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NASCAR President Steve Phelps

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POLE POSITION 2021

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PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

NASCAR DEFINED

POLE POSITION 2021

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

2020 was an unforgettable year... No adjective can capture what the entire world faced. NASCAR stakeholders, owners, teams, drivers, workers and fans experienced something never seen in their lifetime. However, once the shock wore off and the new reality set in, NASCAR got back to work and showed a resilience not displayed in any other sport in this country. Not only did NASCAR regroup, it rebounded, and as a result enters 2021 with sky-high expectations. Today, you have every reason to be proud to be a NASCAR Fan. We hope you enjoy the 2021 season. We will â&#x20AC;Ś more than ever.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

CONTE FE NT MABRRCUARYH

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR

NASCAR Fandom

Q&A WITH NASCAR PRESIDENT P.12

BACK STORY: THE BLACK NO. 3 CAR P.16

08 Green Flag 18 NASCAR’s Favorite Pets 19 Purple Heart Heroes 38 Fan Favorite Mark Martin 40 Silly Season Changes

WHY I RACE: MYATT SNIDER P.44

46 Matt DiBenedetto’s Favorite Things 48 10 Impact Drivers in 2021 60 XFINITY Series Drivers to Watch 61 Camping World Truck Series Drivers to Watch

LEGEND PROFILE: JIMMIE JOHNSON P.62

66 Season Rewind: Bobby Isaac’s 1970 Title 67 Reflecting on Richard Petty’s 200 wins 68 La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway 70 Cool Stuff for Race Fans

NASCAR POLE POSITION AN OFFICIALLY LICENSED PUBLICATION OF NASCAR // ADDRESS: 23110 STATE ROAD 54, SUITE 293, LUTZ, FL 33549 • PHONE: (727) 209-0792 • WEB: POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM, AE-ENGINE.COM // PUBLISHER: CRAIG BARONCELLI // SALES VICE PRESIDENT: DAVID WATSON • VICE PRESIDENT, MOTORSPORTS: CHRIS VITA • SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: JUSTIN HAND, MARK MORALES // PRODUCTION: SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: JOE RABUCK • DIRECTOR, DIGITAL MEDIA: NICOLE COOPER • DIRECTOR, DIGITAL CONTENT: JOSH MULL • EDITOR: KEITH WALTZ • CONTRIBUTORS: JARED TURNER, AARON BURNS, ROB TIONGSON, KEITH WALTZ, BEN WHITE, JOSEPH WOLKIN, DAN GUTTENPLAN • SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS: AARON BURNS, AIDAN ANDERSEN, ETHAN ANDERSEN • PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES, LIONEL RACING, NASCAR HALL OF FAME, HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, TEAM 23XI, LA CROSSE SPEEDWAY • SPECIAL THANKS TO: GREG CARTY (NASCAR) // A.E. ENGINE SPECIFIES THAT POST-PRESS CHANGES MAY OCCUR TO ANY INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION AND TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOODS OR SERVICES ADVERTISED. NASCAR® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STOCK CAR AUTO RACING, INC. MAIL ORDER: TO RECEIVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE, SEND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR $29.95 TO: NASCAR POLE POSITION, C/O A.E. ENGINE, 23110 STATE ROAD 54, SUITE 293, LUTZ, FL 33549. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR RETURN MAILING ADDRESS AND AN EMAIL ADDRESS. ONLINE ORDER: SUBSCRIPTIONS CAN BE ORDERED ONLINE AT POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM/BUY. DISTRIBUTION: IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS OR AN ORGANIZATION INTERESTED IN DISTRIBUTING COPIES OF NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE, PLEASE CONTACT CRAIG BARONCELLI AT (727) 209-1750 OR CB@AE-ENGINE. COM. SALES INQUIRIES: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE OR WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CONTACT DAVID WATSON AT (727) 209-0789, OR DKW@AE-ENGINE.COM. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

POLE POSITION 2021

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

PRESENTED BY

GREEN FLAG

A SHOC Sponsors Chase Elliott BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

TO-DIE-FOR DIECASTS HERE ARE THE TOP-10 MOST POPULAR diecasts from the 2020 season:

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A SHOC’s preservative-free, plant-powered natural caffeine blend is available in 10 flavors. It is distributed across the United States by Dr Pepper, which is an investor in the brand. This season, the No. 9 A SHOC Chevrolet will appear July 11 at Elliott’s home track of Atlanta Motor Speedway and in the Oct. 3 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway.

