Happy Birthday Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. (April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001) was an American race car driver and team owner, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR. Earnhardt began his career in 1975 when he drove in the 1975 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the Winston Cup Series (later the Sprint Cup Series).

Earnhardt won a total of 76 races over the course of his career, including one Daytona 500 victory in 1998. He earned seven NASCAR Winston Cup Championships and his aggressive driving style earned him the nickname "The Intimidator."

He also carried the title of “Dad.”

In 1995, Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s hero card featured his three children Kerry (then 25), Kelly (then 22), and Ralph Dale Jr. (then 20). The Earnhardt children are the third generation of racers and were just beginning their racing career. Like their father, Dale Sr. and their grandfather, Ralph racing was in their blood.

Today would have been Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. sixty-third birthday. Happy Birthday to "The Intimidator."

Re-Visiting #NASCAR’s Once Upon A Time!

A young Jeff Gordon with an even younger Trevor Bayne.
(Courtesy of the Bayne family - FOXSports.com)

Bayne (born February 19, 1991), a #NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series race car driver has always looked up to the four-time Sprint Cup champion, Jeff Gordon, who has also won the Daytona 500 three times.

One can only imagine Trevor Bayne’s emotions when he worked the draft with Gordon in his debut series of races at the Daytona International Speedway. Bayne is best known for winning the 2011 Daytona 500, and is the youngest driver to win the race at the age of 20 years and 1 day.

Take time to view this video of that Fairy Tale NASCAR-Feel-Good Ending!

What - Are you kidding me!

Trevor Bayne, making just his second career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start (first at the Daytona 500), wins the 2011 Daytona 500. It is his first and to date only, NASCAR win.

Dale Jr. Learns a Lesson From 1994 Crew Chief

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Driver of the NASCAR #88

Dale Earnhardt Jr. met with members of the media at Daytona International Speedway. He reminisced about his 1994 – 1995 crew chief when he was twenty-years-old.

Question: You said you were happy for Steve. As much as you were, with the momentum that you guys were apparently coming into the season with, was it tough just to think, oh, man, why now?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Not really. I had a lesson back when I raced late models, I was working with Gary Hargett, and Gary Hargett and I worked together in '94, '95, and he became kind of like a grandfather to me, really, really, really close relationship. I spent a lot of time with him throughout the week and throughout the weekend, and when we went to the racetrack we went together. It was just a great relationship.

And there was a day where I had an opportunity to move my cars from his shop in Union County up to my shop to be able to work on them. It was an hour drive. And at that time I was working at the dealership in Newton, and then I would drive to Gary's at the South Carolina line and work on my car on Wednesday nights and then I'd drive back down on Fridays and go racing at Florence and Myrtle Beach on Friday and Saturdays, and it was a lot of driving around.

My father said, all right, we're going to bring your cars up here and I'll give you some space to work on them and you can keep them up here and learn how to build these cars and fix them, and I was just missing out on that experience being able to work on my own cars and understand them.

But I had to take it away from Gary, and I wanted him to come up to the shop and work, and he didn't want to drive an hour up there to work, so he decided he wasn't going to do that, so he had to split up. I was taking the cars and moving the cars up to Mooresville because that was what was good for me and my career, but I was going to have to do it without Gary.

And that was a real, real difficult choice to make. That was just a lesson I learned early, that things in the sport, no matter how great they are and how much you enjoy them, aren't always going to stay the same. This is just another situation where that's come true.

NASCAR Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Testing at Daytona

Kwasniewski Practices The Draft and Pack Racing

Dylan Kwasniewski drives the #31 Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet during NASCAR Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway on January 11, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

According to his Mom’s Facebook account regarding the photo above, “Dylan in the #31 learning to run in a pack and drafting with his team mate Kyle Larson in #32”

Opening their own two-day Preseason Thunder test at Daytona International Speedway, the NASCAR Nationwide Series has completed this morning’s session at the “World Center of Racing.”

Topping the charts in the morning was Turner Scott Motorsports’ Dylan Kwasniewski, 18, the reigning NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion, who posted a lap at 183.408 mph in the No. 31 machine.

