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With every NASCAR® Officially Licensed merchandise purchase of $20 or more, members earn one entry for a chance to WIN* *$20 Purchase requirement before taxes and after other discounts must be made in one (1) single transaction during the Promotion Period. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING: The NASCAR All-Star Race™ Sweeps begins on 6/1/16 at 12:00:01 am Central Daylight Savings Time (“CDT”) and ends on 6/30/16 at 11:59:59 pm CDT. Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and D.C. who are at least 18 years of age or older and are Shop Your Way Email members (members who have provided Sponsor with a valid email address and are currently opted in to receive promotional emails) at the time of entry. TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES FOR FREE: go to www.shopyourway.com and log onto the “Sweeps” application and follow as directed. (1) Grand Prize, valued at up to $4,800 will be awarded. Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received. Void in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and where prohibited. Sweepstakes subject to complete Official Rules available at www.shopyourway.com/nascarsweeps. Sponsor: Sears Holdings Corporation, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179. NASCAR® and NASCAR All-Star Race™ are trademarks of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc., and used with expressed permission. NASCAR, Inc. is not a sponsor of this promotion.

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CONTENT 56. LEGEND PROFILE 57. HISTORY: REWIND

NASCAR DEFINED PRESENTED BY BUBBA BURGER

30. TONY STEWART’S GREATEST RACES

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64. WHY WE LOVE NASCAR

TY DILLON: READY WHEN CALLED 60. NCWTS PROFILE 4. GREEN FLAG NEWS 6. BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW! 7. TRADIN’ PAINT 8. MADE IN AMERICA 12. MY FIRST RIDE

14. TAILGATING: HONDA 16. SPOTLIGHT: SYLVANIA 18. SPOTLIGHT: GEICO 32. SPOTLIGHT: COPD 61. 2016 SCHEDULES 62. GEAR POLE POSITION MAG.COM

GREEN FLAG NASCAR Releases 2017 Schedules

ASCAR released its 2017 national series schedules in early May – months earlier than their more typical fall arrival. The most significant news is a Chasetime swap between two of the tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. Although the order and dates of races in NASCAR’s premier series remain mostly intact, a noteworthy change involves swapping the Chase race order at Talladega Superspeedway and Kansas Speedway. For 2017, Talladega (Oct. 15) will be the second race in the Round of 12 with Kansas becoming the third – and elimination – race (Oct. 22) for the Round of 12. Dover International Speedway’s spring race will be moved back a month to June 4 versus a date in May this year. Michigan International Speedway’s second race returns to its traditional August timeframe – Aug. 13. Also, Texas Motor Speedway’s spring race will be run on Sunday afternoon, rather than Saturday night. DAN GUTTENPLAN

ocono Raceway has partnered with Penn State University to make the race track a “near zero waste” facility. In order to achieve that goal, the majority of the waste produced during Pocono’s operating season must be diverted from landfills. Pocono Raceway is also the first motorsports facility to operate on solar power thanks to its massive threemegawatt solar farm.

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randon Igdalsky, president of Pocono Raceway, announced that GEICO will be the Official RV and Recreational Insurance sponsor of “The Tricky Triangle.” The multi-year deal aligns Pocono Raceway with GEICO and adds to the insurance company’s motorsports footprint. As part of the agreement, GEICO will have branded naming rights to the track’s GEICO RV and Camping Registration, GEICO Motorcycle Parking and GEICO Family Camping. In addition, GEICO will have a large presence during NASCAR race weekends at Pocono Raceway.

ASCAR and Lixar, a technology company driven by mobile and data science innovation, have finalized a multi-year agreement that designates the company as a preferred technology partner of NASCAR. Lixar specializes in mobile solutions for enterprise airline, automotive and travel clients and will work with NASCAR to enhance the guest experience at national series events, specifically related to garage access. NASCAR’s Garage Access Program is a three-year initiative to enhance guests’ experiences while visiting the garage.

ale Earnhardt Jr.’s affinity for NASCAR history is well-known. He is an avid collector of NASCAR memorabilia and even goes online to track down videotapes of races from the 1970s and early 1980s, his favorite era of the sport. But even Earnhardt admits he didn’t know all he could about NASCAR’s roots, forged in the backwoods of Georgia and the Carolinas where bootleggers souped-up their cars to outrun federal agents. It was that desire to learn more that prompted Earnhardt to become executive producer of “NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed,” a threepart miniseries that aired on CMT. Each episode focused on a specific NASCAR era, using a combination of archival footage, re-enactments and interviews.

POLE POSITION 2016

SPEED READ:

Ray Black Jr.

fter competing for the rookieof-the-year title in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last year, Ray Black Jr. is taking his career to the next level in 2016 as he competes in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. The Florida local, who pilots the No. 07 ScubaLife.com Chevrolet for SS Green Light Racing, is combining his two passions – scuba diving and racing – while taking on a demanding level of competition. What is your best racing memory? “It was probably my first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona [in 2015]. That one sticks out the most. It was in my backyard and the whole family was there. It was a pretty amazing day, and we got a top-five finish!” Other than racing, what are your hobbies? “I like to take my boat out at an inlet in Florida near where I live and hang out with friends on the beach. Traveling is one of the things I really like to do. I

■■ For more information on Ray Black Jr., follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @RayBlackJr or visit rayblackjr.com.

travel every week with racing, but even on my weeks off I am always traveling.” How did your sponsorship with ScubaLife.com develop? “I’ve been diving since I was 11 years old, so I’ve always had a passion for the water. A couple of companies I know came together as ScubaLife, an online community for both divers and non-divers to find out how to get involved. With the sponsorship, we want to bring diving to race fans who may not have thought about diving before.” –Joseph Wolkin

University of Racing Partnership with Lionel Offers Historical Opportunities The partnership between Lionel Racing and University of Racing offers NASCAR history buffs the opportunity to collect top-of-the-line die-casts of the sport’s most iconic race cars.

ionel Racing became the exclusive distributor of University of Racing die-casts in August of last year, and the partnership has had a major impact on the NASCAR collector’s market. Under the University of Racing brand, Icons, Inc. manufactures die-cast replicas of the most important cars in NASCAR history – from Cale Yarborough’s 1965 Ford Galaxie and David Pearson’s 1971 Mercury Cyclone to A.J. Foyt’s 1969 Torino Cobra. “Everybody knows Lionel kind of owns the sport today in terms of current drivers and great distribution,” said University of Racing President Phil Blount. “This has been a great assist for us. There’s no question we make the highest quality, most authentic 1:24 scale die-cast historical cars.” The University of Racing die-casts are available for purchase at www.lionelracing.com, authorized Lionel Racing dealers and official trackside retailers. Blount has a few favorites among the 19 die-casts that have been produced to date. The first University of Racing die-cast – a No. 12 1969 Coca-Cola Mercury driven by Bobby Allison – will always hold a special place in his heart. He also likes the most recent die-cast produced – a No. 3 1969 Dodge Charger driven by Buddy Baker. That was the first University of Racing

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die-cast that wasn’t a replica of a Ford model race car. “The next car is always the most popular,” Blount said. “The market has always been kind to us. A lot of fans appreciate and collect history. We’re not trying to reinvent Lionel Racing by any means. We’re trying to raise the die-cast experience. It’s all about making our fans happy.” Prior to this season, Lionel Racing assumed mass-distribution rights for NASCAR’s die-cast collection, expanding its prior role. Since 2010, Lionel Racing has produced NASCAR die-cast cars and other products exclusively for the collector market, which includes hobby shops, e-commerce sites and official trackside retailers. Under the terms of the new agreement, the company’s distribution channel has been expanded to include big-box retailers like Walmart, Target, Toys “R” Us and Meijer.

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SMOKE SIGNALS

H Card Power When Pocono Raceway fell on tough economic times in the mid-1970s, founder Dr. Joseph Mattioli was prepared to close up shop and sell everything. NASCAR founder Bill France implored Mattioli not to sell, particularly with the track’s close proximity to New York City, Philadelphia and 60 million people in the Northeast. But Mattioli wouldn’t listen. As a last-ditch effort, France scribbled a message on the back of his business card and handed it to Mattioli. “On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones who when within the grasp of victory sat and waited, and waiting died,” France wrote. The Mattiolis stayed the course. The track recovered and eventually received a second annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race date for its faith and belief. LUCKY DOG

n 2003, a close call that involved future NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett during a race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway led to implementation of the Lucky Dog, also known as the free pass or beneficiary rule. Several cars barely missed Jarrett’s stalled car while trying to reach the start/finish line after the caution flag was displayed in an effort to keep their position. Following that scare, NASCAR did away with racing back to the start/finish line and now freezes the field immediately when a caution flag is displayed. In so doing, the closest lapped driver to the leader when a caution occurs is moved to the end of the longest line of cars and put back on the lead lap.

e’s the winningest active NASCAR driver at Daytona International Speedway – with 11 victories – yet has never won the Daytona 500. When the green flag falls for the Coke Zero 400 on July 2, Tony Stewart will be behind the wheel of his No. 14 Chevrolet and it will be his last NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at the famed 2.5-mile superspeedway. His injury in a January sand buggy accident kept Stewart, who will retire from NASCAR racing at end of the season, from one last bid at winning the Daytona 500, after coming up short 17 times. Stewart has four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins and seven NASCAR XFINITY Series victories at Daytona. But we bet he’d likely trade all of them for that elusive win in The Great American Race.

BRICKYARD BASICS

few facts about the Brickyard as it turns 23 years old in August: ■■ Now-retired Jeff Gordon is the only driver to have competed in all 22 editions of the 400. Bobby Labonte is second with 21 starts. ■■ The driver who led the most Brickyard 400s without winning the race: Mark Martin – seven times. ■■ Which driver led the most laps in a single Brickyard

400 yet failed to win: Juan Pablo Montoya – 116 laps in 2009. ■■ Who is the only driver to win the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 and the Sprint Cup Series championship in the same year? (Jimmie Johnson in 2006.) ■■ Who was the first team owner to win the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year? (Chip Ganassi in 2010.)