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POLE POSITION 2021

JORDAN ANDERSON TO XFINITY SERIES Jordan Anderson Racing announced the team will expand operations to race full time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season. Owner/driver Jordan Anderson will man the No. 31 Bommarito Automotive Group Chevrolet Camaro SS. The team will operate under the Chevrolet banner with cars acquired from Richard Childress Racing and powered by ECR engines. Artie Haire will serve as crew chief for the organization after joining the team during the summer of 2020.

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2021 SCHEDULES NASCAR CUP SERIES Tuesday, Feb. 9 Thursday, Feb. 11 Sunday, Feb. 14 Sunday, Feb. 21 Sunday. Feb. 28 Sunday, March 7 Sunday, March 14 Sunday, March 21 Sunday, March 28 Saturday, April 10 Sunday, April 18 Sunday, April 25 Sunday, May 2 Sunday, May 9 Sunday, May 16 Sunday, May 23 Sunday, May 30 Sunday, June 6 Sunday, June 13 Sunday, June 20 Saturday, June 26 Sunday, June 27 Sunday, July 4 Sunday, July 11 Sunday, July 18 Sunday. Aug. 8 Sunday, Aug. 15 Sunday, Aug. 22 Saturday, Aug. 28 Sunday, Sept. 5 Saturday, Sept. 11 Saturday, Sept. 18 Sunday, Sept. 26 Sunday, Oct. 3 Sunday, Oct. 10 Sunday, Oct. 17 Sunday, Oct. 24 Sunday, Oct. 31 Sunday, Nov. 7

Busch Clash at Daytona Duels at Daytona Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway Road Course Homestead-Miami Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Phoenix Raceway Atlanta Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Martinsville Speedway Richmond Raceway Talladega Superspeedway Kansas Speedway Darlington Raceway Dover International Speedway Circuit of The Americas Charlotte Motor Speedway Sonoma Raceway Texas Motor Speedway -- All-Star Race Nashville Superspeedway Pocono Raceway Pocono Raceway Road America Atlanta Motor Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Watkins Glen International Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Michigan International Speedway Daytona International Speedway Darlington Raceway Richmond Raceway Bristol Motor Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL Texas Motor Speedway Kansas Speedway Martinsville Speedway Phoenix Raceway

XFINITY SERIES Saturday. Feb. 13 Saturday, Feb. 20 Saturday, Feb. 27 Saturday, March 6 Saturday, March 13 Saturday, March 20 Friday, April 9 Saturday, April 24 Saturday, May 8 Saturday, May 15 Saturday, May 22 Saturday, May 29 Saturday, June 5 Saturday, June 12 Saturday, June 19 Sunday, June 27 Saturday, July 3 Saturday, July 10 Saturday, July 17 Saturday, Aug. 7 Saturday, Aug. 14 Saturday, Aug. 21 Saturday, Aug. 27 Saturday, Sept. 4 Saturday, Sept. 11 Friday, Sept. 17 Saturday, Sept. 25 Saturday, Oct. 2 Saturday, Oct. 9 Saturday, Oct. 16 Saturday, Oct. 23 Saturday, Oct. 30 Saturday, Nov. 6

Daytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway Road Course Homestead-Miami Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Phoenix Raceway Atlanta Motor Speedway Martinsville Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Darlington Raceway Dover International Speedway Circuit of The Americas Charlotte Motor Speedway Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Texas Motor Speedway Nashville Superspeedway Pocono Raceway Road America Atlanta Motor Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Watkins Glen International Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Michigan International Speedway Daytona International Speedway Darlington Raceway Richmond Raceway Bristol Motor Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL Texas Motor Speedway Kansas Speedway Martinsville Speedway Phoenix Raceway

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES Friday, Feb. 12 Friday, Feb. 19 Friday, March 5 Saturday, March 20 Saturday, March 27 Saturday, April 17 Saturday, May 1 Friday, May 7 Saturday, May 22 Friday, May 28 Saturday, June 12 Friday, June 18 Saturday, June 26 Friday, July 9 Saturday, Aug. 7 Friday, Aug. 20 Sunday, Sept. 5 Thursday, Sept. 16 Friday, Sept. 24 Saturday, Oct. 2 Saturday, Oct. 30 Friday, Nov. 5

POLE POSITION 2021

Daytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway Road Course Las Vegas Motor Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Richmond Raceway Kansas Speedway Darlington Raceway Circuit of The Americas Charlotte Motor Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Nashville Superspeedway Pocono Speedway Knoxville Raceway Watkins Glen International World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Bristol Motor Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Martinsville Speedway Phoenix Raceway

