Bodine was one of the longest-tenured drivers in the sport, actively driving for a team well into his 60s. 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. Veteran driver Travis Pastrana will attempt to qualify for next months Daytona 500 in a Toyota entered by 23XI Racing. 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). There arent a lot of names that resonate with racing as much as Gordons does. The medals will be presented after the Feb. 5 Busch Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Spencer sat across a desk from France, who pulled out a piece of paper and drew a circle on it. Participants from the United States and Mexico were evaluated by judges from across the NASCAR . The modified racing legend and retired NASCAR executive was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016. Elite racing is intense motorsport with a lot of danger and risk, something that doesnt equate to pleasant golden years. Bill Elliott, the winner of the 1988 Winston Cup, became one of NASCAR's most popular drivers during his career. While he never achieved the heights of Tony Stewart or Kyle Busch, he managed to carve out a significant niche for himself. 11 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - EuroNASCAR 2 Division drivers. That ship has sailed, he said. The driver operated Rusty Wallace Racing until 2012m when he moved onto full-time commentating. Where are they now? I stay busy, I dont sit around., Oh sure, I still follow it, he said. Pastrana, 39, said the 500 has been on his bucket list for decades. Superstar NASCAR Drivers: Where Are They Now. Halifax Medical Center officially pronounced his death at 5:16 p.m. What ever happened to the "pretty good" drivers that we don't see every week anymore? Currently, he is also a spokesperson for Nationwide Insurance, which he had as a sponsorship deal for his racing team. There arent a lot of celebrities that have been able to cultivate the career that Wallace has done for himself. 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. 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. Upon entering retirement, Jarrett took on the role of being a NASCAR commentator for a few different networks, something he still does today. Tickets remain available in the infield Fanzone and in hospitality areas. 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. Read his storyhere, One of the more colorful characters to ever get behind the wheel of a race car. Pastrana, who has raced in a number of series over a 25-year career, has not competed in the Daytona 500. In those days, everybody had to qualify and sometimes you had 62 cars trying to qualify for 40 or so places.. Grandstand seating and camping spots are sold out for the Feb. 19 Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway announced Tuesday. stories written since the inception of this series in late 2016. Practice and qualifying will take place Feb. 4. And then there was Spencers relationship with late NASCAR Chairman Bill France Jr. I was a cocky sonofabitch, Spencer laughed. Nowadays Labonte shares his expertise with various racing teams, most notably Petty Racing. Bodine rolled nine times and suffered numerous injuries, missing 10 races of the Cup Series season. While Marcis had read about Petty, the latter had heard plenty of Marcis racing exploits and success back in the Badger State. Busch has long been sponsored by Monster Energy Drink and spends a great deal of time doing press. Marlin is another driver that had a fair amount of success in a short period. He had no wins, no top fives and four top 10s. Im doing fine, I have no health problems and am on zero medications of any kind. Marlin followed the same path as a lot of drivers do and owned both a Chevrolet dealership and a Dodge dealership. His reputation for risk-taking and speed helped to secure the driver a fair amount of championships over his career. Nowadays Johnson has remained in the limelight and has expressed interest in racing the Indianapolis 500. May 23, 2016. It is interesting to see how drivers have evolved over the past couple of decades. There arent a lot of drivers who can compete with Sadler and even to this day his skill is undeniable. Well, for Gordon, it meant becoming a top executive at Hendrick Motorsports and announcing on NASCAR TV. Attracting a driver of Travis stature speaks volumes to the success 23XI Racing has had in our first two seasons and points to the positive direction in which we are headed.. He followed the path of most retired NASCAR drivers who go onto open a car or motorcycle dealership of some type. Although his NASCAR days are behind him, at 58 years old Johnny Benson Jr. has no plans of slowing down. The loss of the M&Ms/Mars sponsorship at JGR was a key in Buschs departure. He won 11 races in one year and was also named one of the 50 greatest modified drivers. I can remember falling asleep underneath my race car. for instance they are entitled to see any public . The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Rookie Austin Cindric won last years Daytona 500 by .036 of a second over Bubba Wallace. The car will be co-owned by Hendrick, prepared by the McLaren team and driven by Larson, who has long had the 500 on his bucket list. Oh, hell, yeah.. He achieved a career-best fifth-place finish in 1990, leapfrogging 1989 champion Rusty Wallace. Both career choices have become highly lucrative for the retired stock car racer. Labonte is another star driver whose NASCAR career stretches way back. After he quietly retired from racing, Stewart carved out a reputation of knowledge and dependability. 