THAT’S VERSATILITY What’s the only active motorsports facility that hosts each of the nation’s three premier racing series: NASCAR, IndyCar and the National Hot Rod Association? If you said Bristol Motor Speedway/ Bristol Dragway, you’d be wrong. Ditto if you said Charlotte Motor Speedway/zMAX Dragway, Chicagoland Speedway/Route 66 Raceway or Las Vegas Motor Speedway/The Strip. Likewise for Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Lucas Oil Raceway 12 miles away doesn’t count; it’s too far – Pocono Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway. Bristol, Charlotte, Chicagoland and Las Vegas all host NASCAR and NHRA events. Indianapolis, Pocono, Texas and Phoenix host NASCAR and IndyCar. Give up? Sonoma Raceway is the only major facility to host each of the three series – NASCAR in June, NHRA in July and IndyCar in September.

JERRY BONKOWSKI 06

POLE POSITION 2016

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TRADIN’ PAINT PRE S E N T E D B Y Iconic NASCAR Paint Schemes

hroughout NASCAR history, a race car’s paint scheme has become just as beloved by fans as the actual driver in the car. For instance, in 1971 Richard Petty originally walked away from a deal with STP because he didn’t want to paint his No. 43 Plymouth red. He held his ground, thus creating the Petty blue and red iconic paint scheme that is still used to this day. In this space, we’ll share some of the most iconic paint schemes in NASCAR history.

In 1974, Buddy Baker drove the No. 15 RC Cola Ford in 16 Cup Series events and carried the basic scheme in 94 additional races through 1977. Bobby Allison (1978-1980) and Benny Parsons also drove RC Cola Fords.

Mario Andretti, whose racing career included four Indy car championships, wheeled a sharp metallic blue No. 11 Ford trimmed in red for Ford Motor Co. from 1966 to 1969. He won the Daytona 500 in 1967.

Kyle Petty entered 829 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events from 1979 to 2008. He wheeled the Mello Yellosponsored No. 42 Pontiac for Felix Sabates in 108 races from 1991 to 1994.

Ricky Rudd drove the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Piedmont Airlines Chevrolet in 1983. In April of that year, he earned a win at Martinsville Speedway. All told, he claimed six pole positions in Piedmont Airline colors.

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SB WHEELS

Made in America

LICENSEE ‘SB WHEELS’ MANUFACTURES QUALITY NASCAR-THEMED ALLOY WHEEL

B Wheels, the largest designer and manufacturer of aftermarket cast aluminum wheels Made in America, became a NASCAR licensee in October. It’s safe to say the marriage between the two entities was a natural one. The Dade City, Florida-based company was established in 2011 and operates out of a state-of-the-art facility. SB Wheels is the only American manufacturer to produce wheels for a number of well-known brands, in addition to offering its own NASCAR-licensed wheels. The company’s officially licensed NASCAR wheels give fans, many of whom are auto and truck enthusiasts, an opportunity to purchase superior quality, American-made alloy wheels for their cars and trucks while showing their loyalty to the sport they love.

“We chose to partner with NASCAR because NASCAR fans are very loyal to the brand and appreciate innovative design and high quality products for their vehicles. said Rafael Pirutinsky, senior vice president of marketing and sales for SB Manufacturing. “Racing fans spend close to 50 percent more on auto aftermarket parts than the general population of the same demographic. That makes this a natural fit.” Nearly 90 percent of aftermarket alloy wheels or rims are manufactured outside the United States, with about 75 percent of those made in China. SB products are made using the latest technology and are proudly made in America. SB’s designation as a NASCAR licensee is aimed at expanding the company’s business in the United States and bringing more manufacturing jobs to Florida.

“The fact that we’re a madein-the-USA product is a very compelling attraction to someone who’s interested in aftermarket wheels and is a NASCAR fan,” Pirutinsky said. “NASCAR is an all-American brand, and what better to partner with than all-American brand and have a product that’s made in America, designed in America?” SB-branded wheels are available for purchase on company’s website, nascarwheels.com, and through Amazon and eBay, as well as other online outlets. “We want to have as broad of a distribution as possible because the NASCAR fan base is literally coast-to-coast,” Pirutinsky said. “Today, over 50 percent of aftermarket rims are sold online, so we felt the best way to distribute and have the closest contact with the customers is to do it online.” JARED TURNER

POLE POSITION 2016

ALL ABOUT QUALITY

heels play a key role in every NASCAR race. Therefore, it’s no surprise that NASCAR fans care about the quality of the wheels on their family and recreation vehicles. For SB Wheels, quality isn’t just a noun. It’s a way of doing business. The company uses cutting-edge technology in the design and testing of each rim and state of the art robotics from the casting of the wheels through the entire machining and painting process. Exceptional quality control and stringent testing of everything from the chemical analysis of the base metal to exact dimensional requirements to the durability of coatings combine to deliver the best-quality wheels – all made in America. “The concept is that the manufacturing is local.” Rafael Pirutinsky said. “We’re here in the United States and close to the customers. We want them to be happy and be proud of the NASCAR wheels and therefore stand behind them with a lifetime guarantee.”

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G WIVES & GIRLFRIENDS

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All in the Family

â&#x2013; [Top left] Dale Earnhardt Jr. with girlfriend Amy Reimann; [top left lower] Kyle Larson with girlfriend Katelyn Sweet and son Owen; [top right] Danny Hamlin with girlfriend Jordan Fish and daughter Taylor; [lower right] Kyle Busch with wife Samantha and son Brexton; [lower left] retired NFL quarterback Peyton Manning with Danica Patrick and her boyfriend, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

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G MY FIRST RIDE NASCAR Legends Reflect Horsepower was at a premium for many of NASCAR’s legends when they ﬁrst secured a driver’s license and got behind the wheel. Some drivers are even willing to share their experience of purchasing their ﬁrst rides.

BOBBY ALLISON 1934 FORD PHAETON

CAR FACTS The V-8 Phaeton was a road car from Ford with rear-wheel drive, a front-located engine and a four-door tourer body style. ENGINE: 3.6 liters, naturally aspirated, side-valve with eight cylinders OUTPUT: 85 horsepower at 3,800 RPM

Bobby Allison, a three-time Daytona 500 winner and the 1983 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, never actually got behind the wheel of his first ride – a fourdoor 1934 Ford Phaeton convertible. He bought it at the age of 13 before he had a license and his parents made him return it. “My absolute first car was a four-door 1934 Ford Phaeton convertible,” Allison recalled. “Some guy in the neighborhood had it and I bought that thing with a grand total of $12. I really, really loved it. It had a flat-head Ford and a brown canvas top and nothing but blue sky when it was down. “I was only 13 at the time [1951] and had done a lot of odd jobs here and there for money. I would do anything to turn 50 cents. I mowed grass, cut hedge bushes, hauled trash, anything to make money. I also had a paper route and delivered the Miami News on my bike for years.” Purchasing the car was a great idea but the timing wasn’t quite right. “The bad part of the story was my parents made me sell it back to the guy because I wasn’t old enough to have a car,” Allison said. “It was really special for the two weeks I was able to own that thing. That dream ended quickly.”

DARRELL WALTRIP 1955 OLDSMOBILE

CAR FACTS The 1955 Oldsmobiles were produced in Wentzville, Missouri; Flint, Michigan; and Lake Orion, Michigan ENGINE: Lightweight, overhead-valve, high-compression Rocket V-8 OUTPUT: 202 horsepower STYLING: One-piece windshield, Rocket badges and bold grille

One of Darrell Waltrip’s fondest memories of his first ride – a 1955 Oldsmobile – was listening to NASCAR races with his mother and father on road trips. While the radio reception wasn’t great, the company was outstanding. Waltrip enjoyed a very successful NASCAR career from 1972 through 2000, winning three Sprint Cup Series championships while driving for legendary team owner Junior Johnson. As a teenager, Waltrip’s first ride, however, wasn’t very much to brag about. “I had a four-door 1955 Oldsmobile,” he said. “It was an ugly car that was sort of a baby blue and white and it was our family car. My dad worked for Pepsi, and I liked Pepsi blue. I ended up painting that car with a paint brush and changed the baby blue to Pepsi blue and called it, ‘The Blue Goose.’ The car wasn’t all that fancy, believe me.” Waltrip appreciated one specific feature inside the car that kept him connected to NASCAR in the early 1960s when weather conditions were just right. “I listened to a good many races in that car, but races were hard to pick up at times,” Waltrip said. “We only had AM stations then. At night, when we parked it just at the right spot at the Dairy Drive-In, I could get WLS in Chicago.”

BEN WHITE 12

POLE POSITION 2016

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G TAILGATING Bluegrass Bash

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Few parties compare to a NASCAR bash in the Bluegrass State, and the fan fare for this year’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway promises to be as thrilling as ever.

he summer months usually correspond with warm temperatures, beautiful weather and some of the most exciting racing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has to offer. There are a myriad of reasons to set up a tailgate at this year’s Quaker State 400 on July 9 at Kentucky Speedway. But for the sake of brevity, here are a few on which to focus: Make It a Weekend: In addition to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ Quaker State 400, the NASCAR XFINITY Series takes center stage on July 8 for the Alsco 300. Kentucky Speedway sells wristbands for infield and backstretch camping for the entire weekend, so there’s no reason to limit tailgating experiences to one day. No Item Left Behind: In addition to grilling out before the racing action heats up, checking out the 24-hour convenience store is a must for last-minute camping or tailgating needs. The store is in the Ponderosa campground near the race track, and is a one-stop shop for fans ready to turn it up a notch. Fans First: No race-day experience at Kentucky Speedway is complete without a visit to the Fan Zone, located behind pit road. The area requires a

Q&A WITH A TAILGATE TITAN

Fan Zone pass, but it’s worth the added expense. The Fan Zone features fan-friendly interactive attractions, and a perfect view of driver introductions. There’s a lot to see once the weekend begins. Every stop on the NASCAR tour offers special memories for fans seeking unique experiences. In Kentucky’s case, the tailgates are often quite memorable. AARON BURNS

DAVEY ANDERSON’S LOW COUNTRY BOIL

avey Anderson, of Valdese, North Carolina, has one of the best tailgates at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and a menu full of delicious Cajun food is part of what makes it so special. ■■ Ingredients: 1 pack of corn cobbettes; 3 pounds of new potatoes, 4 sliced, smoked sausages; 4-6 pounds of crab legs; 2 pounds of shrimp; 3 pounds of crawfish; and Old Bay seasoning ■■ Prep: 10 minutes ■■ Cook: 30-35 minutes ■■ Cook at 275-300 degrees for approximately 30 minutes until crab floats or changes color. Place shrimp and crawfish in a mesh bag and place in pot. Continue to steam for approximately 5 more minutes, or until shrimp turn white. Drain water, place disposable tablecloth on table and empty contents. Oh, and enjoy!

