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nascar defined ■ Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates after winning the Daytona 500

■ Chase Elliott celebrates his ﬁrst NASCAR Nationwide Series win at Texas Motor Speedway

■ A scenic evening at Richmond International Raceway

Pole Position 2014

■ There were a record 33 lead changes at Martinsville, besting the previous record of 31 set in April 2011

■ Team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and race winner Kevin Harvick celebrate Harvick’s NASCAR Nationwide Series win at Richmond

■ Excited fans swarm Danica Patrick in the garage area

PolePOSITIONmag.COM

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contents

NASCAR POLE POSITION RACE FAN GUIDE AN OFFICIALLY LICENSED PUBLICATION OF NASCAR

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NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE PUBLISHER: CRAIG BARONCELLI VICE PRESIDENT, SALES: DAVID WATSON VICE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTS: DAYNE MAASDORP DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTS: CHRIS VITA

SALES

08 green flag: news & notes

09 tradin’ Paint

10 Q&a: brad keselowski

12 sPotlight: casey mears

News from around the world of NASCAR

Team paint schemes for the 2014 season, provided by Lionel

2012 NSCS champion

Motor home life, presented by GEICO

terms of racing

Understanding the terminology of racing

soldiering on: james wood

Enjoying an experience of a lifetime

tailgating

Meet the fans, presented by Honda Generators

NATIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: ALEXANDER WONG, DAVID WALDMAN, JAY ROSENTHAL, KRISTY LIMOTTA, ARNOUT KOK

PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR: JASON TEDESCHI • GRAPHIC DESIGNER: STACEY FOSTER • WEB DEVELOPER: NICOLE COOPER • COPY EDITOR: KEITH WALTZ • EDITOR: DAN GUTTENPLAN • WRITERS: JARED TURNER, KEITH WALTZ, BEN WHITE, DEREK SMITH • PHOTOGRAPHY: CIA STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY, NASCAR/GETTY IMAGES • SPECIAL THANKS TO: JOHN FARRELL, BRITTANY MEYER (NASCAR), MICHELLE FANIN (LIONEL RACING), RACHEL SMITH A.E. ENGINE SPECIFIES THAT POST-PRESS CHANGES MAY OCCUR TO ANY INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION AND TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOODS OR SERVICES ADVERTISED. NASCAR® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STOCK CAR AUTO RACING, INC. MAIL ORDER: TO RECEIVE A 2014 SUBSCRIPTION TO NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE, SEND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR $25.00 TO: POLE POSITION, C/O A.E. ENGINE, 11880 28TH ST. N, SUITE 101, ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33716. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR RETURN MAILING ADDRESS AND AN EMAIL ADDRESS. ONLINE ORDER: SUBSCRIPTIONS CAN BE ORDERED ONLINE AT POLEPOSITIONMAG. COM/BUY. DISTRIBUTION: IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS OR AN ORGANIZATION INTERESTED IN DISTRIBUTING COPIES OF NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE, PLEASE CONTACT CRAIG BARONCELLI AT (727) 2091750 OR CB@AE-ENGINE.COM. SALES INQUIRIES: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE OR WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CONTACT DAVID WATSON AT (727) 209-0789, OR DKW@AE-ENGINE.COM. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

still standing: brian vickers

Persevering through adversity

r a c s na L

fUE 22 nascar bUcket list

24 gear

27 driver Profiles: sQUare one

50 history of nascar

52 nascar fUel

Places and events true fans can’t miss

The latest products from our advertising partners

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers

Moments that helped shape NASCAR

Lifestyle tips, industry careers and fun pages!

nascar series rosters

Rosters for NSCS, NNS and NCWTS

nascar series schedUles

Schedules for NSCS, NNS and NCWTS

nns: regan smith

Hopes not to repeat mistakes

ncwts: timothy Peters

Eyes first championship

home tracks: ben rhodes

Quickly climbing the NASCAR ranks PolePOSITIONmag.COM

green flag news & notes

goodyear earns business award

uring the annual NASCAR Fuel for Business meeting, NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Brent Dewar presented Goodyear representatives with the prestigious Driving Business Award. The award is bestowed each year to the Official NASCAR Partner that demonstrates extraordinary leadership and results through its participation in the NFFB Council. “We proudly join Goodyear in celebrating six decades of success with NASCAR,” said Dewar. “The company’s longevity in our sport is emblematic of its commitment to excellence – both on and off the track. The NASCAR Fuel for Business Council brings together partners from a wide spectrum of industries for the sole purpose of doing business with one another. What sets it apart from anything else in sports is the resolve partners like Goodyear demonstrate, as members of the Council, to drive business-to-business value.”

oodyear has been a member of the NFFB Council since 2008, and currently conducts business with nearly half of the companies in the council. As a result, Goodyear has formed a number of key marketing and promotional relationships with Official NASCAR Partners that help drive retail traffic and sales.

ere’s proof everything is bigger in Texas. The new video board at Texas Motor Speedway, which debuted during the track’s April NASCAR weekend, is the largest ever built by Panasonic. Measuring 218-feet wide by 94.6-feet tall (20,633.64-square feet), “Big Hoss TV” surpasses a similar model at Charlotte Motor Speedway (16,000-square feet) as the Guinness World Record holder for the largest HD LED video board. NASCAR racing returns to TMS Oct. 31-Nov. 2.

ASCAR and CIE, the leading live entertainment company in Latin America and third biggest live entertainment promoter in the world, have reached a 10-year agreement for the Mexico-based Toyota Series to continue to operate under the NASCAR banner through the 2023 season. “The NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series continues to be a bridge that makes NASCAR more relevant to the Hispanic community in the U.S.,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president of racing operations.

anssen Pharmaceuticals has teamed with NASCAR to help make a difference for race fans at risk for or who are living with blood clots. Janssen, the maker of XARELTO® (rivaroxaban), an important medicine used to treat and help prevent blood clots, is now the Official Cardiovascular Partner of NASCAR. “We are encouraged to see Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ level of dedication to helping fans affected by blood clots,” said Jim O’Connell, NASCAR chief sales officer. “We welcome them to the NASCAR family, not only as an Official Partner but also as a race entitlement and team sponsor.”

Pole Position 2014

ASCAR and Mondelez International, one of the world’s largest snacks companies, have extended their Official Partnership, which designates Mondelez International as the Official Cookies (OREO, Nilla Wafers and Nutter Butter) and Crackers (RITZ and Wheat Thins) of NASCAR. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to continue our long-term partnership with NASCAR,” said Stephen Chriss, senior director, North America Consumer Engagement and Marketing Services at Mondelez International. “After a quarter century of being a sponsor in the sport and having been the Official Cookie and Cracker of NASCAR since 2000, we continue to view this as a valuable way to reach our customers and influence purchasing behavior.”

he new format for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship places an increased emphasis on winning races. Along with the spoils of victory – including a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – each winning driver/team now receives a “WINNER” decal to display on their race car.

neUp Sports has launched a predictive gaming app, NASCAR Connect, for iOS devices. NASCAR Connect allows fans to compete against each other using live-event predictions. As a race unfolds, players can win game tokens by selecting tiles with race-action descriptions that predict what happens next on the track. “We made it a priority this offseason to focus on enhancing and adding to our arsenal of mobile apps and products, and OneUp Sports has helped us do that,” said Colin Smith, NASCAR managing director, digital platform. “NASCAR Connect gives fans another unique way to engage with NASCAR content, and each other, while watching the live race broadcast.”

tradin’ Paint green flag

car designs are works of art

ASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing is a very visual sport and, as a result, teams and sponsors spend countless hours producing paint scheme designs that will make their cars stand out on the race track. Not a single detail is overlooked and numerous versions are often produced before the final design is selected. A few of the paint schemes have been around for several years and are extremely familiar, while others feature sponsors that are new to the sport. Some drivers will carry the colors of a single sponsor for the entire schedule, while others will showcase multiple sponsors and paint schemes throughout the season.

Tony Stewart will race a Bass Pro Shops / Duck’s Unlimited scheme at Daytona in July.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ran a paint scheme for The Building For America’s Bravest initiative at the Sprint Showdown / NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Chevy once again has backing from Diet Mountain Dew.

Kevin Harvick’s Chevrolet will have a patriotic Budweiser paint scheme at Daytona in July.

images courtesy of Lionel Racing

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green flag Q&a HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED AS A PERSON AND AS A DRIVER IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS?

with 2012 nascar sPrint Q&a cUP series chamPion brad keselowski

DO YOU FEEL LESS PRESSURE THIS YEAR THAN YOU DID IN 2013 AS THE REIGNING CHAMP?

No, no, no; absolutely not. The pressure comes internally – it’s from me – and every year is an opportunity. As a race car driver, you only get a certain amount of years, so the pressure is in knowing a career might last five years, 10 years, 15, 20 or 30 if you’re lucky, right? But every year is another tick off that clock. We have the resources and the team to get it done, and I want to make sure we capitalize on

it. So that pressure is internally inflicted every year because the opportunity is the same every year. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE LAST SEASON?

I think not winning the championship is disappointing, and that’s my goal – I want to win the championship, I want to win races. So if you’re looking at it in a whole season sense, to not win a championship is absolutely disappointing, and it should be, and I don’t want anyone working on my team who’s not

disappointed when you don’t win a championship. But it’s also realistic to understand the different cycles of the sport and where that’s at. We weren’t where we wanted to be, and we can’t burn the house down over that. We’ve got all the same people back, for the most part.

growth, if you’re not growing, you’re dying, so I appreciate that approach. I think we can always argue about what’s the proper way to grow, but as long as we acknowledge the sport has to change, adapt and evolve to all the changing demands, I think we can find common ground that way.

I’d like to think I’ve gotten better over the last five years as a driver. I think in some ways I’ve gotten worse as a person [laughs], but I’m trying to enjoy the ride as a person and do some great things. It’s a privilege to be a race car driver, and I’ve had some great privileges that come with that and being successful, whether it is TV shows or finances or whatever that might be. I think it’s important to enjoy that while you can and also give back when you can, and I’ve had a lot of fun with that. But as a driver, I think growing a lot has come from Roger Penske as a car owner – and that’s personal and professional – but understanding his approach to things and why he’s successful, I think I’ve made a lot of growth in that way.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT HAVE SWEPT THROUGH NASCAR IN RECENT YEARS IN TERMS OF THE POINTS SYSTEM, ETC.?

If we stay stagnate as a sport none of us are going to have any jobs. And I don’t know about you, but I hope to have a job in the next 10, 15, 20 years, and I hope it’s in this sport. If there’s not

by jared turner 10

Pole Position 2014

©2014 Bush Brothers & Company. JTG Daugherty Racing,™ AJ Allmendinger name and/ or likeness and race team, race car and car number used by authority of JTG Racing, Inc. CHEVROLET AND ALL ASSOCIATED MARKS, EMBLEMS AND DESIGNS ARE THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF CHEVROLET MOTOR CORPORATION AND USED WITH PERMISSION.

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Root for AJ Allmendinger, driver of #47 BUSH’S® Beans-sponsored car.

green flag sPotlight

traveling in style

family man

casey mears enjoys motor home life

Presented by

ike the rest of his fellow drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Casey Mears spends an atypical amount of time – at least compared with the general population – on the road. And like most of his competitors, Mears tries to travel as comfortably as possible. “In my mind it was actually pretty hard to justify stepping up to the level of getting a Prevost Featherlite coach,” said Mears, who is in his 12th season in NASCAR’s top series. “It’s a pricier motor home but the thing that justified it in my mind was just the fact that we do spend so much time in it. We spend, really, Thursday

through Sunday in that and we spend Monday through Wednesday at home, so we spend just about as much time on the road as we do at home.” Mears believes one of the biggest benefi ts of motor home living – as opposed to staying in a motel – is the option to pack lighter. He also enjoys not having to commute to and from the track. “We still pack some small bags when we go each weekend but the majority of our stuff – all the bathroom stuff that you need, your toothbrushes, your razors, all the stuff that you typically have to pack week in and week out – we have that on the motor home,”

said Mears, a married father of two small children. “So it makes traveling a little bit easier, especially traveling with the kids. … Not fighting the traffic every morning coming in and out of the race track and that type of thing is nice. To get that extra hour of sleep before you get ready for your day is nice, as well.” The most unique feature of Mears’ motor home is a built-in baby crib. “We took out the passenger seat and extended the floor and built up a wall around the living room area where a crib could go,” he said. “Down the road we’ll probably

take that out. There’s the space where an additional seat will go in the living room and then the passenger seat goes back in.”

or Casey Mears, the No. 1 perk of owning a spacious motor home is the opportunity it affords him to bring his family to the race track. In earlier eras of the sport, motor homes were far less common – and that made the track less family-friendly for drivers. Mears’ spacious Prevost Featherlite motor home is equipped with a bedroom, a half bathroom, a full bathroom, a living room, a washer and dryer, and a full kitchen featuring a boothstyle eating area, pantry and refrigerator. The Mears’ motor home also stays equipped with bicycles, power wheels and other kidfriendly diversions. “It’s a little piece of home. We spend so much time in it, it feels like our second home,” Mears said. “I did it when I was single, as well, but it’s really nice with having your family there. It allows your kids to be there with you on the weekends, and your wife, and they kind of experience it with you. There’s a lot of professional sports where the wife and kids aren’t even allowed to travel with the team or stay with you in the hotel room.”