'Fire Skip Bayless': Fans Push FS1 to Take Action After Damar Hamlin Reaction, Olivia Dunne Shows off Injury in New Selfie, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Player Russell Gage Hospitalized During Game Against Dallas Cowboys, Four-Time WNBA Champion Announces Retirement From Basketball, Aaron Rodgers Teases His Plans for 2023 NFL Season After Missing Playoffs, 'White Men Can't Jump' Star Sinqua Walls on Being 'Grateful' for Working on New Sports Film (Exclusive), Rachel Stuhlmann Explains How She and Paige Spiranac Are Similar (Exclusive), Antonio Brown's Snapchat Account Suspended for Explicit Photo With Mother of Children. He was successful in late models to trucks and Busch series cars throughout his career. Other than the fact that Elliott is a storied racecar driver, hes also a skilled planner. 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. But would I change stuff? Craven retired from commentary in 2020 to open a new venture, Ricky Craven Motorsports. Veteran driver Travis Pastrana will attempt to qualify for next months Daytona 500 in a Toyota entered by 23XI Racing. So my quality of life is I dont need my jet or other stuff anymore. Even though his best finish in the 500 was sixth (in 1975 and 1976), Marcis didnt consider Daytona his toughest track. 8 Netspend Chevy on race tracks across America and delivering our key marketing and business objectives through this unique platform with the RCR team partnership, said Kelley Knutson, Netspend president, in a statement released by RCR. But Petty wasnt merely being friendly, welcoming the newest kid to NASCAR. Benson works for the National Motorsports Appeals Panel, which deals with driver complaints. Nicknamed "Rocketman," Newman has been at the forefront of winning and losing over his 20-year career. From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. Gordon was always a people person, and his outgoing personality made him an instant star. 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. For a list of active NASCAR drivers, see List of NASCAR drivers. Dale Earnhardt, who finished second overall in the 2000 Cup Series, only competed in one more race. 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. Earnhardt Jr. has also done voice acting in the Disney/Pixar movie Cars as Number 8. I dont need to live that flagrant lifestyle, I never did. Now he helps his son Brandon make a name for himself in the sport. Named the 1983 Rookie of the Year he was hired by Roger Hamby to drive the No. Eight drivers have been named to this year's NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. His racing style was calm and collected, which lead him to become a NASCAR advisor in his later years. Newman also has an officially licensed clothing line, dividing his time between racing and figuring out what his next business move is going to be. Pastrana, who will drive car No. Marcis raced seven times per week, including numerous Sunday day/night doubleheaders, where hed race at one track in the afternoon and then drive to another track for an evening sequel. I enjoyed it there, the fans and everything. It wasnt because of a good, soft tire, because we didnt have them. Pastrana, 39, said the 500 has been on his bucket list for decades. Although Gordon misses the limelight and the adrenaline rush, were sure he is happy to retire from the grind. 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. During my career, I made fans and so many friends. Were looking forward to seeing the No. The 1990 Winston Cup season was one of the most exciting in NASCAR history. For a list of active NASCAR drivers, see List of NASCAR drivers. He earned five Grand National/Cup wins, but as one of the sports last independent team owner/operators, he earned 94 top five and 222 top-10 finishes. 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. 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. Eventually make an exodus from racing. He had quite the career for someone who started with humble roots and made a great name for himself. When it comes to NASCAR, Ryan Newman is a go-to driver teams depend on. From his humble beginnings in North Carolina, Carter became a key figure in the growth of the sport in the 1990's. Entering NASCAR at the ripe old age of 18 is a dream for many aspiring fans, but Rudd pulled it off. 