 p.m. I said, Bill, thats Stafford (Speedway in Connecticut, where Spencer raced a lot in his early days). 9.2 Part-time drivers. We still cry on her birthday, Nov. 23. Did I think I might have Jimmie and Helio trying to qualify for four spots? And in the process, Bliss essentially holds an unofficial NASCAR record that likely will never be broken. The impact destroyed the front of the truck and ruptured its fuel cell, and then the incident continued when Lonnie Rush Jr. and Jimmy Kitchens each hit the truck. This article "List of former NASCAR drivers" is from Wikipedia. Upon entering retirement, Jarrett took on the role of being a NASCAR commentator for a few different networks, something he still does today. Catching up with Brian Scott. NASCAR fans love Gant for his big smiles and charm that extends well beyond his professional racing years to today. According to Indianapolis Motor Speedways website Gant lives in the same house he did when he was 24 and is a farmer with 300 acres and 250 Angus Beef Cattle. Well, for Gordon, it meant becoming a top executive at Hendrick Motorsports and announcing on NASCAR TV. Discount Tire Crew Chief Review Fast Pace and Hard Wordk Crew Chief (Former Employee) - Indianapolis, IN - June 18, 2021 They work you hard. After a decade of perfecting his skills, Earnhardt Jr. became one of the most feared and storied drivers on the track. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Marcis replacement for the 1979 season was Dale Earnhardt. She was worried about retirement and so many things in life and she couldnt enjoy them. Our fans know theres nothing better in sports than attending the Daytona 500, and they will help us kick off NASCARs 75th Anniversary by filling the facility, said speedway president Frank Kelleher in a statement released by the track. Biffle is one of the founders of the series, which holds races in remote and obviously very sandy places such as Sand Mountain, Utah; Glamis, California; Anthony Dunes, Idaho and Oregon Dunes. I still have friends from my modified days in Connecticut. Participants from the United States and Mexico were evaluated by judges from across the NASCAR . It is interesting to see how drivers have evolved over the past couple of decades. Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing have picked up multi-race sponsorship from financial services company Netspend. Twenty-seven cars will compete in the 150-lap feature on the quarter-mile track built inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. There are certain things that change your life, and Chrissys death changed mine. Even when he isnt on the track, Busch is either involved with racing through the iRacing simulator or starring on the cover of video games. Few racers have as short and sweet of a run as Burton did. 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. Martin was one of those drivers who never made it to a superstar level but still managed to do well for himself. Last July, Marcis returned to his hometown, along with Sauter and others to take in a CWRA Stars to Legends Tour race and share many memories in and around his old stomping grounds of State Park Speedway. He most recently competed in NASCAR in a Craftsman Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the fall of 2020. After meeting him for the first time in Daytona, we became and have remained good friends.. Martin also opened up four car dealerships in his hometown of Batesville, Arkansas. Now he owns Stricklin Auto & Truck Parts Inc. which is located in Cleveland, North Carolina. Youll usually find him tinkering with old cars, attending car shows or playing poker with friends. I really want to have a great car, a great team and great people to help me get there, Pastrana said. Bodine finished his NASCAR career with over 200 wins in modifieds, 18 wins in Cup and six Xfinity Series wins. Toward the end of his career, the driver was focused on mentoring the next generation of drivers. From 2011 to 2013, Pastrana raced in 42 Xfinity Series events. Read his storyhere, The Wisconsin native was better known for his attire -- wing tips and Goodyear hats - but he was an accomplished racer that built a legion of dedicated fans throughout the country. Our fans know theres nothing better in sports than attending the Daytona 500, and they will help us kick off NASCARs 75th Anniversary by filling the facility, said speedway president Frank Kelleher in a statement released by the track. This second-place finish would be the best of his career. His driving style was unique and netted him the moniker Million Dollar Bill, which is a name Elliott carries to this day. He added three more championships to his already impressive resume, bringing his total to seven. 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). During my career, I made fans and so many friends. Johnson is one of the longest-reigning NASCAR drivers still on the track, with a career that went from 2002 to 2017. 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. He then moved on to the former NASCAR Touring Series called the All-Pro. 9 NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series drivers. Thats one of the reasons why I moved down here in 1969 and have been here ever since.. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. His career spanned throughout the 1990s with a series of decent finishes and wins, and there were also some strong finishes in the 2006 season. He might look different as he gets older but still seems to possess the drive he had in his youth as a NASCAR driver. Busch, in his first season driving for the Welcome, N.C.-based team, will carry Netspend colors in several races, including the March 26 event at Circuit of the Americas in Texas near Netspends Austin headquarters. It is one of the premier salvage yards in the country. These are the best drivers. The North Carolinian didn't get his first full-time Cup Series ride until he was 40, an age when some of today's top drivers are looking to wind down after being in Cup for upward of 20 years. What ever happened to the "pretty good" drivers that we don't see every week anymore? Lakes last Winston Cup (Now Sprint Cup) season came in 1998. Winning numerous championships throughout the 1980s and 1990s, his career was long and varied. I tell people I didnt know what I was really getting into when I came down there to NASCAR. Former Cup champion Kyle Larson is a graduate of the program. There arent a lot of names that resonate with racing as much as Gordons does. If you wanted to race for a living, I decided I needed to go to NASCAR and do it because we started in February and would go through October in those days.. Did I think I might have Jimmie and Helio trying to qualify for four spots? MORE: What's ahead for Kyle Larson in the Indy 500? I looked up in the grandstand and saw my mom and dad and said, I finally made it in my career, I finally became a Winston Cup driver. I was nervous and shaking, I could not believe that I did fulfill my wish and promise to my mom. The retired racecar driver is more active than ever, even participating as a coach for the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series teams. It was time for me to say its time to start enjoying life, Spencer said. For the longest time, Sadler was the face of racings younger generation. McGuinness ends retirement rumours with TT 2023 entry with Honda. However, Marlin was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2010 and had to begin treatments for this condition. For a list of active NASCAR drivers, see List of NASCAR drivers. As for NASCAR racing today, Spencer is somewhat disillusioned. Read his storyhere, Although he was an accomplished driver and record holder while racing modifieds in his native northeast, this Chemung driver will be remembered always. Being the older brother of Kyle Busch has its advantages, and Busch has carved quite the reputation for himself. Part two, which deals with Marcis friendship with Dale Earnhardt, will appear Tuesday. One day, we were sitting in the stands and I was winning a lot of short track races, and my mom asked me, What are you thinking about? I said, Im going to win here some day, Mom. She looked at me and said, Youre just like your dad.