By Jared Turner 12

Pole Position 2014

DRIVER CASEY | MEARS

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green flag terms of racing

Understanding the Terminology of Racing While watching a NASCAR race on television, viewers often hear commentators, drivers and crew chiefs use words or phrases that can be confusing to new or casual fans of America’s most-popular form of auto racing. Consider the following a study guide as these definitions will help you better understand the racing “lingo.”

Aerodynamics: The study of airflow and the forces of resistance and pressure that result from the flow of air over, under and around a moving NASCAR race car. Axles: Rotating metal shafts connecting the rear differential gears to the rear wheels. Blend Line: Line painted on the track near the apron that extends from the pit road exit into the first turn. When leaving pit road, a driver must stay below it to safely blend into traffic. Blown Motor: A major engine failure, for instance, when a connecting rod or other internal engine part fails and goes through the block. It usually produces significant smoke 14

POLE POSITION 2014

and often drops a trail of oil on the race track. Compound: A formula or “recipe” for composing a particular tire. Different tracks require different Goodyear tire compounds. Left-side tires are considerably softer than rightside tires, and it’s against the rules to use left-side tires on the right.

There are four basic components: rubber polymers, carbon blacks, oils and curatives. Dirty Air: Aerodynamic term

used to describe the turbulent air currents caused by fast-moving cars that can cause a particular car to lose control. Flat-Out: A slang term for racing a car as fast as possible under the given weather and track conditions. Fuel: Another term for gasoline. Handling: Generally, a race car’s performance while racing, qualifying or practicing. How a car “handles” is determined by its tires, suspension geometry, aerodynamics and other factors.

Hauler: The 18-wheel tractor-trailer rig that teams use to transport two race cars, engines, tools and support

equipment to the race tracks. Cars are stowed in the top section, while the bottom floor is used for work space and storage. Interval: The time or distance between two race cars. It is referred to roughly in car-lengths, or precisely in seconds. Loose Stuff: Debris such as sand, pebbles or small pieces of rubber that collect on a track’s apron or near the outside wall during a race. Pit Road Speed Limit: There is a designated speed limit on pit road and it varies from track to track. NASCAR officials monitor each car’s speed through the electronic scoring system and any driver exceeding the speed limit by more than five mph is penalized. Pit Stall: The area along pit road that is designated for a particular team’s use during pit stops. Each

car stops in the team’s stall before being serviced. Pole Position: Slang term for the foremost position on the starting grid. It is awarded to the fastest qualifier who can elect to start at the front of either the inside or outside line. Splash and Go: A quick pit stop that involves nothing more than refueling the race car with the

onto pit road at the appropriate speed and stopped for one full second in the team’s pit stall before returning to the track. Track Bar: A lateral metal bar that keeps the rear tires centered within the body of the race car. It connects the frame on one side and rear axle on the other. It is also known as a panhard bar.

amount of fuel necessary to finish the race. Stop and Go: A penalty; usually assessed for speeding on pit road or for unsafe driving. The car must be brought

Window Net: A woven mesh that is stretched across the driver’s side window to prevent the driver’s head and limbs from being exposed during an accident.

DVX eyewear is built from the ground up to provide ANSI-rated protection and bold style that’s as comfortable at the worksite as it is at the race. DVXEYEWEAR.COM DVX, DVX Logo, WX, WILEY X (and circle logo) are trademarks of Wiley X, Inc., registered (marca registrada) or pending registration in the U.S. and other countries/jurisdictions.Packaging and Logos TM © 2011 Wiley X, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2014 Jeff Gordon, Inc.

green flag sPotlight

soldiering on

yoUng nascar fan enjoys exPerience of a lifetime Long known for its philanthropic efforts, the NASCAR community has a reputation for helping those in need and making a lasting impression on those who may not know the sport inside out but recognize kindness when they see it. This happened in February when James Wood, a 16-year-old diagnosed at age 2 with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, attended the Daytona 500 with his father, Joel. While at Daytona International Speedway for NASCAR’s biggest race, James, who has been in a wheelchair since 2011, met NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver

Brian Vickers and explored the speedway’s vast garage and pit road, while receiving first-class VIP treatment as a guest of Florida Congressman Ron DeSantis. James’ most memorable moment, however, came just minutes before the Daytona 500 was to begin. He caught the eye of Jeff Gordon as the four-time NASCAR Sprint

Cup Series champion was heading out for driver introductions. Gordon stopped in his tracks to autograph James’ No. 24 hat and pose for a photo with the youngster, who is a longtime fan of the Hendrick Motorsports driver. “I feel like a bigger fan now that I have the signed hat from my favorite driver, Jeff Gordon, and he’s been my favorite driver for years,” said James, who owns at least five Gordon die-cast cars. Gordon left an equally profound impression on Joel Wood, a trade association lobbyist who works in Washington, D.C., as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers. Admittedly not a NASCAR aficionado, Joel was touched by the warm reception his son received at Daytona this year and at the 2013 Daytona 500, James’ first race. “Here he is, game-face on, headed down for the player introductions, and I’m like, ‘James,

there’s Jeff Gordon,’” Joel said. “And we are 15 people removed and somehow out of the corner of his eye he spots this kid with this 24 hat in a wheelchair. He went out of his way. That’s a small, small moment in time. It really is a tiny one, but it speaks eloquently to what this sport is and the quality of the people like him that are beloved and are legends.” James’ father and mother, Dana, who is also a lobbyist in the nation’s capital, have dedicated much of their professional lives to pursuing legislation aimed at finding a cure for DMD – the world’s No. 1 lethal childhood genetic disease, affecting one in 3,000 boys. Until James’ diagnosis, no organized professional advocacy campaign for DMD existed. In 2002, the Woods helped establish the Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne, which has raised more than $20 million for the cause. “We do tend to all think about

the big picture cure – the one drug that is going to come down from the heavens that is going to fix this, when in reality it is like every major disorder,” Joel said. “It’s many things, it’s a combination. It’s not any one thing, but it’s a cocktail of therapies that have to be deployed. “We’ve had some hits and we’ve had some misses over the years. We’ve invested in some things that have been sort of a dead-end road. On the other hand, we’ve invested in things that now have tens if not hundreds of millions dollars of investment behind them. Today, things look good and even better in the coming years.” James, whose physical challenges his father calls “our normal,” continues to soldier on, persevering through the tough daily challenges he faces and making the most out of life. The teenager sees more NASCAR races in his future. “I’ll hopefully go to every single one I can,” he said.

By Jared Turner 16

Pole Position 2014

green flag tailgating presented by

Race Fans Forever

Fans travel from afar to enjoy the fun before and after races by derek smith Andy Pellerin, 57, of Pembroke, N.H., had been around racing his whole life – dragsters, modifieds, even sleds – in his native New England before he saw his first major-league event. In the last 13 years, he’s missed only one race at Talladega Superspeedway. He enjoys the mix of geographic cultures when he tailgates at places such

as Richmond, Bristol and Loudon, his home track. Pellerin shares the cuisine of the Northeast, items such as scallops, clams, fish and shrimp cooked in huge propane fryers, with hundreds of race fans. Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins sampled Pellerin’s food and it got him an honorary spot on the pit crew.

One hundred thousand fans circling a half-mile track and the body-shaking roar of the engines keeps

to Rockingham Speedway 30 years ago was all Jurgens needed to get hooked on the sport. He’s also made trips to

41-year-old Chris Jurgens, of Raleigh, N.C., and his fraternity brothers coming back to Bristol every year. A trip

For a taste of Louisiana, visit Vaughan Guidry and his tailgate crew at Texas, Daytona and Talladega. The part-time caterer, 29, from Raceland, La., boils 250 pounds of crawfish and 100 pounds of shrimp, makes

POLE POSITION 2014

jambalaya and gumbo to feed 200300 people and brews 100 gallons of Margaritas and Pina Coladas. “With us it revolves around food,” Guidry said. Guidry’s motor home is outfitted with a 30-foot entertainment trailer equipped

Richmond and Charlotte to tailgate around the RV, cooking burgers, hot dogs, bratwurst and steaks.

with a generator, grill, microwave oven, Kegerator, flat-screen TV and bathroom. A family friend who worked for Interstate Batteries introduced a teenaged-Guidry to Bobby Labonte, the driver he still pulls for today.

Dennis Van Fossen, 54, has been tailgating at race tracks – Indianapolis, Michigan, Richmond, Bristol, Daytona and Talladega – since 1997. As a 26-year veteran of the Indianapolis Fire Department, Van Fossen appreciates how first-responders like himself are recognized at the track. The respect the sport shows toward them endears firefighters to racing, he says.

The camaraderie among “real fans” at Bristol had Van Fossen and his wife feeding a group of tailgaters from North Carolina who didn’t have any food. “They would give you the shirts off their backs, [too],” Van Fossen said. “Nobody is a stranger.” He also visits the Eldora Speedway dirt track in Ohio for its “choreographed chaos.”

When Kenny Harris, 64, of Amesbury, Mass., tailgates, he’s usually travelled the farthest. But on his first trip to Talladega in 2001, he met a fellow New Englander and they attended their 27th race together at the superspeedway in May. Their tailgate group includes fans from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

“We all get along great unless there’s a college football game,” he joked. “You can’t duplicate [the atmosphere] anywhere. It’s like Mardi Gras. I used to go for the racing, now it’s for the people.” On Friday night, the Mississippi contingent fries catfish and one year they fed more than 300 people.

Porta-Party.

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featUre

still standing brian vickers has Persevered throUgh major adversity

As roller-coaster rides go, the one Brian Vickers has experienced throughout his career as a NASCAR driver has been about as wacky and unpredictable as they come. From winning a NASCAR Nationwide Series championship to losing his best friend in a plane crash, to becoming a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winner and Chase participant to returning to the NASCAR Nationwide Series, to being sidelined twice with lifethreatening illnesses only to recover and

return to the driver’s seat, Vickers has dealt with more than his share of challenges – both personally and professionally – over the past decade. If the old adage holds true that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, this guy has to be one of the toughest individuals around – in NASCAR or elsewhere. Back in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time this season for the first time since 2011, the native of Thomasville, N.C., believes he is in a good place as the driver of the No. 55 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing.