Fans Injured at the FinishOf the Nationwide Drive 4 COPD 300

Watching the last lap of the Nationwide Drive 4 COPD 300, my heart was pumping. It had been a perfect race for NASCAR fans; lots of drafting and passing. That exhilaration dissolved immediately, as from the television screen, this fan witnessed the #32 car of rookie Kyle Larson spin and fly much like a white plastic grocery bag caught in a stubborn wind.

The huge wreck, which involved 12 cars, happened after driver Regan Smith, who was leading the race, tried to block Brad Keselowski. "I threw a block there," Smith said. "I knew Brad was going to try to make a move on me. ... If I'm in the same situation tomorrow, I'll do the same thing again."

Not being a huge Larson fan, my relief was still giddy as the youngster dropped the window net and bolted out of the mangled cube of metal that had been was his racecar just ninety feet prior.

Respite quickly morph into terror however, when the realization of fan injuries crept into reality. Large chunks of debris, including a tire, had landed in the stands. At least thirty spectators, including a child, were negatively impacted by the flying shrapnel of the airborne racecar.

However, today as the wait for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Daytona 500 is less than two hours long, the official word that all of the injured fans appear to be improving lifts a heavy burden.

Joie Chitwood III, president of Daytona International Speedway, said his team met with NASCAR officials at 8 a.m. EST today to review the repairs, hours before 147,000 fans will fill the grandstand seats to watch the Daytona 500 race.

Young fan enjoys spending time with K&N Pro Series West Driver Moses Smith

In light of the news that one of the injured is a child, many people have criticized parents who bring their children to these racing events. However, this author cannot imagine a better family activity. NASCAR labors tirelessly to insure the safety of both the drivers and fan of their sport.

However, you can never keep your children a hundred percent safe. If you bring your child to the beach, they can step on glass or get stung by a stingray. If you drive your child to a baseball game, they can get hit by the ball. The examples are endless.

Watching a NASCAR race in your comfortable, air conditioned house is vastly different than watching the race in the grandstands. The look on the face of young NASCAR fans as they meet their favorite driver is priceless. The bond between a father and son at the race track is rare and remarkable.

"We've always known this is a dangerous sport," race winner Tony Stewart said. "But it's hard when the fans get caught up in it."

It is indeed difficult when these misfortunes occur, but we should not allow them to overcast the wonder that is NASCAR!

Waltrip Supporting Sandy Hook

Michael Waltrip will drive the No. 26 Toyota supporting the Sandy Hook School
Support Fund during the 2013 Daytona 500. (Image Courtesy Swan Racing)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Using the biggest race of the year as a backdrop, NASCAR, Swan Racing and two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip announced today a special tribute to raise awareness and contributions for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

Following a private meeting with town officials, community leaders, first responders and victims’ families last week in Newtown, Conn., NASCAR, Swan Racing and Waltrip announced that the No. 30 Lean1 Swan Racing Toyota will instead garner the No. 26 Sandy Hook School Support Fund Toyota. Waltrip’s ride for the Daytona 500 (Sunday, Feb. 24 1 p.m. ET on FOX) will honor the 26 victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School and prominently feature a call-to-action decal encouraging the NASCAR community to make $10 donations by texting NEWTOWN to 80888.

The Sandy Hook School Support Fund, established jointly by United Way of Western Connecticut and Newtown Savings Bank, supports the healing process for the broader Newtown community including children, teachers, first responders, families, residents, mental health professionals, counselors and others, following the tragic events that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December. One hundred percent of the funds raised for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund go to meet the needs of the Newtown community.

“Americans everywhere are heartbroken about the tragedy in Newtown and Swan Racing is proud to join NASCAR and the United Way of Western Connecticut to help the community move forward,” said Swan Racing owner Brandon Davis.

In addition to piloting the No. 26 Newtown car in the Great American Race, Waltrip confirmed today that all three Michael Waltrip Racing entries will run the “text NEWTOWN to 80888” decal for the Daytona 500.

“Driving the No. 26 Sandy Hook School Support Fund Toyota is like nothing I have ever been part of in my NASCAR career,” Waltrip said. “It will be an emotional week knowing that we have the potential to do so much good for the Newtown community. I’m racing for a reason.”