POLE POSITION 2016

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HARRY WILEY JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A RACE FAN? I was raised in a racing family. As a kid, my dad worked on midget cars, and like anyone in racing knows, once you catch the fever, it stays in your blood forever. WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE DRIVER? I don’t really have one. I like to pull for the young guys like Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and John Hunter Nemechek. Nemechek is kind of like the old guard, so I probably like him the most. WHAT MAKES A GOOD TAILGATE? Tailgates are just great for what they are. It’s the closest thing to heaven in my life. WHAT CAN FANS FIND AT YOUR TAILGATES? We’ll cook turkey, chicken, steak, just any kind of good country cooking. HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOW UP TO YOUR TAILGATES? Well I’m the mayor of the fourth turn campground at Charlotte Motor Speedway, so our tailgates are going to get a lot of people. It’s a real family atmosphere.

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Buescher Flies Under the Radar

ompared to the NASCAR XFINITY Series champions from 2013 (Austin Dillon) and 2014 (Chase Elliott), reigning XFINITY Series champ Chris Buescher moved into a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride with relatively little fanfare. Not that the 23-year-old Texan minds. He wouldn’t even know how to act in the spotlight. “I’ve been under the radar all my life, not opposed to it, so I’ve been able to have good success coming up through various series and been able to accomplish a lot to get to this point,” Buescher said. Indeed he has. One of the most unheralded XFINITY Series champions in the history of NASCAR’s No. 2 division, Buescher won last year’s title not even knowing where he would be racing in 2016. Finally, about three weeks after securing the title, Front Row

Motorsports officials announced they would field a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry for Buescher in partnership with Roush Fenway Racing – the organization Buescher took to last year’s XFINITY Series crown. Buescher is now part of a loaded rookie class that also includes 2014 XFINITY Series champion and Jeff Gordon successor Chase Elliott, along with third-generation racer Ryan Blaney and Idaho native Brian Scott. Of the quartet, Buescher has the tallest hill to climb in terms of the quality of his equipment relative to the competition. But after surprising most of the NASCAR world with last year’s XFINITY Series title run, he’s not inclined to set the bar exceptionally low for his rookie campaign. “We are obviously in the rookie-of-the-year contention and we want to win that, and at

the same time we want to be able to win a race and hopefully get into the Chase,” Buescher said. “That is probably a strong goal for a first season and new guys and everybody trying to get used to each other.” After capturing the NASCAR XFINITY Series title in relatively comfortable fashion over a driver – Elliott – anointed as NASCAR’s next big thing, Buescher has already caught the attention of some of his more experienced peers. “He’s awesome,” said Joe Gibbs Racing’s Carl Edwards. “He seems like a great guy and he really races very well. It seems like he’s not easy to fluster even when things do go poorly for him. From an outside perspective, watching and just being around him a little bit it seems like he’s really confident and he’s very even and steady.”

JARED TURNER 16

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AN OUTDOORS GUY

ike most top-level NASCAR drivers these days, Chris Buescher is at least somewhat active on social media. He has clearly defined his limits, however. “I am on Twitter and Facebook and barely Instagram, and that is it,” Buescher said. “I am not going any farther. I tried Snapchat for a little while, but it just wasn’t for me. There are a lot of other ones out there that keep popping up, but I am done. I’ve got my three platforms and I will stick to that.” While others are spending large chunks of time on social media, Buescher would rather be in the woods or on the lake – and he makes no apologies. “I’m a big outdoors guy, I like to spend all my time I can outside,” he said. “We go ride four-wheelers on the weekends and I go fishing with a couple guys on the team and try to keep busy.”

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600 MILES OF REMEMBRANCE

GEICO Camo Car Supports U.S. Military

ince its inception in 1936, GEICO targeted a customer base of military and federal employees. Although GEICO now offers insurance to those employed by both the government and private sectors, the Chevy Chase, Maryland-based company has not abandoned its roots. The latest example came on Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway when GEICO driver Casey Mears raced with a special camouflage paint scheme in support of the United States military. Mears, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran, plans to also campaign the military colors in other races later this year. “It’s a good-looking paint scheme and definitely honors all the military,” Mears said. “All the way around it’s a really cool package as far as being able to show our appreciation for what

the military does.” So how much influence did the Germain Racing driver have in the overall design of his camo car? “They definitely asked for my input and the team’s input on what we thought would look good, and we ended up with a GEICO Military paint scheme that looks great. The camo with the way that it’s done is a very unique way to help further promote GEICO and its commitment to the military. It’s just a really cool paint scheme.” Although a driver can’t see the outside of his car when he’s strapped behind the steering wheel, Mears always has a little extra motivation when competing with special colors. “Having a mean-looking military paint scheme is definitely a plus,” he said. “I’ve driven an all-pink car, which is for a great cause in breast cancer

awareness. Because of what the cause is, it makes it very exciting. But a cool military paint scheme, from my standpoint, is fun, and it gets a lot of attention because we have a lot of military men and women who are fans, and people that enjoy that, so it makes it a lot of fun to be a part of.”

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POLE POSITION 2016

n addition to the military paint scheme, the windshield on Casey Mears’ Coca-Cola 600 car featured the name of Spc. Chris Wright, who served multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Army Ranger and was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. “It’s just a great opportunity to celebrate a guy in Chris Wright, who made the ultimate sacrifice to help provide the freedom that we have today,” Mears said. “I think it’s really important to do these types of things because I think being over here on the right side of the world for the most part – even though we see things on the news – the reality of it doesn’t tend to hit home.” The Memorial Day weekend race was dubbed the “600 Miles of Remembrance” and each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team replaced the driver’s name on its car’s windshield with the name of a fallen service member. “Quite honestly, I think all of us have always felt – when I say all of us, I mean from the NASCAR standpoint – we’re so heavily military involved as far as having troops out to the track and really wanting to support what they do and appreciate what they do for us,” Mears said.

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NASCAR DEFINED

PRESENTED BY

This edition of NASCAR Defined showcases the excitement, intensity and fun of this dramatic, high-speed sport in a behind-the-scenes look at life at the track. GETTY IMAGES ■ [Top] Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 19 Stanley Toyota, leads the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Duck Commander 500. The Texas race saw Edwards score his fourth straight top-10 finish. ■ [Left] Chase Elliott talks with Danica Patrick on pit road during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. 20

POLE POSITION 2016

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NASCAR DEFINED PRE S E N T E D B Y

■■ [Top left] Carl Edwards checks out his new Pole Award Rifle after topping the qualifying charts for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. ■■ [Top right] Two fans of Stewart-Haas Racing at Texas Motor Speedway. ■■ [Middle left] Dale Earnhardt Jr. signs autographs prior to the Duck Commander 500. ■■ [Middle right] These Jimmie Johnson superfans painted the No. 48 on their heads. ■■ [Bottom] Kyle Busch won the Duck Commander 500 for his second win of the season, his second win at Texas and his 36th career win.

POLE POSITION 2016

■■ [Above] Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Toyota, leads the field during the Go Bowling 400. Truex earned the pole in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race for the first time in four years. ■■ [Left, above] Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t caught up in the “big one” at Talladega, but he was involved in two wrecks that ended his race well before the finish. He headed home with a last-place finish. ■■ [Left, below] Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Kyle Larson (left) and Jamie McMurray chat in the garage before practice for the GEICO 500. ■■ [Right] Twenty-nine years to the day after Bill Elliott set the qualifying record at Talladega Superspeedway, son Chase Elliott also qualified first. The younger Elliott earned the pole position with a speed of 192 mph – 20 mph slower than his dad.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

NASCAR DEFINED PRE S E N T E D B Y ■■ [Left] Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands on pit road with his crew during qualifying for the GEICO 500. ■■ [Below] Darrell Wallace Jr. sits in his car prior to practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega. Wallace finished 13th, marking his best finish since Auto Club Speedway.

OPPOSITE PAGE: ■■ [Top] Brad Keselowski picked up his second win of the season during the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. ■■ [Middle left] Two popular drivers – Danica Patrick and Chase Elliott – jockey for position during the Toyota Owners 400. ■■ [Lower left] Danica Patrick prepares for the race at Richmond. ■■ [Right] A black-clad Martin Truex Jr. seems at home under ominous skies during practice at Richmond.

POLE POSITION 2016

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

NASCAR DEFINED PRE S E N T E D B Y

■■ [Above] The No. 22 Pennzoil Ford team rushes through a pit stop to keep Joey Logano in contention at Richmond. ■■ [Left above] Fans showed support for their favorite drivers by signing the start/finish line at Richmond. ■■ [Left below] Skydivers perform as part of pre-race activities at Richmond. ■■ [Right] Mountain Dew was the primary sponsor of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 when the Sprint Cup Series visited Richmond in April.

POLE POSITION 2016

■■ [Top left] Carl Edwards signs autographs for fans prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond. ■■ [Top right] Tony Stewart returned to racing in Richmond after receiving medical clearance from his doctors. Stewart missed the first eight races of the season after sustaining a back injury in January. ■■ [Middle left] Daniel Suarez placed fourth in another strong finish during the NASCAR XFINITY Series ToyotaCare 250. ■■ [Middle right] Team owner Richard Childress hugs his grandson, Ty Dillon, after the latter won the Dash 4 Cash award at the ToyotaCare 250. ■■ Carl Edwards sprays champagne after nudging teammate Kyle Busch out of the way on the final lap to win at Richmond International Raceway. POLE POSITION MAG.COM

NASCAR DEFINED PRE S E N T E D B Y

■■ [Top] Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 31 WIX Filters Chevrolet, finished ninth in the Food City 500. ■■ [Lower left] Recently retired NFL quarterback Peyton Manning huddles with crew chief Greg Ives and the No. 88 crew in their hauler prior to the Food City 500. ■■ [Bottom left] NASCAR fans are enjoying the new Colossus video board at Bristol Motor Speedway. During the NASCAR offseason, the half-mile track added the world’s largest outdoor suspended digital display. ■■ [Right] Erik Jones earned his first XFINITY Series victory at Richmond. It was his third career win in the series. 28

POLE POSITION 2016

■■ [Left] A fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 team participates in pre-race activities prior to the Food City 500. ■■ [Middle left] Jimmie Johnson holds his daughters, Lydia and Genevieve, prior to the race at Bristol. ■■ [Middle right] Kevin Harvick started off the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend by announcing he signed a multi-year extension with Stewart-Haas Racing.