But Vickers isn’t about to assume it’s all going to be smooth sailing from here. “One thing I do know for sure is you just never know what’s next and you just can’t give up,” Vickers said. “You’ve got to keep fighting.” After bursting onto the scene by capturing the NASCAR Nationwide Series title in 2003 at the tender age of 20, Vickers moved to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2004 with the powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports organization. As rookies often do, Vickers faced a major adjustment, but his

greatest difficulty came off the track rather than on it. Vickers’ best friend and former NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner, Ricky Hendrick, was one of 10 people who perished when a Hendrick Motorsports plane crashed in late October. He was just 24. Now nearly a decade later, Vickers still feels the loss of his close friend, who was the only son of Vickers’ now-former team owner, Rick Hendrick. “I miss him,” said Vickers, 30. “He was just a great guy; he was a great friend, mentor, partner, teammate, car owner. He was just a really good person. … I think he would have remained a phenomenal friend throughout my life. I think back, that’s probably the saddest part. I think he would have been an incredible car owner in the sport. I think he would have been one of the first great secondgeneration owners in the sport, and just been a great friend, husband and father to a lot of people. He was a great man; he left us too early but I’ll see him again one day and I’ll look forward to it.” Despite picking up his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway in the fall of 2006, Vickers parted ways with Hendrick

By Jared Turner 20

Pole Position 2014

Motorsports at the end of the season and joined the new Red Bull Racing organization for 2007. To say the transition was difficult would be putting it mildly. Vickers’ first season with Red Bull was, at least in terms of raw statistics, the worst of his NASCAR career as he failed to qualify for 13 of 36 races. By 2009, Red Bull had improved dramatically, however, and Vickers – buoyed by a win at Michigan International Speedway in August – reached the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the first time. But the feelings of jubilation didn’t last. Vickers faced the biggest scare of his life in May 2010 when he was hospitalized with blood clots in his lungs

risk for blood clots. “I think that it’s human nature to take for granted every breath, and it’s a good thing, too, because if you spent all day worrying about dying, then you probably wouldn’t be living very much. “That’s not necessarily a bad trait that we humans have, but I do think that instances like this make you certainly appreciate life on a daily basis and the things you do have and the loves you have like racing or family and friends and things like that.” Given a clean bill of health to return to racing in 2011, Vickers drove the full season but was left without a ride when Red Bull shuttered its NASCAR program at year’s end. After starting

You just can’t give up. You’ve got to keep fighting. and left leg that forced him to miss the remainder of the season. Not surprisingly, the experience changed the young driver. “Anytime you almost die, you’re going to have a greater appreciation for life,” said Vickers, who underwent surgery to repair a hole in his heart that put him at

2012 without a ride, Vickers was picked up by Michael Waltrip Racing for an eightrace slate in the No. 55 car, which he shared primarily with veteran Mark Martin. During his off weeks, Vickers dabbled in sports car racing by competing in the European-based FIA World Endurance Championship.

Vickers drove another limited NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule for MWR last season, this time in addition to a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series deal with Joe Gibbs Racing – another Toyota team. “I didn’t really look at it as a step backward,” he said of returning to the NASCAR Nationwide Series 10 years after winning a championship there. “It wasn’t like I was forced to do it. It was a choice. There were other options. I could have raced full time [in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series] – but not with the team I wanted. They were good teams but I really felt like I was at home here and wanted to be here, and unfortunately, because Mark had a two-year contract, that wasn’t going to happen until 2014. So I felt like the best place, if I wanted to be in this car in 2014, that I needed to be in this car in 2013.” The decision paid off when MWR announced in August that Vickers, whose part-time gig produced a win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July, would be the full-time

driver of the No. 55 in 2014. But the joy of knowing he had a seat all his own for this season was replaced by fear and frustration when doctors discovered a blood clot in his right leg in mid-October. Vickers missed the final five races of the season but returned at this year’s Daytona 500 after once again being

is a young guy and he handled it all well. I am glad that he is healthy and is in a great car.” Vickers isn’t looking for sympathy, though. “There’s been a lot of adversity in my career relative to the other drivers in the garage and, to the majority of them, significantly more in that regard being in and out and tossed around in a lot

given the OK to race. “He has definitely dealt with a lot of issues and certainly at a young age,” said six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, a former teammate of Vickers’ at Hendrick Motorsports. “The emotional and personal side with Ricky [Hendrick], and professionally with the challenges of his health, and even the loss of sponsorship and looking for a ride when Red Bull pulled out, those are tough things to handle. He

of different ways,” he said. “But everybody deals with adversity in different ways, and I think the important thing for me is you just never give up and you just keep fighting. You push through, you have to have faith, you have to believe and just kind of keep fighting. I mean, yeah, there’s been a lot of adversity in my career, but that was the path I was supposed to take. Otherwise, I would have been on a different path. And I’ve learned a lot from it.”

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NASCAR BUCKET LIST

PLACES AND EVENTS TRUE FANS CAN’T MISS There are a number of places and events that every NASCAR fan – young, old or in between – must simply make the time to experience. Here are a few that tie in with tracks that will host NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races during June and July.

The Infield Block Party at Pocono Raceway is highlighted by a wiffle ball field, music, slot-car racing and much more for the whole family to enjoy. Located on Tunnel Road in the infield of the 2.5-mile track, the block party is the place to be on both of the track’s two annual NASCAR weekends.

Pocono’s Infield Block Party Pocono Raceway, popularly known as “The Tricky Triangle,” features arguably the most unique layout on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. The 2.5-mile track is also home to one of the most unique fan experiences in all of NASCAR with its wildly festive Infield Block Party. Located on Tunnel Road in the infield of the Pennsylvania track, the block-party experience includes a concert stage, the Barley Creek Wiffle Ball Field and more. The block party is open to all grandstand, trackside and infield camping guests from 5 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday night of the track’s two annual NASCAR weekends. Attendance is free. A new twist for this year’s NASCAR weekends is the addition of Friday Infield Block Party theme nights. Track officials are asking campers to dress to impress for Country Night on Friday, June 6, and for ’80s Night on Friday, Aug. 1. Additionally, Pocono Raceway hosts its annual fireworks show on the Saturday night of the two race weekends, starting at approximately 9 p.m. Crave action? Like big crowds? Enjoy good music? If so, Pocono’s Infield Block Party is the place to be for fans planning to attend this year’s two races.

Daytona Beach, Fla., is home to one of NASCAR’s most historic race tracks. It is also home to one of this country’s most fun-filled beaches. When NASCAR fans come to Daytona – especially in July – they have the chance to get two for the price of one: a memorable beach vacation and an awesome time at the track.

Daytona Beach In town for the annual Fourth of July race week at Daytona International Speedway? While it might be tempting to spend the whole time at the 2.5-mile superspeedway following the high-speed NASCAR excitement, don’t forget where you are: Daytona Beach. Billed as “The World’s Most Famous Beach,” Daytona has 23 miles of sandy, white beaches that are open to pedestrians 24/7, with free access. Cars are also permitted in designated areas of the beach from sunrise to sunset, tidal conditions permitting. Nearby are numerous beachfront splash parks, beach volleyball courts and jungle gyms for fun along the shoreline, but not all the fun is reserved for dry land. Also available are plenty of adventures to be had in the Atlantic Ocean from paddle boarding and surfing to kayaking and parasailing. Daytona’s famous boardwalk and pier are also worthy of some time. After all, it is here that visitors will find two important parts of every vacation – fun and food. And with amusement rides like the Sandblaster Roller Coaster, Ferris wheel and go-karts, there is a little something for everyone in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway features four distinct turns and straightaways, a layout unchanged since the facility opened in 1909. The front and back straightaways are five-eighths of a mile each, with the short chute straightaways between Turns 1 and 2, and Turns 3 and 4 at one-eighth of a mile each.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway One track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour that every fan must visit is Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world’s largest spectator sporting facility with more than 235,000 permanent seats, plus a sprawling infield that can accommodate north of 100,000 more guests. Opened in 1909, Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long prevailed as an icon of motorsports excellence. Beginning in 2009, the speedway celebrated its Centennial Era, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the facility in 2009 and the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 in 2011. Well-known attractions at IMS include the world-famous Gasoline Alley and the iconic Yard of Bricks at the start/ finish line. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competed at the legendary 2.5-mile speedway for the first time in 1994, when Jeff Gordon scored an emotional victory in the inaugural Brickyard 400. Other Brickyard winners include the late Dale Earnhardt, fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett and reigning six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. Now 20 years after the first NASCAR race at Indy, a trip to the Brickyard is high on any NASCAR fan’s bucket list.

by jared turner 22

POLE POSITION 2014

Dover Downs Hotel & Casino Dover International Speedway is more than a fast, high-banked track that hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, the first coming in early June. The one-mile oval known as “The Monster Mile” shares real estate with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, giving race fans who visit the Delaware facility the complete vacation destination. Dover Downs Hotel & Casino features a variety of activities, from world-class action sports to the latest gaming sensations and daily poker tournaments. Patrons can witness live harness racing from October through April or check out the world’s best thoroughbred races from simulcast facilities. Alternatively, there’s the option to leave the ponies behind and wager on professional sports. Live entertainment from best-selling artists is also part of the experience. The Toppers Spa/Salon provides an array of treatments and services, including aromatic massages, skincare treatments, new hairstyles or a manicure and pedicure in the soothing Balinese-inspired space. The Irish Hills Any fan making the trip to Michigan International Speedway for the two-mile track’s annual June and August NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends would be well-advised to take some time out to visit the nearby Irish Hills region. With a history dating back to the 19th century, the Irish Hills were a stopping point during the five-day stagecoach trip between Detroit and Chicago. In the early 20th century, the region developed into a popular tourist destination and that holds true today. Areas worth checking out include the 755-acre Hidden Lake Gardens, the Walter J. Hayes State Park and Cherry Creek Winery, along with several golf courses, trails and antique gift shops. Historic Walker Tavern opened in the 1920s and offers the chance to discover the early days of stagecoach travel and trace the development of U.S. Highway 12, known as the U.S. Heritage Trail. Automobile and motorcycle aficionados travel the road taking in the natural beauty.

Churchill Downs Unfortunately, you’re a little late for the Kentucky Derby – the world’s grandest horse race which occurs each May – if you plan to stop at Churchill Downs on the way to Kentucky Speedway’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend. However, you can still visit and tour the site of the famous thoroughbred event either before or after heading to the speedway in Sparta, Ky. Located just a little more than an hour from the track, Churchill Downs is a Kentucky Derby lover’s dream destination. A Tour of Boston New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, is a 1.058-mile track located in a state with lots to see and do. For fans flying into Boston – or those who fly into New Hampshire but have an interest in exploring Boston while within driving distance – several hours in this historic city is time well-spent. Boston is the ultimate destination for students of U.S. history. Founded in 1630 by Puritan colonists from England, Boston quickly became the political, commercial, financial, religious and educational center of New England. Wine Country

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Want to taste some of the world’s finest wine? Then the Sonoma Wine Country – home to Sonoma Raceway, one of only two road courses on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule – is the place for you. Located in Northern California about an hour north of San Francisco and all that city has to offer, the Sonoma Wine Country is home to more than 400 wineries, miles of rugged Pacific coastline and towering redwood forests. Tasting rooms in the world-class Sonoma wine region range from simple and rustic – two wine barrels and a slab of redwood as an outdoor tasting bar; to the wine resort of famed Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola – complete with swimming pool, restaurant, full bar and movie memorabilia. Discover more than 50 pristine nature parks that offer miles of hiking and cycling trails through the towering redwoods or oak-studded hills.

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gear

The latest products from our advertisers, who help provide this magazine for free. Learn more about these products at PolePositionMag.com. 1

2 3 4

1 Honda Generators

Honda’s Super Quiet Series generators — the EU1000i, EU2000i, EU3000is, EU3000i Handi and the EU6500is — are inverter-equipped, lightweight models that feature extremely quiet performance. Designed for the ultimate in quality, portability and convenience, these models are ideal for tailgating, camping or any trip to the great outdoors. Honda is proud to support several teams such as Chip Ganassi Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports and others with EU series generator products that provide smooth, reliable power for their racing needs.

2 Reese towpower

REESE Towpower ®, the market leader in towing, has brought innovation and strength to towing products once again by introducing the Carbon Forged family of ball mounts. The ball mounts offer users greater towing capacity through their unique forged one-piece design, providing unequaled quality and performance in a patented weld-free design with a rust-resistant finish. Features include: ■■ Greater Towing Capacity ■■ 100,000 Miles of Road Testing* *Simulated enhanced fatigue test ■■ Trusted Quality and Innovation

POLE POSITION 2014

3 lionel plastic cars

Enjoy the NASCAR season with these brand-new 1:18-scale plastic cars from Lionel Racing. The perfect plaything for the young and young at heart, these toy cars are bold, fun and indestructible. Each 1:18 car features a full plastic body, rolling wheels and is the perfect size for little ones to play with. Get your favorite driver’s car now at lionelracing.com, the NASCAR.com Superstore, trackside souvenir rigs or your hometown die-cast dealer.

4 nascar nation

Go trackside with FOX Sports broadcaster Chris Myers in NASCAR Nation. The book illustrates how racing embodies the best of what makes America great: our competitive spirit; our will to win; our love of pageantry, heroes and tradition; our willingness to face risks and build for the future. It takes fans trackside, places them in the car and in the middle of the action, and shares the sport’s finer moments. Available at the NASCAR.com Superstore.

5 LUBRIPLATE

Chain and Cable Fluid – Penetrating Oil. A superior, cleansing, non-gumming penetrating oil for wire rope, chains, cables and general lubrication. Prevents rust and corrosion, protects brightwork and loosens rusty nuts and bolts. Excellent for drilling, tapping and sawing. Available in a 12-ounce spray can, Part No. L0135-063. Buy it today at lubriplate.com or CARQUEST Auto Parts stores.