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France also announced today that he and his wife Amy would personally kick off the NASCAR industry support with a $50,000 donation that will be matched by The NASCAR Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR family and its commitment to serving communities.

“Being in Newtown last week and delivering a moment of happiness to that community was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” said France. “Looking out at a room of smiling faces amidst the aftermath of a horrible tragedy was very powerful. It hit me that the NASCAR industry and our passionate fan base have an unbelievable opportunity to rally around this cause and make a huge difference for a community in need. I am excited to witness firsthand the NASCAR community’s embrace and support of the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.”

The Sandy Hook School Support Fund recently announced in cooperation with the Newtown Rotary Club Foundation that funds are available to help with the immediate financial and mental health needs for people impacted by the tragic events of Dec. 14. “One thing I can tell you for sure, is that there will be a whole lot of people in Sandy Hook and Newtown rooting for Michael and the No 26 car,” said Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead. “It will be something positive to rally around, and there will be smiles on faces that haven’t smiled in quite a while.”

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Locked In Spots Finalized for Inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion Dylan Kwasniewski is one of 13 drivers who have
earned locked-in spots to the K&N Pro Series race in February's UNOH Battle At The Beach.
(Getty Images for NASCAR)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Eight NASCAR champions head a list of drivers that have earned locked-in spots in the field fields at the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach on Feb. 18-19 at Daytona International Speedway.

The UNOH Battle At The Beach features two nights of racing with NASCAR K&N Pro Series, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series on the .4-mile oval on the backstretch.

Locked-In spots go to:

• 2012 race winners and champions from K&N Pro Series and Whelen Modified tours, earn spots in their respective races
   
• Top-10 finishers in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I national standings earn starting spots in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model race.
   
•  In addition, the 2012 overall champions from the Canadian Tire Series and Euro Racecar Series will also receive secured starting positions for the event and can choose which one of the three races they wish to compete.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion Kyle Larson headlines the 13 NASCAR K&N Pro Series drivers that secured spots by virtue of winning races.

The 20-year-old Larson from Elk Grove, Calif., won his first NASCAR touring championship driving the No. 6 Toyota Racing Development Toyota for Rev Racing and NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Initiative.

Larson, who edged Corey LaJoie for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East title by 14 points, earned his spot in the feature field through his victory at Gresham Motorsports Park in Gresham, Ga. He also won the series’ Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.

Other notable NASCAR K&N Pro Series drivers “locked-in” include 17-year-old Dylan Kwasniewski, the youngest K&N Pro Series West Champion in history; Chase Elliott, son of two-time Daytona 500 champion Bill Elliott; and Joe Gibbs Racing developmental driver Darrell Wallace Jr.

Connecticut’s Doug Coby and North Carolina’s George Brunnhoelzl III head the list of 13 drivers locked into the NASCAR Whelen Modified race. Coby won four races in claiming his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship, while Brunnhoelzl had six wins en route to his third NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour title.

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion Lee Pulliam of Semora, N.C., tops the list for the Late Model race. Pulliam earned the national championship with 22 wins, 30 top fives and 32 top 10s in 36 starts.

NASCAR international series champions locked in are D.J. Kennington from the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, Spain’s Ander Vilarino from the Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series, and Mexico’s Jorge Goeters of the NASCAR Toyota Series.

Kennington from St. Thomas, Ontario won his second Canadian Tire Series championship while Vilarino is the inaugural Euro-Racecar Series champion. Goeters won his second Mexican title, but first under a NASCAR banner.

Current, or past, full-time national series drivers not currently competing in the touring or regional series are ineligible to compete in the UNOH Battle At The Beach.

For a complete list of the UNOH Battle at the Beach locked-in drivers, click here.

A complete UNOH Battle At The Beach schedule, including gate opening times, practice and qualifying race times for both days, is available at the UNOH Battle At The Beach event page.

Fans can follow NASCAR on Twitter (@NASCAR) and stay up to speed on the latest news by using hashtags #NASCAR and #DAYTONA500 and #NASCARBattle.  In addition, fans can also stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest for all the latest news all season long.

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