■■ [Bottom left] Carl Edwards celebrates after winning the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. ■■ [Lower right] Clint Bowyer holds his son, Cash, before the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas. ■■ [Bottom right] Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 24 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, posted a career-best fourth-place result.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

TONY STEWART’S GREATEST RACES Over the course of his lengthy and legendary career in NASCAR’s top division, Tony Stewart has amassed many achievements highlighted by three Sprint Cup Series titles. Following are his five greatest races:

Daytona, July 2009. Although Stewart won four July races at Daytona International Speedway from 2005-2012, one of those wins stands alone as by far the most memorable. It came in 2009 when Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet hooked the right rear of Kyle Busch’s No. 18 Toyota in the tri-oval on the final lap, sending Busch violently into the outside wall where all four of his wheels briefly left the ground. As Stewart crossed the finish line, Busch was clobbered by the No. 9 Dodge of Kasey Kahne, who lifted the No. 18 car straight up in the air. Busch walked away uninjured but agitated, while Stewart admitted in Victory Lane “that’s not the way to win these things.”

Richmond, September 1999. Already enjoying a stellar rookie season, Stewart proved beyond any doubt to the NASCAR world that he was the real deal by winning the September race at Richmond International Raceway in just his 25th top series start. And Stewart didn’t just win; he dominated. After starting on the outside of the front row, Stewart paced the field for 333 of 400 laps in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac at the threequarter mile Virginia short track that he now calls his favorite track on the Sprint Cup Series tour. Stewart would go on to score two more victories as a rookie and they came on back-to-back weekends in November at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

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Coca-Cola 600, May 1999. Following in the tire tracks of Robby Gordon and John Andretti, Stewart became just the third driver to pull off the rare Indianapolis 500/Coca-Cola 600 double. Stewart finished ninth, four laps down, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before jetting to Charlotte Motor Speedway for NASCAR’s longest race later that evening. Remarkably, Stewart finished fourth in the Coca-Cola 600 but paid the price physically when he collapsed moments after the race and had to be treated for dehydration at the infield care center. That Stewart – a Sprint Cup Series rookie – finished fourth in his first attempt at NASCAR’s longest race was impressive, but the fact he raced the Indy 500 beforehand made his Charlotte performance downright remarkable. Brickyard 400, August 2005. After years of frustration in multiple genres of racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the legendary 2.5-mile venue where he dreamed as a kid of racing and winning, Stewart scored a fairytale victory on a day when his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet started 22nd and led 44 of 160 laps.

Stewart’s good friend Kasey Kahne held the top spot on a restart with 10 laps to go, but Stewart roared underneath on the inside of Turn 2 and never looked back as he became the first Indiana native to prevail at the fabled track since Wilbur Shaw did so in the 1940 Indianapolis 500. “It’s definitely the greatest day of my life,” a jubilant Stewart said after taking the checkered flag. Homestead, November 2011. Stewart capped what remains easily the most remarkable championship run in the history of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup by winning the season finale over title foe Carl Edwards, who finished a close second and earned the same number of points as Stewart for the season but lost the title to Stewart on the basis of a tiebreaker – most wins. Stewart drove from the back of the field to the front twice during the race at Homestead, passing a whopping 118 cars. The victory in the season finale was Stewart’s fifth in 10 Chase races after the Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner/driver failed to record a single win in the 26-race regular season.

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A New Lease on Life COPD DIAGNOSIS BRINGS CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

rlan Holmes finally accepted that something needed to change when he could no longer muster the oxygen to walk up and down a flight of stairs or to smoke a cigarette. “I would smoke five cigarettes in one day, and I could no longer function,” Holmes said. “My life was becoming unlivable. I realized if I didn’t want to die on a ventilator, I had to quit.” That decision came well after Holmes was diagnosed with COPD 13 years ago. He has since quit smoking, changed his lifestyle, received a doublelung transplant and

surpassed expectations the doctors set for him upon his initial diagnosis. COPD is a life-threatening lung disease, the fourth-leading cause of death globally, and affects more than 300 million individuals worldwide. Within the United States, COPD ranks as the third-leading cause of death, with more than 30 million Americans affected and approximately 12 million symptomatic but undiagnosed. However, a simple, painless breathing test, called spirometry, can determine whether or not a person has COPD. Holmes, a single

father of three from Fort Wayne, Indiana, received the COPD diagnosis at the age of 52. He was working at the Dollar Tree when he became sick with pneumonia and spent 13 days in the hospital. Upon his release, the doctors told Holmes’ eldest daughter to get his affairs in order because he didn’t have long to live. “I was sent home to die,” Holmes said. “It never took a turn for the better until 10 years later when I got the double-lung transplant.” Before any hospital would agree to do the transplant, Holmes had

to go smoke-free for a year. Even after he was put on the waiting list at the Cleveland Clinic, it took three years to find a donor match. Holmes experienced complications after his surgery in August of 2012. The new lungs caused his liver and kidneys to shut down, and he became afflicted with congestive heart failure. His body was rejecting the new set of lungs, so the doctors changed his medication. “My antibodies and the donor’s antibodies weren’t getting along,” Holmes said. “I spent two months in the hospital getting it squared away. I went from 165 pounds to 140. Now I’m up to 200.” Holmes is now an advocate for COPD awareness and the COPD State Captain in Indiana. He also co-chairs the Alpha-1/ COPD support group. “The difference in my life since I got this diagnosis is night and day,” Holmes said. “Everything was a struggle, just getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Now, I don’t have any shortness of breath.”

A NEW MAN

rlan Holmes has experienced a new level of activity since his double-lung transplant in 2012. One of the first things he did after getting released from the hospital was drive home to Washington for Christmas for the first time in 30 years. “That would have been unheard of,” Holmes said. “It was difficult for me to drive across town.” Holmes also participated in the 2015 Fight for Air Climb for the American Lung Association. He climbed to the top of the Chase Tower in Indianapolis, Indiana. “I’ve always had a positive attitude,” Holmes said. “Even when I had no reason to live, I got up and did something every day. I always acted like there’d be a cure around the corner.” Holmes now does a variety of speaking engagements both for the COPD Foundation and the American Lung Association. He’s found that patients gain a better understanding of the issues when they hear from people dealing with the disease. “I’m very active in the COPD Community and the Alpha-1 genetic form of COPD,” Holmes said. “I do a lot of speaking from a patient’s perspective. A person can know what they’re dealing with from a textbook and have no idea what it’s like to be in my shoes.”

DAN GUTTENPLAN 32

POLE POSITION 2016

COPD making you huff and puff?

SYMBICORT does not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. COPD can make it hard to get air out, which can make it hard to get air in. SYMBICORT is a twice-daily maintenance medication for adults with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that could help make a significant difference in your breathing.* *Results may vary.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SYMBICORT Important Safety Information About SYMBICORT SYMBICORT contains formoterol, a long-acting beta2 -adrenergic agonist (LABA). LABA medicines such as formoterol increase the risk of death from asthma problems. It is not known whether budesonide, the other medicine in SYMBICORT, reduces the risk of death from asthma problems seen with formoterol. • Call your health care provider if breathing problems worsen over time while using SYMBICORT. You may need different treatment • Get emergency medical care if: ° Breathing problems worsen quickly, and ° You use your rescue inhaler medicine, but it does not relieve your breathing problems SYMBICORT does not replace rescue inhalers for sudden symptoms. Be sure to tell your health care provider about all your health conditions, including heart conditions or high blood pressure, and all medicines you may be taking. Some patients taking SYMBICORT may experience increased blood pressure, heart rate, or change in hear t rhythm. Do not use SYMBICORT more often than prescribed. While taking SYMBICORT, never use another medicine containing a LABA for any reason. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist if any of your other medicines are LABA medicines. SYMBICORT can cause serious side effects, including: • Pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections. People with COPD may have a higher chance of pneumonia. Call your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms: change in amount or color of mucus, fever, chills, increased cough, or increased breathing problems • Serious allergic reactions including rash, hives, swelling of the face, mouth and tongue, and breathing problems

Print your coupon at symbicort25guarantee.com or call 1-800-236-9933 For commercially insured patients *Subject to eligibility. Restrictions apply.

• Immune system effect and a higher chance of infection. Tell your health care provider if you think you are exposed to infections such as chicken pox or measles, or if you have any signs of infection such as fever, pain, body aches, chills, feeling tired, nausea, or vomiting • Adrenal insufficiency. This can happen when you stop taking oral corticosteroid medicines and start inhaled corticosteroid medicine • Using too much of a LABA medicine may cause chest pain, increase in blood pressure, fast and irregular heartbeat, headache, tremor, or nervousness • Increased wheezing right after taking SYMBICORT. Always have a rescue inhaler with you to treat sudden wheezing • Eye problems including glaucoma and cataracts. You should have regular eye exams while using SYMBICORT • Lower bone mineral density can happen in people who have a high chance for low bone mineral density (osteoporosis) • Swelling of blood vessels (signs include a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of arms or legs, flu like symptoms, rash, pain or swelling of the sinuses), decrease in blood potassium and increase in blood sugar levels Common side effects in patients with COPD include inflammation of the nasal passages and throat, thrush in the mouth and throat, bronchitis, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract infection. Approved Uses for SYMBICORT SYMBICORT 160/4.5 is for adults with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. You should only take 2 inhalations of SYMBICORT twice a day. Higher doses will not provide additional benefi ts. Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide and discuss with your doctor. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Ask your doctor about SYMBICORT Learn more at MySymbicort.com

I M P O R TA N T I N F O R M AT I O N A B O U T S Y M B I C O R T Please read this summary carefully and then ask your doctor about SYMBICORT.

WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEFORE USING SYMBICORT?

No advertisement can provide all the information needed to determine if a drug is right for you or take the place of careful discussions with your health care provider. Only your health care provider has the training to weigh the risks and benefits of a prescription drug.

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions, including if you: have heart problems have high blood pressure have seizures have thyroid problems have diabetes have liver problems have osteoporosis have an immune system problem have eye problems such as increased pressure in the eye, glaucoma, or cataracts are allergic to any medicines are exposed to chicken pox or measles are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if SYMBICORT may harm your unborn baby are breast-feeding. Budesonide, one of the active ingredients in SYMBICORT, passes into breast milk. You and your health care provider should decide if you will take SYMBICORT while breast-feeding Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. SYMBICORT and certain other medicines may interact with each other and can cause serious side effects. Know all the medicines you take. Keep a list and show it to your health care provider and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SYMBICORT? People with asthma who take long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) medicines, such as formoterol (one of the medicines in SYMBICORT), have an increased risk of death from asthma problems. It is not known whether budesonide, the other medicine in SYMBICORT, reduces the risk of death from asthma problems seen with formoterol. SYMBICORT should be used only if your health care provider decides that your asthma is not well controlled with a long-term asthma control medicine, such as an inhaled corticosteroid, or that your asthma is severe enough to begin treatment with SYMBICORT. Talk with your health care provider about this risk and the benefits of treating your asthma with SYMBICORT. If you are taking SYMBICORT, see your health care provider if your asthma does not improve or gets worse. It is important that your health care provider assess your asthma control on a regular basis. Your doctor will decide if it is possible for you to stop taking SYMBICORT and start taking a long-term asthma control medicine without loss of asthma control. Get emergency medical care if: breathing problems worsen quickly, and you use your rescue inhaler medicine, but it does not relieve your breathing problems. Children and adolescents who take LABA medicines may be at increased risk of being hospitalized for asthma problems.

WHAT IS SYMBICORT? SYMBICORT is an inhaled prescription medicine used for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It contains two medicines: Budesonide (the same medicine found in Pulmicort Flexhaler™, an inhaled corticosteroid). Inhaled corticosteroids help to decrease inflammation in the lungs. Inflammation in the lungs can lead to asthma symptoms Formoterol (the same medicine found in Foradil® Aerolizer®). LABA medicines are used in patients with COPD and asthma to help the muscles in the airways of your lungs stay relaxed to prevent asthma symptoms, such as wheezing and shortness of breath. These symptoms can happen when the muscles in the airways tighten. This makes it hard to breathe, which, in severe cases, can cause breathing to stop completely if not treated right away SYMBICORT is used for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as follows: Asthma SYMBICORT is used to control symptoms of asthma and prevent symptoms such as wheezing in adults and children ages 12 and older. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD is a chronic lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. SYMBICORT 160/4.5 mcg is used long term, two times each day, to help improve lung function for better breathing in adults with COPD.

WHO SHOULD NOT USE SYMBICORT? Do not use SYMBICORT to treat sudden severe symptoms of asthma or COPD or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in SYMBICORT.

Visit www.MySymbicort.com Or, call 1-866-SYMBICORT

HOW DO I USE SYMBICORT? Do not use SYMBICORT unless your health care provider has taught you and you understand everything. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have any questions. Use SYMBICORT exactly as prescribed. Do not use SYMBICORT more often than prescribed. SYMBICORT comes in two strengths for asthma: 80/4.5 mcg and 160/4.5 mcg. Your health care provider will prescribe the strength that is best for you. SYMBICORT 160/4.5 mcg is the approved dosage for COPD. SYMBICORT should be taken every day as 2 puffs in the morning and 2 puffs in the evening. Rinse your mouth with water and spit the water out after each dose (2 puffs) of SYMBICORT. This will help lessen the chance of getting a fungus infection (thrush) in the mouth and throat. Do not spray SYMBICORT in your eyes. If you accidentally get SYMBICORT in your eyes, rinse your eyes with water. If redness or irritation persists, call your health care provider. Do not change or stop any medicines used to control or treat your breathing problems. Your health care provider will change your medicines as needed While you are using SYMBICORT 2 times each day, do not use other medicines that contain a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) for any reason. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist if any of your other medicines are LABA medicines. SYMBICORT does not relieve sudden symptoms. Always have a rescue inhaler medicine with you to treat sudden symptoms. If you do not have a rescue inhaler, call your health care provider to have one prescribed for you.

Call your health care provider or get medical care right away if: your breathing problems worsen with SYMBICORT you need to use your rescue inhaler medicine more often than usual your rescue inhaler does not work as well for you at relieving symptoms you need to use 4 or more inhalations of your rescue inhaler medicine for 2 or more days in a row you use one whole canister of your rescue inhaler medicine in 8 weeks’ time your peak flow meter results decrease. Your health care provider will tell you the numbers that are right for you your symptoms do not improve after using SYMBICORT regularly for 1 week

WHAT MEDICATIONS SHOULD I NOT TAKE WHEN USING SYMBICORT? While you are using SYMBICORT, do not use other medicines that contain a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) for any reason, such as: Serevent® Diskus® (salmeterol xinafoate inhalation powder) Advair Diskus® or Advair® HFA (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol) Formoterol-containing products such as Foradil Aerolizer, Brovana®, or Perforomist®

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS WITH SYMBICORT? SYMBICORT can cause serious side effects. Increased risk of pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections if you have COPD. Call your health care provider if you notice any of these symptoms: increase in mucus production, change in mucus color, fever, chills, increased cough, increased breathing problems Serious allergic reactions including rash; hives; swelling of the face, mouth and tongue; and breathing problems. Call your health care provider or get emergency care if you get any of these symptoms Immune system effects and a higher chance for infections Adrenal insufficiency–a condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones Cardiovascular and central nervous system effects of LABAs, such as chest pain, increased blood pressure, fast or irregular heartbeat, tremor, or nervousness Increased wheezing right after taking SYMBICORT Eye problems, including glaucoma and cataracts. You should have regular eye exams while using SYMBICORT Osteoporosis. People at risk for increased bone loss may have a greater risk with SYMBICORT Slowed growth in children. As a result, growth should be carefully monitored Swelling of your blood vessels. This can happen in people with asthma Decreases in blood potassium levels and increases in blood sugar levels

WHAT ARE COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF SYMBICORT? Patients with Asthma Sore throat, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, thrush in the mouth and throat Patients with COPD Thrush in the mouth and throat These are not all the side effects with SYMBICORT. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information. NOTE: This summary provides important information about SYMBICORT. For more information, please ask your doctor or health care provider. SYMBICORT is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies. Other brands mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of the AstraZeneca group of companies. The makers of these brands are not affiliated with and do not endorse AstraZeneca or its products. © 2010 AstraZeneca LP. All rights reserved. Manufactured for: AstraZeneca LP, Wilmington, DE 19850 By: AstraZeneca AB, Dunkerque, France Product of France Rev 11/11 1504903

DRIVER PROFILES

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WHAT IF THIS NASCAR RACING THING DOESN’T WORK OUT? What would NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers be doing for a career if they weren’t racing? What kind of job will they pursue once they hang up their helmets? We explore some possibilities in the following pages…

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Long before Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car for a living, his bread and butter came from changing the oil on street vehicles. And, to hear him tell it, he was very efficient at his old job. Earnhardt, who refers to himself on his Twitter profile as “a retired dealership service mechanic,” spent his days just out of high school working at the Chevrolet dealership in Newton, North Carolina, owned by his legendary father, the late seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt. “I changed a lot of oil. I know that. And I had a lot of fun doing that,” said Earnhardt Jr., now a two-time Daytona 500 winner and 13-time Most Popular Driver of NASCAR’s top series. “I think I was there for two-and-a-half years. It was a fun time. I haven’t really run across anybody that has said, ‘You used to change oil in my car,’ back then.” The Hendrick Motorsports driver offers a rather vivid description of his duties at Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet, where he toiled many long days and nights before following in his father’s footsteps to become one of NASCAR’s biggest and most beloved stars.

“I didn’t run the alignment machine,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I was a Quick Lube guy. I got moved to a couple different positions for a couple months at a time, but always kind of ended up back at the Quick Lube machine. And that was strictly my job, and they had that 29 minutes or less deal [for an oil change], and it was fun. I got put on commission for a week and I made too much money and they took me back off commission because I was doing them in eight minutes.” Does Earnhardt Jr. remember his record time for changing the oil on a vehicle? “I was doing them pretty fast,” he said. “When I learned I could make money doing it, I was going through them pretty quick.” Perhaps some would contend the third-generation racer occasionally moved a little too quickly. “One time I drove out of the lot without the filter on the car and ran all the oil out of it right through the parking lot,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “It was hilarious.”

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Jimmie Johnson Over the course of his stellar career, Jimmie Johnson has rung up an impressive six championships to go along with more than 75 victories. One of the secrets to his success has been his dedication to extreme fitness – fitness that he is striving to pass along to others, including those in the NASCAR community.

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In 2014, the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet and his wife, Chandra, formed the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Wellness Challenge, which has already raised more than $400,000 for K-12 public education. The JJFWC consists of both beginner and advanced-friendly events. They include the JJF5K, the JJF Cane Creek Sprint Triathlon and the JJF Lake Davidson Sprint Triathlon – all held in the Charlotte area. There’s also the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Virtual Triathlon – a 31-day challenge to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles. Participants have from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31 to complete the total of 140.6 miles. Johnson has also taken it upon himself to help some close friends in the NASCAR garage get healthier. Among them is Kurt Busch’s crew chief, Tony Gibson, whose health issues in recent years have included kidney stones and an appendectomy. “I just wanted to help,” Johnson said of

Gibson. “I didn’t know if he was in a place to receive help or wanted help, but I just threw a softball out there and said, ‘Man, I’ll do anything. If I can, I’ll get you hooked up with my trainer even though it sounds very daunting. We’ll find a way. We’ll get you on the right path.’ He was in the right space and ready to go and has really made some big changes in his life.” With Johnson’s coaching, Gibson has lost a considerable amount of weight and feels better than he has in a long time. “All the doctors tell you that you need to get healthy,” Gibson said. “When Jimmie came to me, obviously he cared enough about me to try to help me get healthy. I figured if he was willing to put the effort in, that I should at least give it a whirl.” So when Johnson calls it quits from racing, he could have a long line of people signing up for his assistance on how to live healthier.