6 dvx sunglasses

DVX Sun & Safety sunglasses, sold exclusively at Walmart, are the favorite of champion Jeff Gordon. Every pair of DVX sunglasses is ANSI rated, meaning they can be used on the job where occupational safety eyewear is required. Yet they feature great contemporary styling for use anywhere. Look for DVX on Jeff Gordon trackside haulers, and in any Walmart Vision Center. dvxeyewear.com

7 tUb o’ towels

Tough messes need the world’s toughest wipe: Tub O’ Towels. These solution-soaked wipes are bigger, stronger and tougher than ordinary wipes. Grease, grime, stains and spills are no problem with Tub O’ Towels. These tough wipes were designed to handle virtually any mess whether you’re tailgating, at home, on the job or on the go. Find a retailer or get more information at tubotowels.com today.

8 grill emblems

Cloud-Rider Designs is an aftermarket auto manufacturer. Its line of products features stainless steel grill inserts, mud flaps and other licensed products for NASCAR. Cloud-Rider’s NASCAR Universal Grill Emblem is made of stainless steel with a 3M decal. It fits any grill and is easy to install. Two plates are provided that attach to the back of the emblem, one with hooks and zip ties, the other with screws that fit into any grill insert. Available for car Nos. 48, 88, 24, 20, 11 and 18. Available at cloud-rider.com and the NASCAR Superstore.

9 tiger balm

When you need industrial-strength pain relief, but don’t want to risk the side effects caused by pills, Tiger Balm is your best tool for the job. For more than 100 years, Tiger Balm’s proven blend of herbal ingredients has delivered safe, fast and effective pain relief without the pills. It’s no wonder millions of users around the world reach for Tiger Balm to soothe their aches and pains. Available at Walgreens, CVS, drugstores, mass merchants and super markets. tigerbalm.com/us

10 folex®

FOLEX® is perfect for removing stains from upholstery, vinyl, clothing and practically any other material that is “colorfast” and “color-stable.” Even hard surfaces, painted surfaces, walls and woodwork that can be safely dampened with water will be quickly and easily cleaned with FOLEX®! Please visit folex.net for a list of retailers in your area and other useful information!

11 sPrayway

Automotive professionals and car enthusiasts alike trust Sprayway Glass Cleaner to cut through smoke, bugs, grit and grime, and deliver a streakfree shine to their windows, windshields and mirrors every single time. With no Ammonia and no-drip foam, no wonder it’s the “World’s Best Glass Cleaner.” spraywayretail.com PolePOSITIONmag.COM

We didn’t just throw down the gauntlet.

We kicked it. Iconic tracks and iconic events together in one championship for the first time in a generation. Welcome to the next great chapter in North American sports car racing.

2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Schedule

January 24-26 Daytona International Speedway

July 12-13 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

March 14-15 Sebring International Raceway

July 25 Indianapolis Motor Speedway

April 12 Long Beach Street Circuit

August 9-10 Road America

May 3-4 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

August 23-24 Virginia International Raceway

May 31 The Raceway at Belle Isle Park

September 20 Circuit of the Americas

June 7 Kansas Speedway

October 3-4 Road Atlanta

June 28-29 Watkins Glen International

See it on

© 2013 International Motor Sports Association, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The TUDOR UNITED SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP™ logo and word mark are used under license by the International Motor Sports Association, LLC and Tudor Watch U.S.A., LLC. TUDOR® and TUDOR® are trademarks of Tudor Watch U.S.A., LLC. The IMSA® logo and word mark are trademarks of International Motor Sports Association, LLC.

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DRIVER PROFILES

Square One

Everyone starts somewhere â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even naSCaR drivers by jared turner POLEPOSITIONmaG.COM

DRIVER PROFILES

48 number

Jimmie Johnson Before becoming the six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner he is today, Jimmie Johnson had to start at the bottom and work his way up just like everyone else.

Off-Road Route

info Owner Rick Hendrick Team Hendrick Motorsports Sponsors Lowe’s/ Kobalt Tools Manufacturer Chevrolet Crew Chief Chad Knaus

POLE POSITION 2014

With the support of his family, Johnson’s racing career started on 50cc motorcycles at age 5, and the California kid quickly found success. By the time he was 8, Johnson had won the 60cc class championship despite blowing out his knee with several races remaining in the season. From motorcycles, Johnson graduated to the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group Stadium Racing Series, where he won more awards. A 1993 meeting arranged by his mentor, supercross champion Rick Johnson (no relation), proved particularly consequential. While racing at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Rick Johnson introduced his young protégé to the executive director of GM Racing, Herb Fishel. Fishel kept his eye on Johnson that year and the young driver impressed the GM official. Fishel later walked into an off-road racing team meeting and threw a picture of Johnson on the table, informing the team that Johnson was the man to drive their car. Johnson seized the opportunity, spending the next few years driving buggies and trucks in off-road stadium and desert races. In 1995, Johnson met future car owners Stan and Randy Herzog and the following year began driving the brothers’ off-road truck. After two years, Johnson was ready for the next opportunity and crafted a proposal for Fishel, who gave the owners and their driver a shot. In 1998, Johnson climbed behind the wheel of an American Speed Association stock car for his first taste of pavement racing, and he used quick ASA success as a springboard to NASCAR – initially in the NASCAR Nationwide Series – before making the jump to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Hendrick Motorsports in 2002.

driveR Photo courtesy Hendrick Motorsports

AVAILABLE AT

DRIVER PROFILES

14 numbER

tony Stewart Tony Stewart’s racing career began at age 7 behind the wheel of a go-kart, with his father, Nelson, serving as car owner and crew chief. Few at the time, except perhaps Stewart and his parents, could have predicted what the future would hold.

InDYCaR CHamPIOn

InFO OWner MaRGaRet Haas Team stewaRt-Haas RacinG SpOnSOrS bass pRo sHops/ MobiL 1 manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief cHad JoHnston

POLE POSItIOn 2014

Those humble beginnings were the start of a remarkable driving career that includes three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships (2002, ’05 and ’11), an IndyCar Series title (1997) and four USAC championships (one in 1994, three in ’95). “He never let me settle for second,” said Stewart of his dad, who still frequents races whenever his schedule permits. “He didn’t like it when we ran second, and he knew that I didn’t like it when we ran second. If he saw that I wasn’t giving 100 percent, then he was on me pretty hard about it. He pushed me to be better. He never pressured me to be the best race car driver in the world, but he did pressure me to be the best race car driver that I could be.” A hint of Stewart’s future success was evident in 1980 when at age 8 the Columbus, Ind., native won his first championship – a 4-cycle rookie junior class championship at the Columbus Fairgrounds. Two more karting titles followed, but on a national level. By 1989, Stewart began the transition from go-karts to higher-horsepower, open-wheel machines. He raced three-quarter midgets before turning his attention to the USAC ranks in 1991, and he’s been a consistent top performer ever since. “When I started racing competitively when I was about 7 or 8, getting a trophy that was bigger than the other kids’ was all I cared about,” said Stewart, now a team co-owner and driver for StewartHaas Racing. “I couldn’t have asked for more out of this life.”

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Denny Hamlin A product of the NASCAR Whelen AllAmerican Series, Denny Hamlin collected nearly 50 late model victories from 2002-’04. He also won the 2003 track championship at Southern National Speedway in Kenly, N.C., posting 25 wins, 30 poles and 33 top-ﬁve ﬁnishes.

InFO OWner Joe Gibbs Team Joe Gibbs RacinG SpOnSOrS FedeX/spoRt cLips manufacTurer toYota creW chief daRian GRubb

EaRLY SuCCESS The Chesterﬁeld, Va., native won his ﬁrst NASCAR-sanctioned races in 2002 (10 total) along with 15 poles at Southampton Motor Speedway in Capron, Va. Hamlin was the late model rookie of the year in 2000 at Southside Speedway in Midlothian, Va., where he recorded 11 top-five finishes. Prior to that, he claimed mini stock rookie-of-the-year honors in 1997 at Southside and Langley Speedways. At age 16, Hamlin became the youngest driver to win the NASCAR mini stock track title at Langley, where he still holds the NASCAR mini stock track record with a lap time of 18.025 seconds. Before his late model days, Hamlin raced go-karts on a limited basis. He was dominating in the Junior Restricted League at age 12, earning the Amelia Motor Raceway track championship (Junior Restricted), the Virginia Dirt Karting Association State championship (Junior Champ) and the World Karting Association Virginia Dirt Series state championship (Junior Champ). He finished his karting career at age 15 with 127 feature wins and five championships in three classes. Hamlin, whose racing career began at age 7 in the Junior Sportsman karting division, made his first NASCAR national series start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2004 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, where he qualified seventh and finished 10th. From there, Hamlin ran two full seasons in the NASCAR Nationwide Series – finishing fourth in 2006 and fifth in the final 2005 standings. Hamlin’s first full season of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition came with Joe Gibbs Racing – the team for which he still drives – in 2006 after a seven-race slate in 2005. POLEPOSITIONmaG.COM

DRIVER PROFILES

88 numbER

Dale Earnhardt Jr. A third-generation driver whose grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, was a short-track racing legend and whose father, Dale Earnhardt, was one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was born to race.

InFO OWner Rick HendRick Team HendRick MotoRspoRts SpOnSOrS nationaL GuaRd/diet Mountain dew manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief steve LetaRte

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‘tHE bOY Can DRIVE’ After high school, the young man who would become NASCAR’s most popular driver in 11 consecutive seasons went to college and earned a two-year automotive degree, after which he was hired to work as a mechanic in his father’s Chevrolet dealership. At age 17, Earnhardt Jr. began racing street stocks at Concord Speedway near Charlotte, N.C. He went on to cut his teeth racing stock cars around the Southeast during the early 1990s with his brother, Kerry, and sister, Kelley. Much of Junior’s early racing was done at Myrtle Beach Speedway in South Carolina each weekend after working on his car during the week. Earnhardt Jr. also competed at North Carolina’s North Wilkesboro Speedway and Virginia’s South Boston Speedway, among other tracks, with the support of longtime Earnhardt partners Mom ‘n’ Pops and Sun Drop. Earnhardt Jr. got his first crack at big-time NASCAR racing in 1996 when his father pulled a chassis from the stash used during Jeff Green’s NASCAR Nationwide Series tenure at Dale Earnhardt Inc. But the elder Earnhardt did this on one condition – Junior, only 21 at the time, had to do the work. With the help of his friend, Wesley Sherrill, Junior got his shot at Myrtle Beach Speedway, a familiar track from his late model years. His introduction to NASCAR was a successful one, as he qualified the No. 31 Mom ‘n’ Pop’s Chevrolet seventh and finished 14th. After the race, Earnhardt Jr.’s uncle, Danny Earnhardt, called his brother and reported with confidence that “the boy can drive.” In the years that have followed, Danny Earnhardt’s proclamation regarding his nephew has proven true.

driver Photo courtesy the nAtionAL GuArd

DRIVER PROFILES

10 numbER

InFO OWner Gene Haas/ tonY stewaRt Team stewaRt-Haas RacinG SpOnSOrS GodaddY/ aspen dentaL manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief tonY Gibson

POLE POSItIOn 2014

Danica Patrick Growing up in Roscoe, Ill., Danica Patrick began competing in go-karts at a young age. During her time in karting from 1992 to ’97, she won numerous regional titles while also winning the World Karting Association Grand National Championship in 1994, ’96 and ’97.

EuROPEan EXPERIEnCE From there, Patrick made a huge decision, moving to Europe to join the European road-racing ranks. After spending the 1998 and ’99 seasons driving in the British Formula Vauxhall series, Patrick moved to the British Zetec Formula Ford Series for 2000 and ’01. Her European stint caught the eye of three-time IndyCar Series champion Bobby Rahal, who signed her to drive in the United States for his team, Rahal Letterman Racing, which she moved up to the IndyCar Series with in 2005. Patrick qualified second and led 32 laps en route to a fourth-place finish at Japan’s Twin Ring Motegi in just her fourth IndyCar start. She qualified fourth and finished fourth in that year’s Indianapolis 500, making her the highest-starting and highest-finishing woman in the history of the famous race. In 2007, Patrick switched to Andretti-Green Racing (now Andretti Autosport) and continued her rise in the season-ending standings with a seventh-place result on the strength of 11 top10 finishes. She made history in April 2008 by winning an IndyCar race in Japan. While the IndyCar Series continued to be Patrick’s main focus, she began dabbling in stock car racing in 2010 and started her career with a sixth-place finish in the season-opening ARCA event at Daytona International Speedway. One week later, she made her NASCAR debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona – the same place where she later made her NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut during the 2012 Daytona 500 and joined the NASCAR Sprint Cup ranks full time at the 2013 Daytona 500.