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.. The Busch last name has become synonymous with racing, and Kurt was the original superstar. McGuinness ends retirement rumours with TT 2023 entry with Honda. In addition to operating his Powersports dealership, Bodine has also provided commentary on televised NASCAR events. Stewart was among one of the major celebrity drivers that propelled NASCAR to unfathomable heights. They put an ad in the newspaper and formed (the CWRA) at Eds Bowling Alley on 6th Street in Wausau in 1958, said Marcis, who still has a scrapbook of newspaper clippings from his nearly five-decade racing career. We took a look at what the most popular Nascar drivers of all-time are doing nowadays. Newman also has an officially licensed clothing line, dividing his time between racing and figuring out what his next business move is going to be. You couldnt keep up with the schedule as an independent owner/operator, Marcis said. Martin was one of those drivers who never made it to a superstar level but still managed to do well for himself. Being the older brother of Kyle Busch has its advantages, and Busch has carved quite the reputation for himself. Allisons legendary Miller #12 Monte Carlo was a hallmark and one of the most popular cars on the track. It was time to move on.. In addition to that accolade, Sadler is also an advocate for college basketball, having played himself and earned a scholarship before a debilitating knee injury. Elliott most recently attended the Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Petty won a NASCAR Grand National record 27 races including 10 in a row in 1967. Wallace competed on a full-time basis until the 2005 season when he walked away with 55 wins and the 1989 Cup Series championship to his name. Cook was the first driver featured in the series in late 2016. They would become close friends. Some drivers didnt need a long career to establish dominance, and Benson Jr. is one of them. Instead, he tragically died at the age of 49 during the season-opening Daytona 500. He come over by my car in the garage, walked all around it, looked all over it, introduced himself and said Welcome to the sport of NASCAR, Marcis told NBC Sports. It was his sister Chrissys death in 2010, after a long battle with ovarian cancer, that began Spencer on something he never thought hed do. He then moved on to the former NASCAR Touring Series called the All-Pro. NASCAR Pioneers: Where Are They Now? His part in making the 1979 Daytona 500 a historic moment will be a part of theGreat American Raceforever. Allisons legendary Miller #12 Monte Carlo was a hallmark and one of the most popular cars on the track. 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. They were really hard, they didnt wear. Lavar Scott, Andrs Prez de Lara, Jaiden Reyna and Justin Campbell are returning to Rev Racing, which operates the diversity program. After his retirement, he was a NASCAR analyst for ESPN where he worked for 12 years, eventually moving onto FOX Sports. After 2018, driving took a backseat for Earnhardt and he honed in on his many other business interests. Because the CRWA season lasted just three months. Rudd eventually worked his way up to being a part-time analyst for NASCAR events. More recently, Johnson has gotten into the commentating booth with his old rival Dale Earnhardt Jr. Newman and his wife Krissie operate Rescue Ranch. Another popular name in NASCAR for two decades was Mark Martin, who had the most wins in the Xfinity Series with an impressive 49. The venue hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. He is also still actively driving at the ISMA tour, operating a super-modified car thats owned by Brad Lichty. Read his storyhere, This trucker's name was almost synonymous with Ford Performance. He most recently competed in NASCAR in a Craftsman Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the fall of 2020. It is interesting to see how drivers have evolved over the past couple of decades. I still have friends from my modified days in Connecticut. Id work night and day so half the time Id be worn out by race day. Top NASCAR Drivers of 1990: Where Are They Now? The Rooster built a reputation for being an "ironman" during his NASCAR career, starting 788 consecutive races from 1981- 2005. The World Rally Championship returns this weekend as Rally Monte Carlo kicks off the second season of the Rally1 hybrid regulations. For the longest time, Sadler was the face of racings younger generation. I want to add some value to this. I watched my dad die from Alzheimers (in 2014), a hard-ass working man. Editors note: This is part one of our interview with former NASCAR driver Dave Marcis. Nascar drivers of all-time are doing nowadays. There arent a lot of celebrities that have been able to cultivate the career that Wallace has done for himself. All statistics used in these tables are as of February 22, 2016. He owns a series of automobile dealerships in Arkansad, Mark Martin Automotive. 