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DRIVER PROFILES PRE S E N T E D B Y Kyle Busch When reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch runs his final race as a driver, he’ll still be the owner of Kyle Busch Motorsports, a multi-team organization that competes primarily in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Under the guidance of Busch and his wife, Samantha, KBM has captured one driver’s title and four owner’s titles – including three in a row – in just six seasons in the Truck Series. Since announcing plans in late 2009 to enter the Truck Series, KBM has settled into a 77,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art corporate headquarters where its truck teams, along with a Late Model team, are housed. As the owner of KBM, Busch not only provides young drivers the equipment to go racing, he serves as a mentor. Among the biggest names who have raced a Kyle Busch Motorsports truck are Busch himself, Busch’s Sprint Cup Series teammate Denny Hamlin and Formula One superstar Kimi Raikkonen. Of course, if Busch ever tires of team ownership – it costs millions of dollars each year to field a NASCAR team, after all – perhaps he could start a “Burnout School”

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as no driver is better at performing smoky post-race victory celebrations than the man known as “Rowdy.” Perhaps Busch could also hold regular seminars on how to surprise fans. On two occasions this year – both while sitting in traffic after a race – Busch has surprised a fan by making his presence known and signing an autograph. The first instance came in the immediate aftermath of his victory in the spring race at Martinsville Speedway. Busch shocked a fan clad in one of his hats by rolling down his window and beeping his horn to get her attention. Not surprisingly, she was floored to see her hero staring at her while stopped in traffic. “I knew I was freaking out but I didn’t know my face looked like that,” Darienne Breazeale told FS1’s “NASCAR Race Hub” three days later. “Right when he was signing my hat, I don’t know if you could tell, but I started crying. I was so happy.”

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DRIVER PROFILES PRE S E N T E D B Y Ryan Newman One of the few NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers with a college degree, Ryan Newman is a 2001 alumnus of Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, where he studied vehicle-structure engineering. It was that same year – 2001 – that Newman made seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts after making his series debut with a lone start in 2000. By 2002, Newman had locked down a full-time ride with Penske Racing, and the rest, as they say, is history. “I didn’t know I could become a professional race car driver,” Newman said of why he chose to attend Purdue. “I wanted something to fall back on.” So if Newman hadn’t made it to NASCAR’s big leagues, he would have still had a nice and, yes, lucrative career. As it turned out, the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 winner has still been able to put his engineering background to good use. “Purdue gave me a better understanding of all the engineering areas of study,” Newman said. “The interdisciplinary side of being able to create my own path was what interested me after I found that mechanical engineering was not entirely suited to my desire to become a race car driver.” As an engineer himself, Newman is able to easily

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communicate with the engineers on his team at Richard Childress Racing. “Because of my schooling, I have a common language with the engineers on my team,” he said. “We understand each other. So when we go to make a change on the race car, we are more likely to do it the right way the first time, and that definitely helps the entire team.” Although Newman no doubt would have worked in the engineering world if this whole racing thing hadn’t worked out, it’s likely that he’ll spend his post-racing years further pursuing his well-documented passion for animals and the outdoors. Newman and his wife, Krissie, head up Rescue Ranch, a nonprofit animal welfare organization based in Statesville, North Carolina. But with Ryan’s busy racing schedule, the two don’t get to invest the time in the ranch that they otherwise would. Expect that to change dramatically when Ryan calls it a career.

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DRIVER PROFILES PRE S E N T E D B Y Matt Kenseth In addition to being a champion NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and a twotime Daytona 500 winner, Matt Kenseth is also an author. And not just any kind of author – he’s a children’s author, no less. Sounds like a good career for Kenseth, 44, to pursue upon retirement – which can’t be too far away. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver and his wife, Katie, released a 2014 children’s book – “Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying” – designed for family reading to help children ages 4 through 8 become more self-confident and empowered to make good choices. Available exclusively at more than 11,000 Dollar General stores nationwide, the series of value-based books will tackle issues that confront children daily and also help raise awareness for the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Kenseth, an avid reader and literacy advocate from the small town of Cambridge, Wisconsin, is the father of four, including three girls under the age of 10. Kenseth championed this project in hopes the books can help spark dialogue among families to better prepare youth for the challenges that await them. “I was kind of the kid that I wasn’t the guy doing all the sports,” Kenseth said, recalling his school

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days. “I was working on a race car, but I wasn’t really necessarily a nerd, either. It was just kind of a little school. There was the same group that picked on me pretty hard. I don’t know if I handled it the right way or not.” In “Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying,” 9-year-old Matt is starting fourth grade when he encounters a bully who teases him about his racing. A frustrated Matt seeks the assistance of his parents and his friends to help him deal with the school bully. With their help, Matt discovers several methods to help him with this difficult situation. “As we started talking about the book, he actually opened up more about the fact that he was in a sense bullied,” Katie said. “When he was in school, ‘bullying’ wasn’t such a popular word. It was kind of like that’s just how everybody was treated. You were picked on; that’s what happened. So for me it was interesting to learn just exactly what he had been through.”

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20 INFO OWNER JOE GIBBS TEAM JOE GIBBS RACING SPONSORS DOLLAR GENERAL, DEWALT MANUFACTURER TOYOTA CREW CHIEF JASON RATCLIFF

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DRIVER PROFILES PRE S E N T E D B Y Danica Patrick This one is a no-brainer. If Danica Patrick wasn’t driving race cars, she’d likely devote her life to teaching health and fitness. Or maybe she would just have a full-time modeling career. Both are highly plausible options for when she decides her racing days are behind her. In fact, she already has a nice head start. One of the most recognizable athletes in the world, Patrick has graced the cover of ESPN: The Magazine and TV Guide, and was featured in pictorials in the 2008 and 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, in addition to being voted sexiest athlete in the 2007 Victoria’s Secret “What is Sexy” list. She has appeared in 13 Super Bowl commercials – more than any other celebrity – and just last year was featured in two ads inside the March edition of Shape Magazine. “Racing is my profession and my passion. It’s what I do,” said Patrick, now in her fourth full season with Stewart-Haas Racing. “However, who I am is different. I’m an athlete, I train, I stay fit and I’m conscious about the food I eat. When I’m not racing I find balance practicing yoga, hiking, lifting weights, running, enjoying the outdoors and spending time with my family.”

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Fittingly, Patrick is in the first year of a multi-year deal with a new primary sponsor, Reno, Nevadabased Nature’s Bakery – the maker of flavored fig bars tailored to health-conscious consumers. “I feel like our brands align so perfectly, it’s kind of amazing,” Patrick said. “I think that journey is going to be really fun. I think there’s going to be lots of exciting things that we can do together.” Well-known for her elaborate yoga moves, which she often shares through pictures on Twitter and Instagram, Patrick has no shortage of promising career options outside of racing. Just ask supermodel Bar Refaeli, who starred alongside Patrick in a 2013 Super Bowl ad for Patrick’s longtime sponsor, GoDaddy. Refaeli told USA Today Sports’ “For The Win” last year that she believes NASCAR’s most recognizable female would make a terrific model. The bottom line: Patrick will have plenty to do after she climbs from a race car for the final time.

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DRIVER PROFILES PRE S E N T E D B Y A.J. Allmendinger If A.J. Allmendinger hadn’t made it to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, he likely still would be racing. And there’s a good chance he’ll be racing once his NASCAR days are finished. The only question is what kind of vehicle. Allmendinger insists that he didn’t leave openwheel racing because of the money. Sure, it’s more lucrative to be part of a successful NASCAR team, especially when all of the sponsorship money and endorsement opportunities are factored into things. But Allmendinger said that isn’t why he gave up his successful career in Champ Car career in 2006 for stock cars. “I just did it for a job, honestly,” Allmendinger said. “I think people just thought that I made the decision — ah, the money is there and it’s easy to go. It was hard.” Perhaps when Allmendinger calls it quits from all forms of racing, he should teach drivers the art of road-course racing, which could actually be a rather lucrative career when considering the vast number of drivers who could stand to refine their skills at turning both right and left.

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One of NASCAR’s most versatile drivers, The ‘Dinger’ – as Allmendinger is widely known – has enjoyed success in a variety of open-wheel cars and sports cars in addition to stock cars. In fact, the 34-year-old from Los Gatos, California, is a winner in all three types of vehicles. His most prestigious victory to date came in the 2012 running of the world-famous Rolex 24 At Daytona where he was among the drivers who spent time in Michael Shank Racing’s Daytona Prototype. Allmendinger also rolled up an impressive five triumphs in 13 starts in 2006 as an open-wheel competitor in the now-defunct Champ Car World Series. All of Allmendinger’s major wins – one in the Sprint Cup Series, five in Champ Car, one in what is now the IMSA-sanctioned WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – have come on road courses, so he’s never won on an oval.

Denny Hamlin Life has a way of coming full circle for many folks. Denny Hamlin – this year’s Daytona 500 winner and the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship runner-up – will likely be one of those people. Hamlin, who grew up in Chesterﬁeld, Virginia, just outside of Richmond, cut his teeth racing Late Models on short tracks. And he worked alongside his father, Dennis, in a less-than-flamboyant occupation before hitting the big-time in NASCAR’s top series a decade ago. When Hamlin finally hangs up his driving helmet, don’t be the least bit surprised if he returns to his former trade – the one he says he would have continued if racing at NASCAR’s premier level hadn’t worked out. “I would have been working at a trailer shop, for sure, in Chesterfield, Virginia,” Hamlin said. “That’s what I was doing before, and I enjoyed doing that with my dad. I would still like to open up another trailer shop at some point because it’s what I love to do. I love wiring and fabricating.” If Hamlin doesn’t return to the trailer business – or even if he does – the Joe Gibbs Racing driver

might devote some time to giving seminars on how not to get injured playing basketball. Hamlin has suffered a torn ACL – first in his left knee, then later in his right knee – while playing pickup ball on two occasions over the past six years. Both required surgery to repair the ligament damage but neither required him to miss time behind the wheel of his No. 11 Toyota. Speaking of basketball, perhaps Hamlin will spend some time in his post-driving years with his good friend, the legendary six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan. Hamlin, who is a season ticket holder for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets which is owned by Jordan, has a Jordan Brand logo that has taken permanent residence on his driving suit. Now, if only M.J. would give Hamlin some tips on how to avoid injury on the basketball court, Hamlin might stand a better chance of avoiding another dreaded ACL tear while helping others do the same.