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DRIVER PROFILES

24 numbER

Jeff Gordon Catching the racing bug in his hometown of Vallejo, Calif., Jeff Gordon was 5 when he ﬁrst performed laps on a makeshift race track. a maJOR mOVE

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By the age of 6, Gordon had won 35 quarter-midget main events and set five track records. When he was 13, Gordon took an interest in the 650-horsepower sprint cars and, supporting his career choice, Gordon’s family moved from Northern California to Pittsboro, Ind., where more opportunities existed for younger racers. But before moving to the Midwest, Gordon continued to hone his skills and went on to win three quarter-midget national championships and four karting titles. The 1990 USAC midget champion at age 19, Gordon became the youngest driver ever to win the title, after becoming the youngest driver to be awarded a USAC license, at age 16. Gordon won the USAC Silver Crown Series championship in 1991 – the same year he made the jump to big league

NASCAR racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, where he earned the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award and an 11thplace finish in the points. Gordon set a NASCAR Nationwide Series record with 11 poles in 1992 and also won three races that season – all from the pole – including his first in NASCAR, in March at Atlanta Motor Speedway. That November, Gordon made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut with Hendrick Motorsports in the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway where, coincidentally, seventime NASCAR champion Richard Petty was making his final start. Gordon competed for Hendrick as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie the following season and the rest, as they say, is history for the now four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

InFO OWner Rick HendRick Team HendRick MotoRspoRts SpOnSOrS dRive to end HunGeR/ aXaLta/pepsi manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief aLan GustaFson

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DRIVER PROFILES

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InFO OWner Gene Haas/ tonY stewaRt Team stewaRt-Haas RacinG SpOnSOrS budweiseR/JiMMY JoHn’s manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief RodneY cHiLdeRs

POLE POSItIOn 2014

Kevin Harvick At 5 years old, Kevin Harvick received a go-kart from his parents as a kindergarten graduation present. Now in his 14thth year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the Bakersﬁeld, Calif., native still hasn’t slowed down.

nInE KaRtInG tItLES After gaining experience behind the wheel of his go-kart, Harvick began racing at local tracks at age 7. For a decade, he was a force on the karting circuit, earning seven national championships and two Grand National titles. With an impressive portfolio of karting wins, Harvick made the move to full-bodied stock cars, competing at local tracks in the late model division starting in 1992. In 1993, he won the track championship at his hometown track – Mesa Marin Speedway in Bakersfield. He advanced to the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour full time in 1995, earning rookie-of-the- year honors and finishing 11th in points. Harvick also made his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start in 1995. On Oct. 15 at Mesa Marin, he started and finished 27th in his family-owned No. 72 truck. Harvick competed in four more NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races for his family’s team in 1996. In 1997, he took over the wheel of the No. 75 Spears Motorsports truck for the second half of the season, scoring two top-10 finishes. In 1998, Harvick drove the Spears truck full time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, while also competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Harvick won five races en route to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship. Harvick’s hard-charging style and success behind the wheel caught the eye of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress. Harvick was selected in 2000 as the driver of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, where he remained until being promoted to RCR’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program following the 2001 Daytona 500.

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brad Keselowski Growing up in a racing family, Brad Keselowski was raised in an environment where spending time at the race shop and the track was a way of life. His father, Bob Keselowski, was a 1997 race winner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

FamILY tRaDItIOn InFO OWner RoGeR penske Team teaM penske SpOnSOr MiLLeR Lite manufacTurer FoRd creW chief pauL woLFe

In addition, Brad’s uncle, Ron Keselowski, competed at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series level during the early 1970s. But it wasn’t until the age of 14 that Brad Keselowski made the transition from turning wrenches for his family’s team to driving. He started competing in the Senior Honda 120 quarter-midget division in 1998, earning six feature wins. The next year, he moved up to the Senior Honda 160 division where he won eight features and the championship. In 2000, Keselowski began racing stock cars in the factory stock division. That season, he collected nine feature wins as well as rookie-of-the-year honors at two Michigan tracks. During the next three years, Keselowski balanced his budding racing career with his full-time job working for his family’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series operation. He advanced to the limited late model and super late model divisions and continued to rack up wins despite competing on a limited basis. In 2001, he earned five fast qualifier positions, one feature win and five top-five finishes. Over the next two seasons, he collected 11 fast qualifier positions, two super late model wins, two limited late model victories and nine top-five finishes. Keselowski graduated to NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition in 2004 as he drove the truck operated by his family’s team for eight races. The following season, he ran the full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule. An appointment to race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports in 2007 ultimately helped land his current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride with Team Penske.

POLEPOSITIONmaG.COM

DRIVER PROFILES

22 numbER

Joey Logano Joey Logano, a native of Middletown, Conn., began his motorsports career racing quarter-midgets at age 7 and went on to win Eastern Division Quarter Midget Grand National championships three consecutive years – 1997, ’98 and ’99.

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POLE POSItIOn 2014

He later advanced through Bandolero and Legend Car competition at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning national championships in each. Logano then spent several years in various forms of pavement stock car racing, posting his first USAR Hooters Pro Cup win at Ohio’s Mansfield Motorsports Park in his second career start in 2005. In going to Victory Lane for the first time in USAR at age 15, Logano replaced Brian Vickers as the series’ youngest winner. Logano added two more USAR wins in 2006, but his rise up the proverbial racing ladder was just beginning. He won the 2007 and ’09 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at California’s Irwindale Speedway and topped the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West division race at Phoenix International Raceway at age 16. Another pivotal breakthrough came in 2007 when Logano outlasted NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran Kevin Harvick in the NASCAR K&N East-West race at Iowa Speedway. That same year, Logano won both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East title and Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors – marking the first time a driver had done both in the same season. For Logano, who swept both races at his home track of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 2007 would be his only year in the series. He made the jump to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2008, making select starts for Joe Gibbs Racing and becoming the youngest driver to win a NASCAR Nationwide Series race – which he did from the pole at Kentucky Speedway in just his third series start. The next year, he was in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for JGR.

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DRIVER PROFILES

Greg biffle

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16 InFO OWner Jack RousH Team RousH FenwaY RacinG SpOnSOr 3M manufacTurer FoRd creW chief Matt puccia

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StEP-bY-StEP a superb example of the success of naScar’s developmental system, Greg Biffle progressed through every level before making his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in 2002. It all started in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series from 1994-’97, a period in which Biffle won track championships at Tri-City Raceway in West Richland, Wash., and Portland Speedway in Oregon. Biffle participated in the 1997 Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, capturing one victory before moving to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 1998. He would go on to win titles in both trucks and the NASCAR Nationwide Series before graduating to NASCAR’s top series.

Clint bowyer

InFO OWnerS MicHaeL waLtRip/Rob kauFFMan Team MicHaeL waLtRip RacinG SpOnSOr 5-HouR eneRGY manufacTurer toYota creW chief bRian pattie

POLE POSItIOn 2014

SHORt-tRaCK SuPERStaR A product of Emporia, Kan., Clint Bowyer began racing at age 5 and raced motocross for nine years with more than 200 wins. He raced in the NASCAR Midwest Series in 2003 before making the jump to the NASCAR Nationwide Series with Richard Childress Racing in 2004. Bowyer caught the eye of team owner Richard Childress during an ARCA race at Nashville Superspeedway in 2003. Childress then tracked down Bowyer, who was working at a car dealer’s body shop in his hometown.

Kurt busch

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a LatE bLOOmER Kurt Busch’s racing career began at age 14 in Dwarf Cars at Pahrump Valley Speedway near his hometown of Las Vegas. Busch claimed the Dwarf Car championship in 1995 before graduating to Legend Cars in 1996, where he won the National Rookie of the Year award and the Western States Legend Car championship. Also that year, the future NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion claimed the hobby stock track title at Las Vegas Speedway Park. Busch competed in the NASCAR Southwest Series from 1997-’99, recording seven wins and capturing the rookie title in 1998. In 1999, he won the series championship.

Kyle busch

InFO OWner Joe Gibbs Team Joe Gibbs RacinG SpOnSOrS M&M’s/inteRstate batteRies manufacTurer toYota creW chief dave RoGeRs

LEGEnD CaR SEnSatIOn Considered one of NASCAR’s premier driving talents, Kyle Busch started racing Legend Cars at age 13 and won two Legend Car championships at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Busch moved to stock car competition in 2001 and won 10 more races at his hometown track. In 2001, his junior year in high school, Busch made six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts for Roush Fenway Racing and had two top10 finishes. He signed as a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver with Hendrick Motorsports in 2005. POLEPOSITIONmaG.COM

DRIVER PROFILES numbER

Carl Edwards

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babY GRanD CHamP A late-comer to the world of stock car racing, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship runner-up Carl Edwards won the Baby Grand Stock Car Association national championship in 2002, and captured NASCAR Whelen All-American Series titles at Capital Speedway near Jefferson City, Mo., in modifieds (1999) and pro-modifieds (2000). The Columbia, Mo., native was a student at the University of Missouri and worked as a substitute teacher prior to signing with Roush Fenway Racing to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he earned top rookie honors in 2003.

Kasey Kahne

InFO OWner Rick HendRick Team HendRick MotoRspoRts SpOnSOrS FaRMeRs insuRance/GReat cLips/tiMe waRneR cabLe manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief kennY FRancis

POLE POSItIOn 2014

uSaC mIDGEt maStER Growing up in Enumclaw, Wash., Kasey Kahne earned a Northwest Mini-Sprints championship and Hannegan Speedway title at age 17. Shortly thereafter, Kahne left his home state, sharpening his driving skills in the three openwheel divisions of the United States Auto Club. His accomplishments include the 2000 USAC National Midget Series championship and being named the 2000 USAC Silver Crown Series Rookie of the Year. In 2001, he matched future Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon in claiming a second victory in the prestigious Night Before the 500 USAC midget race.

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matt Kenseth

InFO OWner Joe Gibbs Team Joe Gibbs RacinG SpOnSOrS doLLaR GeneRaL/ HoMe depot/HuskY manufacTurer toYota creW chief Jason RatcLiFF

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baDGER StatE StaR Beginning his short-track career at age 16, Matt Kenseth won his first feature in his third race while a junior in high school. Kenseth captured 10 features in his first two seasons at tracks around his native Wisconsin and rang up 46 late model victories over the next three seasons. In 1994, Kenseth won 12 of 17 features at Madison International Speedway while racing against Robbie Reiser. Kenseth also won the Red, White and Blue state championship series at Wisconsin International in 1995.

Ryan newman

InFO OWner RicHaRd cHiLdRess Team RicHaRd cHiLdRess RacinG SpOnSOrS cateRpiLLaR/ Quicken Loans/wiX FiLteRs manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief Luke LaMbeRt

QuaRtER-mIDGEt aCE Ryan Newman started racing quartermidgets before his fifth birthday, running his first race in 1982. His initial victory came the following year in the Junior Novice division. The driver who would later be nicknamed “Rocket Man” went on to claim the 1993 All-American Midget Series championship and also earned that year’s Michigan State Midget Series title. In 1997, Newman won his first USAC midget race, the prestigious Night Before the 500 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. In 2000, he made his stock car debut in the ARCA Racing Series and won for the first time in his second start. POLEPOSITIONmaG.COM

DRIVER PROFILES

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OWner RicHaRd pettY Team RicHaRd pettY MotoRspoRts SpOnSOrS sMitHFieLd Foods/ u.s. aiR FoRce manufacTurer FoRd creW chief tRent owens

Aric Almirola

mODIFIED maVEn

ARIC ALMIROLA’S CAREER GOT rolling in 1998 when he qualified on the pole for the world karting association Grand nationals at Florida’s daytona beach Municipal stadium. almirola then won rookie-of-the-year titles in two modified divisions. almirola drove open-wheel modifieds in the nascaR sunbelt Region in 2002 and ’03, and debuted with Joe Gibbs Racing’s development program in 2004.