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. The super-popular Wallace started his NASCAR career back in 1980 and has been a mainstay in the sport ever since. This article has lists of drivers who no longer compete in NASCAR. Currently, he is also a spokesperson for Nationwide Insurance, which he had as a sponsorship deal for his racing team. They all went on to enjoy successful seasons, and several became hall of famers after stockpiling wins with regularity. On occasion Speed races in karts which is where he began his racing career. Johnson is one of the longest-reigning NASCAR drivers still on the track, with a career that went from 2002 to 2017. Busch was a veteran force on the track and boasts a stellar record of wins as opposed to losses. It wasnt easy but its what I wanted to do.. Former NASCAR tracks: Where are they now Mike Hembree Special for USA TODAY Sports 0:00 1:05 NASCAR reduced the schedule of its top national series dramatically in 1972 from 48 races to. Jeff Gordon is a prime example of just how popular the sport has gotten over the last 30 years. I got Hot Rod Magazine and whatever articles they had, that was all I knew about NASCAR. Following the 1990 NASCAR Cup Series season, the top seven drivers remained in stock car racing. "About. Attracting a driver of Travis stature speaks volumes to the success 23XI Racing has had in our first two seasons and points to the positive direction in which we are headed.. The venture is an animal rescue foundation that focuses on rehoming companion animals in shelters. Listen to this article. Few drivers have managed to cultivate as welcoming of a personality as Earnhardt Jr. has over the past 20 years. His historic run to the firstCamping World Truck Series champion in 1995propelled Skinner toa two-decades-long career in the sport. Jarrett is also an avid golfer and has won quite a few tournaments in his time, boasting a two handicap. There arent a lot of drivers who can top Pettys driving record. 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. At the height of his popularity, Stewart was featured in a Three Doors Down music video and on the cover of numerous NASCAR video games. Stewart is also heavily involved in dirt track racing and still participates to this day. Read his storyhere, Houston was one of the pioneers of the series known then as the NASCAR Busch Series and now the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Marlin followed the same path as a lot of drivers do and owned both a Chevrolet dealership and a Dodge dealership. The retired racecar driver is more active than ever, even participating as a coach for the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series teams. To go to the event and earn my spot is really important. 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. Shepherd still races and competed in 12 Xfinity Series events in 2019. NASCAR fans love Gant for his big smiles and charm that extends well beyond his professional racing years to today. Excitement has finally slowed down. Newman and his wife Krissie operate Rescue Ranch. 3 Chevrolet. With the determination and fortitude to win you can bet that Wallace will be a part of NASCAR for the foreseeable future. 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. Bill France (Jr.) was special. 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. 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.. He set a record by being named Most Popular Driver 16 times and ultimately withdrew his name from the ballot. For the longest time, Sadler was the face of racings younger generation. Rudd has a whopping 374 top 10s under his belt, a feat many drivers can only aspire to. Upon entering retirement, Jarrett took on the role of being a NASCAR commentator for a few different networks, something he still does today. He could drive and won a pair of NASCAR Xfinity Series championships and now is a key innovator of safety in NASCAR. 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. His racing style was calm and collected, which lead him to become a NASCAR advisor in his later years. 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. His reputation for risk-taking and speed helped to secure the driver a fair amount of championships over his career. In addition to that accolade, Sadler is also an advocate for college basketball, having played himself and earned a scholarship before a debilitating knee injury. Named the 1983 Rookie of the Year he was hired by Roger Hamby to drive the No. MORE: What's ahead for Kyle Larson in the Indy 500? These are the best drivers. Entering the racing world in 1975, Rudd managed to carve quite the reputation for himself early on as a steady hand at the wheel. NASCAR racing has changed a lot over the years and Terry Labonte will remain a part of it. Rick is also still active in his charity The Rick Mast Foundation. I think thats another thing that made us better racers because we learned how to set those cars up with those old, hard tires. Photo Credit: NASCAR Newman and his wife Krissie operate Rescue Ranch. And I won Daytona (1994 Pepsi 400). Winning numerous championships throughout the 1980s and 1990s, his career was long and varied. After Burton retired in 2012 he focused on his second love of wildlife conservation. 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.

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