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11 INFO OWNER JOE GIBBS TEAM JOE GIBBS RACING SPONSORS FEDEX, SPORT CLIPS MANUFACTURER TOYOTA CREW CHIEF MIKE WHEELER

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DRIVER PROFILES PRE S E N T E D B Y Brad Keselowski Brad Keselowski has long loved the Michigan Wolverines. So if the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion wasn’t a driver, the native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, might be working for his favorite university. Fall Saturdays as a kid and teenager were about just one thing for Keselowski: Wolverine football. Now, whenever he’s back in his home state, the Team Penske driver doesn’t miss a chance to see his beloved Wolverines in action. When the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competes at Michigan International Speedway in August, Keselowski has been known to venture over to the Michigan campus in Ann Arbor to see the Wolverines scrimmage as a guest of the UM athletic department. “Growing up in a racing family, my family was gone a lot, especially in the later fall months that kind of aligned with college football season,” said Keselowski, the son of former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Bob Keselowski. “I couldn’t go to the races, because I’d be in school, so I ended up spending a lot of time with grandmas, cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers. My dad’s side of the family – I’m not really sure why to this day – but we’re huge Michigan Wolverine fans. So I grew up watching them and that kind of

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became a common passion point.” So what exactly will Keselowski do when his racing days are finished? At 32 years old, he admits it’s hard to think that far ahead. “I have a few ideas,” the driver of the No. 2 Ford said. “I love business. I’ll probably run some kind of business. It’s hard to say. You don’t want to get too far in front.” This much is certain: Keselowski will likely stay involved in racing. After all, he’s the owner of multiple teams that compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. And his teams have been and continue to be quite successful. “I believe you have to look short- and long-term in anything you do,” Keselowski said. “You sometimes have to try to see the world from a lot of different elevations. My involvement in the Truck Series is about being a part of something bigger. It’s a legacy. It’s about giving back to the sport,”

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Joey Logano When the day comes for Joey Logano to hang up his helmet, Hollywood could well be waiting. So far at least, Logano hasn’t been the least bit bashful to try his hand at the world of acting. Last summer, the Team Penske driver took on a brief speaking role in “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!,” the third installment in a popular series of made-for-television movies. Logano wasn’t familiar with the cult classic series about ravenous sharks attacking major metropolises before his public relations manager made him aware of the opportunity to make an appearance. Logano filmed his scene in March when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visited Auto Club Speedway in Southern California. “I just kind of went along with it and as I learned more about what it’s about, it became funnier to me,” Logano said. “I got one line, so I’m going to Hollywood. I actually saw our part – the whole NASCAR part – and it’s pretty funny. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be funny, but it’s really funny to me.” Logano’s speaking part in “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!” consists of just one word – “that.” “That’s my line,” he said. “I mean, I freaking nailed it. I did one hell of a job.”

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This was not Logano’s first foray into the world of acting, however. In July 2013, he had a part in Disney XD’s sports-themed “Monday Night Overdrive” when he guest starred on the hit comedy series “Lab Rats.” In the episode, which was titled “The Bionic 500,” Logano appeared as himself doing what he does best: Driving a race car. When Donald Davenport (Hal Sparks) and his new obnoxious neighbor Pierce agree to settle their differences with a stock car race, Davenport is shocked to learn that Pierce has enlisted Logano to race for him. “I grew up watching Disney when I was younger, so it was really cool to get the chance to work with Disney XD and be a part the show, especially since it’s geared toward younger audiences,” Logano said. “I’m not sure how well my acting skills play out on the screen, but it was fun to do, either way.”

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SPONSORS ALBERTSONS, SHORE LODGE

MICHAEL ANNETT OWNER HARRY SCOTT TEAM HSCOTT MOTORSPORTS SPONSORS PILOT, FLYING J MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET CREW CHIEF JAY GUY

MANUFACTURER FORD CREW CHIEF CHRIS HEROY

NUMBER

MARTIN TRUEX JR. OWNER BARNEY VISSER TEAM FURNITURE ROW RACING SPONSORS BASS PRO SHOPS, FURNITURE ROW MANUFACTURER TOYOTA CREW CHIEF COLE PEARN

POLE POSITION 2016

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MICHAEL MCDOWELL OWNERS BOB LEAVINE/JOE FALK TEAM CIRCLE SPORT-LEAVINE FAMILY RACING SPONSORS THRIVENT FINANCIAL, K-LOVE, WRL CONTRACTORS MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET CREW CHIEF DAVE WINSTON

H LEGEND PROFILE Determined to Win YARBOROUGH FIRST TO CLAIM 3 CONSECUTIVE TITLES Having grown up just miles from the storied 1.366-mile superspeedway, Cale Yarborough entered his first NASCAR race at South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway on Sept. 2, 1957. Yarborough went on to claim three series championships and 83 victories in 560 starts.

QUIET TOUGH SMART

DETERMINED

STRONG PATIENT

I’VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE ENJOYED A VERY SUCCESSFUL NASCAR CAREER, BUT I DEFINITELY DIDN’T DO IT ON MY OWN. I HAD SOME GREAT PEOPLE HELP ME ALONG THE WAY.

orn in Timmonsville, South Carolina, on March 27, 1939, Yarborough is the oldest of three boys born to Julian and Annie Yarborough. His family made their living through owning a local store and farming tobacco and cotton. After his father died in a private plane crash during the late 1940s, young Cale began working hard to help his mother manage the family business. Yarborough famously slipped under a fence to see the inaugural Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in September 1950 at age 11. He began his fledgling driving career with one event in 1957. Seven years later in 1965, Yarborough logged his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Georgia’s Valdosta Speedway for team owner Kenny Myler. The victory shifted his career into high gear, prompting several of the sport’s iconic

BEST SEASON IN 1978, THE YEAR OF Yarborough’s third Sprint Cup Series championship, he logged 10 victories, 23 top-five finishes, 24 top-10s results and claimed eight pole positions while driving for Junior Johnson. He also enjoyed a 10win season four years earlier in 1974 in Johnson’s famed No.11 Chevrolet.

RECORD-SETTER

team owners, such as Banjo Matthews, Glen Wood, Junior Johnson, M.C. Anderson and Harry Ranier, to hire him as their driver. While driving for Johnson from 1973 through 1980, Yarborough collected 55 of his 83 Cup Series victories and championships in 1976, ’77 and ’78, becoming the first driver to win three consecutive titles in NASCAR’s premier series. Yarborough also drove Indy cars with limited success in 1971 and 1972 for team owner Gene White. He made two starts in the Indianapolis 500, finishing 16th in 1971 and 10th the following year. In addition to his racing, Yarborough engaged in various business ventures, including his longstanding Honda dealership in Florence, South Carolina. His present-day passion is his 4,000-acre farm and a sixacre lake he built himself at age 76.

THE NO. 11 CAR

KNOWN FOR

ONE OF YARBORough’s greatest accomplishments as a NASCAR driver came on March 25, 1973, during the Volunteer 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. While driving for team owner Richard Howard, he miraculously led every lap of the 500-lap race and logged his 15th of 83 series victories.

DURING A CAREER that spanned 31 years, Yarborough was considered to be one of the sport’s toughest and most determined drivers. He had a reputation for driving cars to better positions than expected, giving his very best effort during every lap of the race.

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POLE POSITION 2016

COURTESY OF NASCAR

REWIND Kulwicki Scores Come-from-Behind Upset DRAMATIC SEASON FINALE GENERATES HUGE INTEREST The 1992 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season featured an intense championship battle that saw six drivers still in contention entering the finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Alan Kulwicki won the title by a mere 10 points over Bill Elliott. No one could have imagined at the beginning of the 1992 season that it would be one of the most exciting in NASCAR’s 43-year history. Aside from intense on-track competition, headlines included Richard Petty, NASCAR’s most popular and successful driver with 200 victories and seven series championships, retiring after 32 years. Also, a young Jeff Gordon made his first Cup Series start in the Nov. 15 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway after two seasons in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. With 28 races completed, the championship battle narrowed to Kulwicki, Elliott, Davey Allison, Harry Gant, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty, all mathematically within striking distance of the title entering the final race. To win the title, Allison needed to finish sixth or better, but he fell short after being involved in an accident. The race and the championship came down to two men – Elliott and Kulwicki. Elliott won the race in Junior Johnson’s Ford, while Kulwicki finished second in his own Ford. Kulwicki led 103 laps to Elliott’s 102, clinching five bonus points for leading the most laps and that was the deciding factor in the championship. Billed as an underdog driver against the highly financed teams, the Wisconsin native received NASCAR’s highest honor in New York City in December 1992. On April 1, 1993, Kulwicki, along with three others, were killed in a private plane crash while en route to Bristol, Tennessee, for a race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

1992

■■ Alan Kulwicki

SEASON RECAP DATE Feb. 16 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 29 April 5 April 12 April 26 May 3 May 24 May 31 June 7 June 14 June 21 July 4 July 19 July 26 Aug. 9 Aug. 16 Aug. 29 Sept. 6 Sept. 12 Sept. 20 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 11 Oct. 25 Nov. 1 Nov. 15

EVENT & LOCATION Daytona International Speedway Rockingham Speedway Richmond International Raceway Atlanta Motor Speedway Darlington Raceway Bristol Motor Speedway North Wilkesboro Speedway Martinsville Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Sonoma Raceway Pocono Raceway Michigan International Speedway Daytona International Speedway Pocono Raceway Talladega Superspeedway Watkins Glen International Michigan International Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Darlington Raceway Richmond International Raceway Dover International Speedway Martinsville Speedway North Wilkesboro Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Rockingham Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Atlanta Motor Speedway

WINNER Davey Allison Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Alan Kulwicki Davey Allison Mark Martin Davey Allison Dale Earnhardt Harry Gant Ernie Irvan Alan Kulwicki Davey Allison Ernie Irvan Darrell Waltrip Ernie Irvan Kyle Petty Harry Gant Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip Rusty Wallace Ricky Rudd Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Mark Martin Kyle Petty Davey Allison Bill Elliott

PRESIDENT: GEORGE H.W. BUSH NO. 1 SONG: “END OF THE ROAD” BY BOYS II MEN MAJOR NEWS STORIES: TORONTO DEFEATS ATLANTA IN THE WORLD SERIES; CANADA, MEXICO AND THE USA ENTER INTO FREE TRADE AGREEMENT; U.S. ARMED FORCES LEAVE THE PHILIPPINES AFTER A 100-YEAR PRESENCE

BEST DRIVER BILL ELLIOTT ENTERED THE 1992 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season as the new driver of Junior Johnson’s Ford Thunderbird. Elliott left the Dawsonville, Georgia, team founded by his family and eventually purchased by businessman Harry Melling. Elliott scored five victories and finished a very close second in the Cup Series point standings to champion Alan Kulwicki. He dominated the month of March with wins at Rockingham, Richmond, Atlanta and Darlington and topped the Atlanta finale.