Marcos Ambrose

SuPERCaR StaR

MARCOS AMBROSE JOINED THE V8 SUpercar series, an australian national road racing series, in 2001 and was named rookie of the year. He notched his ﬁrst series win in 2002 and claimed consecutive v8 supercar titles in 2003 and ’04. prior to his v8 supercar days, the australian won the 1999 british Formula Ford championship before moving to british Formula three competition. ambrose won four tasmanian Junior karting titles before starting senior competition at age 16.

InFO OWner RicHaRd cHiLdRess Team RicHaRd cHiLdRess RacinG

DIRt-tRaCK DEmOn

AUSTIN DILLON’S RACING CAREER BEGAN IN 2005 in bandoleros and Legend cars. the grandson of team owner Richard childress made the switch to dirt late models in 2006 and won three dirt late -model features in 2007 before switching to asphalt stock cars. dillon then made starts in ﬁve different stock car series in 2009, competing in the nascaR nationwide series, nascaR camping world truck series, nascaR k&n pro series east and west and aRca Racing series.

manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief GiL MaRtin

POLE POSItIOn 2014

SpOnSOrS stanLeY/dewaLt

Austin Dillon

SpOnSOrS dow cHeMicaL/ cHeeRios

KYLE LARSON’S EARLY RACING career occurred in various open-wheel cars, including world of outlaws sprint cars and usac sprint, midget and silver crown cars. the nascaR sprint cup series rookie began racing sprint cars in california at age 14 and became the youngest winner in state history. Larson, a graduate of nascaR’s drive for diversity program, began racing at age 7 in go-karts, and won his ﬁrst of several karting championships during his third season in 2001.

Team RicHaRd pettY MotoRspoRts

creW chief dRew bLickensdeRFeR

OPEn-WHEEL aCE

OWner RicHaRd pettY

manufacTurer FoRd

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Kyle Larson

InFO

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InFO OWner cHip Ganassi Team cHip Ganassi RacinG witH FeLiX sabates SpOnSOrS McdonaLd’s/ cessna manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief keitH Rodden

Casey Mears

InDYCaR tO naSCaR

1 1/24/14 2:01 PM CASEY MEARS’ RACING

CAREER BEGAN on bMX bicycles at age 4. at age 16 he became the second-youngest driver in usac history to win a feature race. Mears claimed the Jim Russell/usac triple crown for Formula Fords in 1995 and won three races in the superLites off-Road series the following year. Mears raced open-wheel cars from 1999-2001 with stints in indycar, caRt and indy Lights.

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Jamie McMurray QuICK In KaRtS

JAMIE MCMURRAY’S CAREER BEGAN at age 8 in go-karts, which he drove to four u.s. titles and a world championship in 1991. He was selected as one of 10 americans to compete in an international karting event in the former soviet union in 1989. McMurray, who began racing late models at age 16, ran in the nascaR whelen all-american series at several tracks in his home state of Missouri, competing in the late model and modiﬁed divisions.

InFO OWner bob GeRMain Team GeRMain RacinG SpOnSOr Geico manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief RobeRt “bootie” baRkeR

POLEPOSITIONmaG.COM

DRIVER PROFILES

InFO OWner RicHaRd cHiLdRess Team RicHaRd cHiLdRess RacinG

Paul Menard

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ICE, ICE babY

PAUL MENARD BEGAN RACING KARTS at age 8 and won a briggs Junior championship in his rookie season. He started racing on ice in his native wisconsin at age 15, becoming a 10-time international ice Racing association event winner. Menard competed in the nascaR Midwest series and southwest series from 2000-’02, scoring victories at Road america and phoenix international Raceway.

SpOnSOr MenaRds manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief RicHaRd “sLuGGeR” Labbe

David Ragan

banDOLERO CHamPIOn

DAVID RAGAN BEGAN RACING A BANdolero car at age 11 and won national championships in 1998-’99. He then moved to the nascaR Goody’s dash series and Legend car pro division, racing for Mark Martin – the man he would later succeed at Roush Fenway Racing in the legendary no. 6 Ford. Ragan, the son of retired nascaR driver ken Ragan, competed in 28 aRca races in 2005, winning at Georgia’s at Lanier national speedway.

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SpOnSOr taco beLL/csX tRanspoRtation manufacTurer FoRd creW chief JaY GuY

InFO OWner Jack RousH Team RousH FenwaY RacinG SpOnSOrS nationwide insuRance/Zest

creW chief Mike keLLeY

tuRKEY DERbY WInnER

Martin truex Jr. began racing go-karts in 1991 and graduated to asphalt modifieds in 1998, becoming the 1999 turkey derby classic winner at wall stadium in his home state of new Jersey. the second-generation racer joined the nascaR k&n pro Series East in 2000, finishing 12th in points and runner-up for the rookie title. truex won two east series races in 2001 and finished eighth in points and was 11th in the series standings in 2002. 48

POLE POSItIOn 2014

Team FRont Row MotoRspoRts

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Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

CauGHt StEWaRt’S EYE

Ricky stenhouse Jr. began racing go-karts at age 6 and collected nearly 50 victories and more than 90 podium ﬁnishes by age 15. Highlights included a 1998 indoor thunder Go-kart nationals title and a 1999 tulsa shootout victory. the Mississippi native then drove for three-time nascaR sprint cup series champion tony stewart’s open-wheel team in 2007, winning ﬁve USAC National Midget series races and a pair of usac national sprint car series features.

InFO OWner baRneY visseR Team FuRnituRe Row RacinG SpOnSOr FuRnituRe Row manufacTurer cHevRoLet creW chief todd beRRieR

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history of nascar

Moments That Helped Shape NASCAR

n the late 1970s, NASCAR’s top drivers were emerging as heroes with personalities to which fans could easily relate. The popularity of stock car racing was rapidly growing through print publications, live radio broadcasts and tape-delayed television coverage of several races. Then in February 1979, CBS’ live flag-to-flag coverage of the Daytona 500 was seen by millions as a major snowstorm blanketed the eastern seaboard on race day. An unexpected winner and surprise aftermath opened NASCAR to a new audience and a new era was born. During the course of the 2014 season, NASCAR Pole Position will take a look at historic moments that helped shape NASCAR.

Petty vs. Pearson

In February 1976, Richard Petty and David Pearson crashed as they raced to the checkered flag in the Daytona 500. Petty’s car stalled short of the start-finish line, giving Pearson the victory. Both were interviewed by national television networks the day after the race, giving NASCAR generous mainstream coverage.

And There’s a Fight…

Presidential Salute

Million Dollar Bill

Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough engaged in a fistfight at the conclusion of the 1979 Daytona 500 after Donnie and Cale crashed while battling for the lead. Their altercation was caught by television cameras and was the talk of the nation. Richard Petty won the sixth of his seven Daytona 500s.

Richard Petty claimed his 200th victory on July 4, 1984, at Daytona International Speedway. President Ronald Reagan gave the command for the drivers to start their engines. After a photo-finish with Cale Yarborough, Petty went through the sold-out crowd and greeted President Reagan in the press box.

Bill Elliott, driving Harry Melling’s No. 9 Ford, won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 1, 1985, and earned a $1 million bonus posted by series sponsor R.J. Reynolds. Elliott generated international headlines by winning three of NASCAR’s most prestigious races – the Daytona 500, the Winston 500 and the Southern 500.

by ben white 50

POLE POSITION 2014

photos courtesy daytona international Speedway

bill elliott photo courtesy ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

AROUND HERE, CHAOS IS ORDER, UP IS DOWN AND LEFT IS ALWAYS RIGHT. FOLLOW EVERY TURN AT NASCAR.com

Â©NASCAR 2014

nascar fuel careers

Mike Dillon

Vice President of Competition, RCR

f there’s any person without the last name Childress who truly understands Richard Childress Racing, Mike Dillon is probably the guy. The son-in-law of team owner Richard Childress knows the NASCAR organization from the ground up – both literally and figuratively – having helped landscape the area outside the company’s Welcome, N.C., headquarters in his earliest days with the operation. Dillon, who is married to Richard and Judy Childress’ only daughter, Tina, didn’t land his current role as RCR’s vice president of competition just by virtue of being in the family, however. The 49-year-old father of

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Austin Dillon and NASCAR Nationwide Series rookie Ty Dillon started at the bottom of the proverbial food chain at RCR, where he is tasked with not only improving the company’s overall performance on the race track but also promoting cohesiveness among its drivers, crew chiefs and teams. “His biggest strength is he’s a people person,” Childress said. “He relates to people, he enjoys people and he enjoys working with people.” Interestingly, Dillon’s time as a driver – for an organization besides RCR – is what he credits most for preparing him for his managerial role with one of NASCAR’s top

organizations. In 1996, Dillon left RCR to drive a car in what is now the NASCAR Nationwide Series for independent team owner Ron Parker. Dillon spent three seasons with Parker’s Detroit Gasket group and one year with owner Tad Geschickter’s JTG Racing before returning to RCR in 2000. Dillon’s promotion to VP of competition came in 2006, following a run as director of team operations. “I think probably one of the best educations I got was going to Ron Parker when I drove the 72 car, and Ron pretty much let me and his son-in-law be a part of running the team,” Dillon said. “We got to hire

employees, we got to put people in positions who understood how much money we had to work with, so the three years I was with Ron Parker and Parker Racing was probably the best education I had as far as learning how to race and running a race team.” Now that Dillon has been in upper management for a few years, he has a couple suggestions for ascending the corporate ladder with a NASCAR team. “Every one of us is selling something all day long. I think sales is the No. 1 thing that we’re all doing,” he said. “The drivers are selling, the crew chiefs are selling the fact that they’re a good crew chief, the tire changers are selling the fact that they deserve that job, we’re all selling our sponsors every day, and I think that end of it will take you to every other part of what we do.” Dillon’s No. 1 regret is not graduating from a four-year college. “My opportunity was being in the family, being able to move around in the business where they needed me and where I wanted to go,” he said. “Somebody just getting into it is not going to have that same opportunity. You’re going to have to have an education that allows you to come into it in an area and work hard.”

Chip Wile President of Darlington Raceway

s one of the youngest track presidents in NASCAR, Chip Wile doesn’t boast a wealth of experience at his present post. Yet, it was a vast array of experiences within the motorsports industry that propelled Wile to his appointment as president of South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway last August. Wile had most recently worked as director of business development for the Motor Racing Network. Prior to MRN, Wile spent two years in the marketing department at Turner Scott Motorsports, and before that, he worked in media and sponsor relations at Team Penske, Randy Moss Motorsports and Bill Davis Racing. “I didn’t get this opportunity because of something I did but because of all the people who helped guide me along my journey,” said Wile, who graduated from the University of Georgia. While Wile is relatively new to his current gig, he believes he has some understanding of what it takes to be a successful track president. “After spending over 10 years on the race team side of the business, being the leader of one of NASCAR’s most iconic tracks is certainly a different animal,” he said. “The constant between the two is the people who spend the time to make it successful.”

by jared turner 52

POLE POSITION 2014

LifEstyLE nascar fuEL

DoWntiME WITH AJ ALLMENDINGER

hen it comes to relaxation and how he spends his time away from the race track, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger likely won’t be found skydiving or doing much of anything out of the ordinary. “I’m pretty simple, honestly,” said Allmendinger, who is competing for JTG / Daugherty Racing this season. “Away from the track, I enjoy … well, I’ll rephrase the word ‘enjoy.’ … I play golf. I don’t know if I ‘enjoy’ it. I just like being active. “I’ll go to the gym and go karting, go to the gym and play golf. I just try to be active with stuff like that. Other than that, I just kind of relax.” Allmendinger, who returned to full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition this year after running a limited schedule in 2013, considers himself a pretty social fellow. “I love hanging with my small group of friends and maybe go and have a beer somewhere or just chill and keep it relaxed,” said Allmendinger, a 32-year-old native of Los Gatos, Calif. “I feel like I had my world so chaotic for so many years that now when I can, just being chill is a good thing.”

MEntaL PrEP WITH PARKER KLIGERMAN Do you have a ritual that helps you prepare for races?