BEST RACE

TOP CARS

THE HOOTERS 500 AT ATLANTA MOTOR Speedway on Nov. 15 was by far the greatest race of the 1992 NASCAR season. At no other time during the 29-race schedule did any other race feature as many interesting story lines. That event had an intense championship battle among six drivers; it was the final race for seven-time champion Richard Petty; and it marked the series debut of future NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon. Books and television documentaries have spotlighted the race as one of NASCAR’s greatest events.

BEN WHITE

BILL ELLIOTT’S No. 11 Junior Johnson Ford scored five victories and 17 top-10 finishes, while Davey Allison drove Robert Yates’ Ford to similar results, posting five victories and 17 top-10 finishes.

COURTESY OF NASCAR POLE POSITION MAG.COM

X NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

TUNNEL VISION

Ty Dillon: Ready When Called Ty Dillon has gotten extensive experience racing a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car this year, but his on-the-job training has also required him to learn to adapt.

illon, a driver for Richard Childress Racing, entered the season with a full-time ride in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. His Sprint Cup Series prospects, on the other hand, were less certain. In late January, the 24-year-old racer from Welcome, North Carolina, lined up a limited schedule of Sprint Cup Series races with Leavine Family Racing – an RCR technical partner. But when three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart injured his back and was sidelined

indefinitely, Dillon’s plans changed. Being named one of two interim drivers for Stewart required Dillon to learn to work with another new team. Dillon’s theme for this year, which he figured would be “chase a championship,” became “ready when called.” He made starts for Leavine Family Racing in the season-opening Daytona 500 and again at Texas Motor Speedway in April, but Dillon’s Sprint Cup Series efforts were funneled more toward Stewart-Haas Racing – an RCR rival. Stewart-Haas Racing

officials tabbed Dillon as a fill-in, and Dillon responded to his first three SHR opportunities with top-25 finishes. He also had four top-10 finishes in his first seven XFINITY Series starts. Splitting time among the three race teams hasn’t fazed Dillon. He sees the seat swaps as a positive because each race provides him with additional experience for what he hopes will be a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride next season. RCR’s goal was for Dillon to drive a fourth Sprint Cup Series car and race for the

rookie-of-the-year title. A lack of sponsorship meant he had to settle for a part-time gig among three teams. With RCR’s blessing and Stewart’s support, he’s made the most of it. “I was wanting to run full-time Sprint Cup [this year], but everybody does,” Dillon said. “Things didn’t come together this year for that. “I’m taking the opportunities I have to grow my notebook and grow my experience as a driver in the Cup Series, so when I do get that opportunity I can really hit the ground running and excel.”

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hasing a NASCAR XFINITY Series championship, while also making starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is not a new concept. But it has been for thirdgeneration driver Ty Dillon. Dillon has raced full time in the XFINITY Series since 2014 and he has one victory, which came at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during his rookie season. And while he’s been a willing relief driver for Tony Stewart and an appreciative part-timer for Leavine Family Racing, Dillon hasn’t lost sight of his NASCAR XFINITY Series objectives. Nor has he failed to take advantage of his Sprint Cup Series starts. Dillon averaged a ninthplace finish in the season’s first seven XFINITY Series races, but all it got him was a sixth-place ranking in points. Dillon knows the key to success in the XFINITY Series is regularly showing speed. He’s accomplished that before. The next level is to run up front. That’s where Dillon’s Sprint Cup Series races have seemed to help: Two of his best XFINITY Series finishes this season – a fifth at Atlanta Motor Speedway and a seventh at Bristol Motor Speedway – were on weekends where he ran both races.

GETTY IMAGES

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T NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES FIRST TRUCK SERIES WIN

riving the No. 9 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports at Kansas Speedway, William Byron became the ninth NASCAR Next driver to win a national series race. “It was crazy the last couple of restarts, and I had the lead there on the green-flag run [before the caution that forced overtime], and I was really just praying for no cautions, but you have to earn it,” Byron said. – REID SPENCER, NASCAR WIRE SERVICE

SHORT-TRACK SENSATION

One of NASCAR’s Best Young Guns No one fits the bill of NASCAR’s newest generation of drivers better than William Byron and he has the talent to make it to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as evidenced by the K&N Pro Series East championship he won last year.

ut the 18-yearold Charlotte, North Carolina, native was a winning driver before he ever climbed into a stock car. Byron didn’t break into the sport as a youngster wanting to try out go-karts or Bandoleros. He developed his passion and skill behind the wheel of a computerized race car on iRacing, an online motorsports simulation. Byron won hundreds of iRacing events and began a road to stardom that has seen him advance from Legend Cars to the NASCAR Camping

World Truck Series in three years. But Byron, now a promising rookie driver for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series, first had to prove himself at the grassroots level. Byron started racing a Legend Car at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2012. He thrived almost instantly, which caught the attention of JR Motorsports co-owner and Sprint Cup Series star Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnhardt helped Byron progress from Legend Cars, where he won a championship in his first

season, to Late Models in 2014. As a JRM development driver, Byron won a feature at legendary Hickory Motor Speedway. Still, Byron didn’t truly arrive until last year. He parlayed his JRM performance into a K&N Pro Series East ride with HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks. He fared pretty well, too. The talented tyro won four races, the series crown and the rookie-of-the-year title. “It was definitely a successful year for us,” Byron said. He hasn’t stopped his run since joining KBM,

either. Byron scored his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory on May 6 at Kansas Speedway, skillfully avoiding a last-lap crash and driving the No. 9 Liberty University Toyota into Victory Lane. Byron believes his best years are ahead. And with more strong results at KBM, he’ll have more trophies to match his K&N Pro Series efforts. “I’m really excited about that,” Byron said. “Their trucks are really good, and I feel like that’s the best opportunity for me to move up.”

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POLE POSITION 2016

hort tracks are often the toughest circuits for young NASCAR drivers to learn once they progress up to a national touring series. That wasn’t the case for William Byron, who made his first short-track start a rousing success. His third-place finish on April 2 at Martinsville Speedway was monumental for points, since he was relegated to 32nd in the series’ previous race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The result was impressive in another way, too. It showed that Byron’s on-track education – which saw him hone his craft on short ovals as he learned the sport – will translate to NASCAR’s top series. And unlike most NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookies, Byron looks forward to short-track races. The series’ next one, on June 18 at Iowa Speedway’s seveneighths-mile oval, is one of several places Byron could score another victory. Byron already has a strong history at Iowa. He won the pole for the K&N Pro Series’ first of two races there last year, then led 128 of 150 laps and took the checkered flag. Short tracks seem to play right into Byron’s hands. And if he’s in contention to win one, look out because he won’t go down without a fight.

GETTY IMAGES

2016 SCHEDULES

GETTY IMAGES NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES Feb. 13 Feb. 18 Feb. 21 Feb. 28 March 6 March 13 March 20 April 3 April 9 April 17 April 24 May 1 May 7 May 15 May 20 May 21 May 29 June 5 June 12 June 26 July 2 July 9 July 17 July 24 July 31 Aug. 7 Aug. 20 Aug. 28 Sept. 4 Sept. 10 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 8 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20

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

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES Feb. 20 Feb. 27 March 5 March 12 March 19 April 8 April 16 April 23 April 30 May 14 May 28 June 4 June 11 June 19 July 1 July 8 July 16 July 23 July 30 Aug. 6 Aug. 13 Aug. 19 Aug. 27 Sept. 3 Sept. 9 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 7 Oct. 15 Nov. 5 Nov. 12 Nov. 19

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

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES Feb. 19 Feb. 27 April 2 May 6 May 13 May 20 June 10 June 18 June 25 July 7 July 20 July 30

Daytona International Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway Martinsville Speedway Kansas Speedway Dover International Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Iowa Speedway Gateway Motorsports Park Kentucky Speedway Eldora Speedway Pocono Raceway

Aug. 17 Aug. 27 Sept. 4 Sept. 16 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 22 Oct. 29 Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 18

Bristol Motor Speedway Michigan International 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

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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POLE POSITION 2016

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POLE POSITION MAG.COM

WHY WE LOVE NASCAR

■■ Kyle Busch at G.B. Swift Specialty School in Chicago, Illinois

Giving Back: The NASCAR Way NASCAR isn’t just about racing; it’s also about giving back. Whether it’s the sanctioning body, race track operators or drivers, helping those ill or less fortunate is a theme that extends across the sport. Taking the checkered flag is most important for NASCAR drivers. A close second is generosity and helping the less fortunate. Be it raising money for children with debilitating diseases to supporting charities and specific causes – even including the care and welfare of animals – NASCAR drivers are heavily involved in their respective advocacies. But whereas drivers love the spotlight when they’re

on the race track, they downplay their involvement in helping others away from the track. The reason is simple: The big names want the attention and focus to be on and for those that truly need help. “So many people helped us when we were coming up, that it’s only right to give back and help others that really need help in everyday life,” said 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch. Among those that provide significant help for the ill or less fortunate: The NASCAR Foundation, Speedway Children’s Charities and Victory Junction Gang Camp; as well as drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, David Ragan, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Michael Annett, J.J. Yeley and Matt DiBenedetto.

JERRY BONKOWSKI 64

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