I try to make sure I’m comfortable – even if it means putting on my driver’s suit two hours early because I’ve got a bunch of media stuff. Everyone looks at you like, ‘Why do you have your suit on?’ But you’re comfortable and you’re ready to go.

training WITH KURT BUSCH

n most days when first-year StewartHaas Racing driver Kurt Busch isn’t at a race track, it’s a pretty safe bet you’ll find him at a gym. After all, he takes his physical fitness pretty seriously. How many days each week does Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, hit the workout room? “Three to four,” said Busch, who turns 36 on Aug. 4. “We have our travel day Thursday, which is usually the day you try to let your body recover. Then you’re in the car Friday, Saturday and Sunday, of course. You might do some light cardio with running, jogging during that time, but the heavy time is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.” Busch’s exercise regimen consists of “a lot of cardiovascular” routines, which he considers pivotal to his job of driving a race car in NASCAR’s premier series. “Nutrition is important,” he said. “It’s keeping your heart rate up while you’re working out. Our motorsport world, the cars aren’t easy to drive but they’re not as difficult as they were decades ago. So a lot of it is that cardiovascular and having that 400-meter mentality instead of the 100yard dash one.”

fuELing uP WITH REGAN SMITH

Breakfast: Lunch: “If I could do it and not have to worry about staying in shape, I’d eat pizza for breakfast. But a typical day for me is egg whites for breakfast – something along those lines. I’m not much of a juice guy. If I do drink juice, it’s usually grapefruit juice.”

“For lunch, it’s maybe something lighter like a grilled chicken salad or something along those lines. If it’s a nice salad it’s going to have everything on there I need to go with it, so we’ll just pile the toppings on the salad. I usually drink just water or tea.”

Dinner:

“If I could eat sushi for dinner every night, I would. I don’t, but I bet you I do a good three nights a week, it seems like. I’m a Yankee so I drink a lot of unsweetened tea. I’d say my other go-to would be just steak. A good filet is tough to beat.”

Snack:

“Maybe a yogurt or something as a snack. I have a weak spot for cheese, so I do still eat that throughout the course of the day. I’m usually a three-cup a day coffee guy. I eat a lot of popcorn. I’ve got a popcorn maker at my house and I wear it out.” PoLEPOSITIONMag.COM

PHOTOHUNT

Study the top photo, then see if you can find the eight changes that were made in the bottom photo.

POLE POSITION 2014

ANSWERS // (1) Hinge duplicated on left side of image, (2) “Haas Automation Inc.” under Haas logo changed to “Haas Automobiles Inc.”, (3) Sunoco logo added to Kurt Busch’s hat, (4) Moustache added to Kurt Busch’s face, (5) Order of logos on Kurt Busch’s arm changed, (6) Color of paint cans in background changed, (7) Water bottle on shelf removed, (8) State Water Heaters logo added to cabinet

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who am i? ■■

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_ Kansas Speedway _ Dover Int’l Speedway _ Pocono Raceway

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■■

I was born in Wisconsin I began racing go-karts at age 10 Before joining NASCAR, I drove for an IndyCar team 2012 was my first time running a full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season I am the spokesperson for DRIVE4COPD My sponsor is GoDaddy.com

ANSWER // Danica Patrick

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nascar sEriEs rostErs 2014 nascar sPrint cuP sEriEs rostEr No. 1 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 30 31 34 36 38 40 41 42 43 47 48 51 55 66 77 78 83 88 95 98 99

Driver Jamie McMurray Brad Keselowski Austin Dillon Kevin Harvick Kasey Kahne Michael Annett Marcos Ambrose Danica Patrick Denny Hamlin Casey Mears Tony Stewart Clint Bowyer Greg Biffle Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kyle Busch Matt Kenseth Trevor Bayne Joey Logano Alex Bowman Jeff Gordon Cole Whitt Paul Menard J.J. Yeley Ryan Newman David Ragan Reed Sorenson David Gilliland Landon Cassill Kurt Busch Kyle Larson Aric Almirola A.J. Allmendinger Jimmie Johnson Justin Allgaier Brian Vickers Joe Nemechek Jeff Burton Dave Blaney Martin Truex Jr. Ryan Truex Dale Earnhardt Jr. Michael McDowell Josh Wise Carl Edwards

Team Chip Ganassi Racing Team Penske Richard Childress Racing Stewart-Haas Racing Hendrick Motorsports Tommy Baldwin Racing Richard Petty Motorsports Stewart-Haas Racing Joe Gibbs Racing Germain Racing Stewart-Haas Racing Michael Waltrip Racing Roush Fenway Racing Roush Fenway Racing Joe Gibbs Racing Joe Gibbs Racing Wood Brothers Racing Team Penske BK Racing Hendrick Motorsports BK Racing Richard Childress Racing Xxxtreme Motorsports Richard Childress Racing Front Row Motorsports Tommy Baldwin Racing Front Row Motorsports Hillman Racing Stewart-Haas Racing Chip Ganassi Racing Richard Petty Motorsports JTG Daugherty Racing Hendrick Motorsports HScott Motorsports Michael Waltrip Racing MWR/Jay Robinson Racing

Sponsor & Make McDonald’s/Cessna Chevrolet Miller Lite Ford Dow Chemical/Cheerios Chevrolet Budweiser/Jimmy John’s/Outback Chevrolet Farmers Insurance/Great Clips Chevrolet Pilot/Flying J Chevrolet Stanley/DeWALT Ford GoDaddy/Aspen Dental Chevrolet FedEx/Sport Clips Toyota GEICO Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet 5-Hour ENERGY/PEAK Toyota 3M Ford Nationwide Insurance/Zest Ford M&M’s/Interstate Batteries Toyota Dollar General/The Home Depot Toyota Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shell/Pennzoil Ford Burger King/Dr. Pepper Toyota Drive to End Hunger/Axalta/Pepsi Chevrolet BK Racing Toyota Menards Chevrolet Xxxtreme Toyota Caterpillar/Quicken Loans/WIX Filters Chevrolet CSX “Play It Safe” Ford Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet Love’s Travel Stops Ford CRC Brakleen/FiberLock Chevrolet Haas Automation Chevrolet Target Chevrolet Smithfield Foods/U.S. Air Force Ford Kingsford/Clorox/Scott/Bush’s Beans Chevrolet Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota MWR/Jay Robinson Racing Toyota

Crew Chief Keith Rodden Paul Wolfe Gil Martin Rodney Childers Kenny Francis Kevin Manion Drew Blickensderfer Tony Gibson Darian Grubb Robert “Bootie” Barker Chad Johnston Brian Pattie Matt Puccia Mike Kelley Dave Rogers Jason Ratcliff Donnie Wingo Todd Gordon Dave Winston Alan Gustafson Randy Cox Richard “Slugger” Labbe Steven Lane Luke Lambert Jay Guy Todd Parrott Frank Kerr Mike Abner Daniel Knost Chris Heroy Trent Owens Brian Burns Chad Knaus Steve Addington Billy Scott Scott Eggleston

Randy Humphrey Motorsports Furniture Row Racing BK Racing Hendrick Motorsports Leavine Family Racing Phil Parsons Racing Roush Fenway Racing

Randy Humphrey Motorsports Ford Furniture Row Chevrolet Burger King/Dr. Pepper Toyota National Guard Chevrolet Leavine Family Racing Ford Curb Records Chevrolet Fastenal/Aflac/UPS Ford

Peter Sospenzo Todd Berrier Doug Richert Steve Letarte Wally Rogers Gene Nead Jimmy Fennig

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Driver Hometown Joplin, Mo. Rochester Hills, Mich. Welcome, N.C. Bakersfield, Calif. Enumclaw, Wash. Des Moines, Iowa Launceston, Australia Roscoe, Ill. Chesterfield, Va. Bakersfield, Calif. Columbus, Ind. Emporia, Kan. Vancouver, Wash. Olive Branch, Miss. Las Vegas, Nev. Cambridge, Wis. Knoxville, Tenn. Middletown, Conn. Tucson, Ariz. Vallejo, Calif. Alpine, Calif. Eau Claire, Wis. Phoenix, Ariz. South Bend, Ind. Unadilla, Ga. Peachtree City, Ga. Riverside, Calif. Fairfax, Iowa Las Vegas, Nev. Elk Grove, Calif. Tampa, Fla. Los Gatos, Calif. El Cajon, Calif. Riverton, Ill. Thomasville, N.C. Lakeland, Fla. South Boston, Va. Mayetta, N.J. Mayetta, N.J. Kannapolis, N.C. Glendale, Ariz. Riverside, Calif. Columbia, Mo.

YOUR OWN HOT PASS

2014 NASCAR nationwide Series roster No. Driver

Hometown

Team

Make

Crew Chief

01 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 14 16 17 19 20 22 23 28 31 39 42 43 44 51 52 54 55 60 62 70 74 87 98 99

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Boise, Idaho Welcome, N.C. Mooresville, N.C. Bakersfield, Calif. Knoxville, Tenn. Cato, N.Y. Dawsonville, Ga. West Palm Beach, Fla. Emporia, Va. Chilhowie, Va. Bakersfield, Calif. Bixby, Okla. Milwaukie, Ore. Cambridge, Wis. Benson, N.C. Rochester Hills, Mich. Middletown, Conn. McKinney, Texas Phoenix, Ariz. Las Vegas, Nev. Tucker, Ga. Elk Grove, Calif. New Castle, Ind. Riverside, Calif. Spartanburg, S.C. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Las Vegas, Nev. Defiance, Ohio El Paso, Texas Prosper, Texas Las Vegas, Nev. Spanaway, Wash. Shelburne, Vt. Lakeland, Fla. Unadilla, Ga. Plano, Texas

JD Motorsports Richard Childress Racing Richard Childress Racing JD Motorsports JR Motorsports Roush Fenway Racing JR Motorsports JR Motorsports TriStar Motorsports Joe Gibbs Racing TriStar Motorsports Roush Fenway Racing Vision Racing TriStar Motorsports Joe Gibbs Racing

Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Ford Chevrolet Chevrolet Toyota Toyota Toyota Ford Dodge Toyota Toyota

Dave Fuge Phil Gould Danny Stockman Perry Mitchell Ernie Cope Chad Norris Ryan Pemberton Greg Ives Todd Myers Chris Gayle Wes Ward Seth Barbour Adrian Berryhill Paul Clapprood Kevin Kidd

Team Penske Racing

Ford

Jeremy Bullins

R3 Motorsports JGL Racing Turner Scott Motorsports RSS Racing Turner Scott Motorsports Richard Petty Motorsports TriStar Motorsports Jeremy Clements Racing Jimmy Means Racing Joe Gibbs Racing

Chevrolet Dodge Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Ford Toyota Chevrolet Chevrolet Toyota

George Church Steve Plattenberger Pat Tryson Kevin Starland Scott Zipadelli Phillippe Lopez Greg Conner Ricky Pearson Tim Brown Adam Stevens

Viva Auto Group Racing Roush Fenway Racing Richard Childress Racing Derrike Cope Racing Mike Harmon Racing NEMCO Motorsports Biagi-DenSeste Racing RAB Racing

Chevrolet Ford Chevrolet Chevrolet Dodge Chevrolet Ford Toyota

Bill Henderson Scott Graves Shane Wilson Fred Wanke Gary Ritter Steven Gray Jon Hanson Chris Rice

Landon Cassill Brian Scott Ty Dillon Jeffrey Earnhardt Kevin Harvick Trevor Bayne Regan Smith Chase Elliott Blake Koch Elliott Sadler Eric McClure Ryan Reed Tanner Berryhill Mike Bliss Matt Kenseth Drew Herring Brad Keselowski Joey Logano Robert Richardson Jr. J.J. Yeley Dylan Kwasniewski Ryan Sieg Kyle Larson Dakoda Armstrong Josh Wish Jeremy Clements Joey Gase Kyle Busch Sam Hornish Jr. Jamie Dick Chris Buescher Brendan Gaughan Derrike Cope Kevin Lepage Joe Nemechek David Ragan James Buescher

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Steve Kuykendall Marcus Richmond Doug Randolph

NTS Motorsports Allegiant Travel Racing NTS Motorsports Hillman Racing Brad Keselowski Racing Turner Scott Motorsports Turner Scott Motorsports Win-Tron Racing RSS Racing DDK Motorsports Kyle Busch Motorsports

Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Ford Chevrolet Chevrolet Toyota Chevrolet Toyota Toyota

Jeff Hensley Jeff Stankiewicz Gene Kennon Mark Hillman Chad Kendrick Shannon Rursch Michael Shelton Mark Rette Kevin Starland Wade Day Eric Phillips

Kyle Busch Motorsports Norm Benning Racing Red Horse Racing Glenden Enterprises ThorSport Racing RBR Enterprises RSS Racing ThorSport Racing T3R Racing

Toyota Chevrolet Toyota Toyota Toyota Chevrolet Chevrolet Toyota Ford

Jerry Baxter Kevin Dargie Butch Hylton Kevin Ingram Carl Joiner Trip Bruce Tony Wilson Gene Wachtel Gary Cogswell

DAY T O N A

Chevrolet Toyota Ford

. : .

Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing Red Horse Racing Brad Keselowski Racing

0 2 . 2 0 1 4

Joe Shear Bryan Berry Jason Miller Mike Beam Chris Carrier Jerry Babb

. : .

Crew Chief

Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Ford Toyota Toyota

G U I D E

Make

Ken Schrader Racing Young Motorsports SS Green Light Racing Wauters Motorsports Red Horse Racing SWM-NEMCO Motorsports

FA N

Team

Ladera Ranch, Calif. Midland, Texas Hubbard, Ohio Watkinsville, Ga. San Diego, Calif. Mooresville,, N.C. Lakeland, Fla. Kansas City, Kan. Providence, N.C. Corning, Calif. Rochester Hill, Mich. Colonial Heights, Va. Miami Springs, Fla. Bakersfield, Calif. Copper Hill, Va. High Point, N.C. Palmdale, Calif. Daytona Beach, Fla. Brentwood, Tenn. Tucker, Ga. Blountville, Tenn. Las Vegas, Nev. Byron, Mich. Mobile, Ala. Level Green, Pa. Mexico City, Mexico Lakeland, Fla. Tulare, Calif. Alva, Fla. Richmond, Va. Necedah, Wis. Stuart, Fla.

Cole Custer Tyler Young Jimmy Weller III John Wes Townley Brian Ickler John Hunter Nemechek Joe Nemechek Jennifer Jo Cobb Timothy Peters Tyler Reddick Brad Keselowski Gray Gaulding Joey Coulter Brennan Newberry Jeff Agnew Ryan Blaney Ron Hornaday Jr. Ben Kennedy Mason Mingus Ryan Sieg Nate Montieth Kyle Busch Erik Jones Darrell Wallace Jr. Norm Benning German Quiroga Chris Fontaine Matt Crafton Ross Chastain Jason White Johnny Sauter Bryan Silas

R ACE

Hometown

00 02 08 5 7 8 10 17 19 20 21 24 27 29 30 31 35 39 45 51 54 57 77 84 88 92 93 98 99

P O S I T I O N :

No. Driver

P O L E

2014 NASCAR camping world TRUCK Series roster

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

Things to Watch in 2014 THE GREAT OUTDOORS Tony Stewart preserving nature at Hidden Hollow Ranch

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PG.10 Q&A WITH DAVID RAGAN PG.16 SPOTLIGHT: CASEY MEARS

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nascar series schedules 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Feb. 23 March 2 March 9 March 16 March 23 March 30 April 6 April 12 April 26 May 4 May 10 May 17 May 25 June 1 June 8 June 15 June 22 June 28 July 5 July 13 July 27 Aug. 3 Aug. 10 Aug. 17 Aug. 23 Aug. 31 Sept. 6 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 11 Oct. 19 Oc. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16

Daytona International Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Auto Club Speedway Martinsville Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Darlington Raceway Richmond International Raceway Talladega Superspeedway Kansas Speedway *Charlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Pocono Raceway Michigan International Speedway Sonoma Raceway Kentucky Speedway Daytona International Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pocono Raceway Watkins Glen International Michigan International Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway Richmond International Raceway Chicagoland Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Kansas Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Martinsville Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Homestead-Miami Speedway

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Feb. 21 March 29 May 9 May 16 May 30 June 6 June 14 June 26 July 12 July 23 Aug. 2 Aug. 16 Aug. 20 Aug. 31 Sept. 12 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14

Daytona International Speedway Martinsville Speedway Kansas Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Gateway Motorsports Park Kentucky Speedway Iowa Speedway Eldora Speedway Pocono Raceway Michigan International Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Chicagoland Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Martinsville Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Homestead-Miami Speedway

2014 NASCAR nationwide Series Feb. 22 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 April 4 April 11 April 25 May 3 May 18 May 24 May 31 June 14 June 21 June 27 July 4 July 12 July 19 July 26 Aug. 2 Aug. 9 Aug. 16 Aug. 22 Aug. 30 Sept. 5 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 10 Nov. 1 Nov. 8 Nov. 15

Daytona International Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Auto Club Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Darlington Raceway Richmond International Raceway Talladega Superspeedway Iowa Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Michigan International Speedway Road America Kentucky Speedway Daytona International Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Chicagoland Speedway Indianapolis Motor Speedway Iowa Speedway Watkins Glen International Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Bristol Motor Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway Richmond International Raceway Chicagoland Speedway Kentucky Speedway Dover International Speedway Kansas Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Homestead-Miami Speedway

nascar nationwide series

regan Smith’s Dual Objectives

Second Chance

Regan Smith Hopes Not to Repeat Last Year’s Mistakes So much went right for Regan Smith last season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. That is, until nothing did. Smith, competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series full time for the first time since 2006, led the 2013 standings from early May through late July and looked to be sailing toward a possible championship for JR Motorsports. But, just as quickly as a title seemed fully within his grasp, the bottom fell out. Over a 13-race span stretching from Chicagoland Speedway in late July to Charlotte Motor Speedway in mid-October, Smith recorded just four top-10 finishes. By the time the damage was done, his

title hopes were toast; although he still managed to finish a solid third in the series standings. “It was a situation where we got to that middle part of the year and had the bumps in the road, had roadcourse issues and then had a part break and we lost a 58-point lead in a matter of three weeks; it seemed like,” Smith said. “And we got away from doing the stuff that got us that lead. We got desperate too early, we got to a point where we were doing stuff different on the race track and off the race track and ultimately once that

happened, it spiraled and we didn’t catch it until it was too late.” Back with the Dale Earnhardt Jr.-owned JR Motorsports for a second campaign, Smith is once again in the championship mix after opening the year with six consecutive top-10 finishes, including a win in the season opener at Daytona. So how does he plan to avoid a late-season fade? “I think it’s just going to come natural,” Smith said. “The first and foremost thing is having Ryan Pemberton as the crew chief this year. He’s experienced a lot of that for years, but he also

watched what happened to our team last year from afar as a competition director. Him and Dale and a lot of people gave advice and said, ‘Hey, this ought to do it,’ but until you go through it and experience it yourself, you don’t always know how it’s going to play out. Earnhardt Jr., a two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, believes Smith has learned from last season’s shortcomings. “I told him that the guy that wins the Nationwide Series championship is the guy that’s going to

n addition to running for the NASCAR Nationwide Series title, Regan Smith has a second major objective for this season. A veteran of 171 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts and winner of one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, he wants to make it back to NASCAR’s top series sooner rather than later. In fact, the Cato, N.Y., native says there’s not a day that goes by that he doesn’t ponder a return to the sport’s premier division. “I would say this year’s about two things for me,” said Smith, who ran the better part of five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons, picking up a victory at Darlington Raceway in 2011. “It’s about winning the championship and proving to the right owner I need to be back racing on Sundays, and that’s as brutally honest as I can put it. That’s what the goals are and I want to be back there tomorrow if I could. “With that said, I’m focused on what the goals are in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this year and winning the championship for JR Motorsports, but I’ve got goals long-term as a driver, as well, and I’d like to see those through.”

make the least amount of mistakes,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “You have plenty of race car but there’s four or five teams that have enough race car to do it. It’s the guy that will be most consistent and not falter that will be up there.”

by jared turner POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

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Timothy Peters has been a title contender on and off for the past several seasons in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. This year, Peters got off to a terrific start with a second-place finish in the opening race at Daytona International Speedway. But does the 33-year-old Providence, N.C., native believe this is the season he can go from contender to champion? “I really do. And I say that because of the chemistry that I have with my new crew chief, Marcus Richmond,” said Peters, the 2012 championship runner-up and a seven-time series winner entering this season. “I met Marcus back in eighth grade, we graduated high school together and ever since, we’ve been friends.” Prior to teaming up at

Red Horse Racing this year, Peters and Richmond were paired at Bobby Hamilton Racing for a brief period in 2006, but the two have enjoyed big success together over many years in the Late Model ranks where Peters continues to race on occasion. “It took years to get back together but, man, we got back together and came out of the box like we did at Daytona,” said Peters, who led on the final lap before being

nipped at the finish line by Kyle Busch. “I’m optimistic and really looking forward to the trucks that he’s going to give me and the results that we’re going to get.” At 33, Peters is not old but neither is he young by today’s racing standards. When Peters sees the likes of 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookies Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson landing quality rides in their early 20s, he admittedly questions

by jared turner

CarbonForgedTough.com 62 POLE POSITION 2014

whether his time for such a promotion has already passed. “Things have changed. My thought of it is that if my phone ever rang to maybe run a [NASCAR Sprint] Cup car, it would definitely have to be a car you could win races with,” Peters said. “I’m not going to take an opportunity if and when there ever is one, just to say I’m riding around and the best you can do is 15th to 25th. To me that’s no fun. I do realize that for my age, the window of opportunity of moving on is getting narrow. So with that said, I have a great relationship CequentConsumer with everybodyPPat2014 RedHoriz

Horse Racing. “I have a great relationship with my team owner and Toyota. As long as they’ll have me, this is where I want to be. I’m good with that. As long as I can do what I love, win races, contend for championships, provide for my family, that’s what it’s all about for me.” Peters, who became a father for the first time in December 2012 when wife Sara gave birth to son Brantley, is enjoying Half.pdf 1 1/7/14 his new journey into 8:44

behind the scenes with Timothy Peters

fatherhood. “I had to grow up really quick, I feel like, with the passing of my father back in ’01, and I had to learn a lot of stuff on my own,” said Peters, whose dad, Tony, died suddenly of a massive heart attack. “When you AM have another person

to provide for, it makes it very realistic with higher expectations. I look at it as trying to be the best person, the best dad I can be and start making sure that I shine in my son’s eyes because he’s going to look up to me. What son doesn’t look up to their father?”

■■ “I love to fish. I’m really big into flat-head cat fishing with my buddies. I always look forward to that. It’s either in a boat or on the side of a river bank. You can tell you’re truly fishing because when we all start telling lies, that’s when the fish start biting.” ■■ “There are two places my wife and I like to go on vacation. We always like going to Paradise Island in the Bahamas, but we really love Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach, S.C.” ■■ “When I’m not racing my truck, I’m at a race track. At the local Saturday night track watching my buddies, or I’m competing in my own Toyota Camry that I’ve built, or I’m working on it. Once the racing’s in your blood, it’s in your blood. I don’t really care for any other sport.”

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nascar home tracks

Moving Up

RHODES ADVANCING THROUGH THE NASCAR RANKS

his year has been one of major milestones for 17-year-old NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Ben Rhodes – and that was after just three months. Running his first full NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season in a car fielded by Turner Scott Motorsports, Rhodes picked up his first series victory March 22 at legendary Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina.

Then, less than a week later, Rhodes made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in a separate Turner Scott entry. The teenager from Louisville, Ky., turned heads with an eighthplace finish at the historic paperclipshaped oval. “That was a crazy race, but I had a lot of fun,”

said Rhodes, who began his racing career at age 7, starting in karts and winning several championships before moving up the ranks to Bandoleros, Legend Cars and Late Model stock cars. “There was so much beating and banging throughout the race, especially at the end, but that’s all part of

additional NASCAR Camping World Truck Series appearances this year for Turner Scott, movement up the proverbial NASCAR ladder has come fairly quickly. Only a year ago, Rhodes was running just a partial NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule for Turner Scott. This year, he’s running a full schedule, winning races and contending for a championship – on top of dabbling in NASCAR’s upper levels. As of press time, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series

East rookie held the overall series points lead and also led the rookieof-the-year standings. Such success isn’t particularly surprising, though, when considering that Rhodes recorded five top-10 finishes, including a pair of top fives, in seven K&N starts last year. “It was a great season overall,” Rhodes said of his 2013 effort. “The Turner Scott Motorsports team really had the cars fast last year, which allowed me to learn the cars and the tracks quickly.”

short-track racing,” Rhodes said after the Martinsville event. “My spotter, Eddie D’Hondt, kept me focused on the last two restarts and we were able to work our way from 15th to eighth. It was a great effort by my entire Turner Scott Motorsports team.” For Rhodes, who is scheduled to make four

by jared turner 64

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