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Pitbull Joins Trackhouse Racing Ownership BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

GRAMMY® Award-winning global superstar Pitbull has become a co-owner of Trackhouse Racing. He and team founder/co-owner Justin Marks plan to amplify the sport’s influence around the world. Trackhouse Racing will debut its No. 99 Chevrolet in the Feb. 14 Daytona 500 with Daniel Suarez behind the wheel. The Monterrey, Mexico, native is the only foreign-born national series champion in NASCAR history. “I’ve been a fan of the NASCAR story since the movie ‘Days of Thunder,’” said Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull). “As soon as I met Justin, Ty Norris (team president) and Daniel, we were on the same page. They welcomed me aboard, and now we’re going to show the world NASCAR is not only a sport but a culture.” Perez, or Pitbull, has already asserted himself as an engine for evolution. Not only will he serve as an active partner on the Trackhouse executive team, Perez serves as a brand and

philanthropic ambassador. Together, Marks and Perez will foster the launch of a racingthemed STEM curriculum within the SLAM! (Sports Leadership Arts and Management) inner-city charter schools, which Pitbull helped establish seven years ago. “From day one of creating Trackhouse Racing, I wanted our team to be a platform for purpose, to transcend the sport and positively impact all races on and off the track,” said Marks. “I am proud that in just a few months we are here announcing a partnership with one of the most influential and recognized artists in the world. Within the first 10 minutes of our first meeting, it was clear Armando and I share a vision and passion for impacting the lives of the underrepresented. “We are creating and compelling a movement of positivity and possibility, using the platform and excitement of sports and music. Through NASCAR and our partnership with Pitbull, we are going to have the attention of a global demographic that is ready to be inspired into action for themselves, their families and their future.”

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FOR THE RECORD

Q&A WITH NASCAR PRESIDENT Steve Phelps BY JOSEPH WOLKIN

teve Phelps has served as president of NASCAR since 2018 and

has been with the sanctioning body in various top management positions since 2005. He has worked diligently on initiatives to grow the sport while spearheading numerous innovative changes to enhance competition across NASCAR’s various racing series. Above all, Phelps is a race fan with deep roots that date back to his early childhood. Give us some information about yourself, such as where you grew up? I’m from Burlington, Vermont. How were you introduced to stock car racing? I have to thank my dad. He’s the one who took me to Catamount Stadium in Vermont when I was 5 years old, and that was my introduction to the sport. I fell in love with NASCAR and racing at that moment. It was such a special day that I’ll always cherish. NASCAR fans have always been extremely loyal to their drivers and teams. Did you have a favorite driver or drivers while in high school or college? Well, growing up in Vermont and going to the races at Catamount Stadium, the Dragon brothers were the top attraction. Beaver and Bobby Dragon were legendary drivers in the Northeast and they left quite the impression on me. Where did you attend college and what did you study? I earned an economics degree from the University of Vermont, then went to Boston College to earn my MBA. What were you doing before you joined NASCAR? I worked at the NFL for 14 years, running their sponsorship group, but I was always known there as the “NASCAR guy.” Paul Tagliabue was the NFL commissioner at the time, as he called me into his office one day and said, “I’m meeting with Bill (France) Jr. and I need to know as much about NASCAR as I can.” So, I sat down with him for about an hour and gave him a NASCAR 101. How did the opportunity to join NASCAR come about? I was approached by the senior leadership at the time with the pitch being that this was an opportunity to work with great people and make a real difference long term in a sport I love dearly. It was not a hard sell.

POLE POSITION 2021

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FOR THE RECORD

PRESENTED BY

•• Steve Phelps joined NASCAR in 2004 after 14 years with the NFL, and was named president of NASCAR on Oct. 1, 2018. He joined NASCAR’s Board of Directors in 2020.

How rewarding is it for you personally to be a part of the highest level of stock car racing in the world? It’s incredibly rewarding. NASCAR is phenomenal racing, and I think we have tremendous stories and storylines that develop from that racing. We have a great mix of veteran and young drivers who are dueling it out on the track each week, and our fans are so engaged with those drivers and those storylines. It’s a rewarding honor to serve those passionate fans, and I’m grateful for that opportunity each and every day. As president of NASCAR, what do you enjoy most about your position? I love this sport and I’ve loved it since I was 5. I love going to the races, and with this job, I get to go to just about every race, which is a lot of fun. There’s nothing that matches the excitement of a NASCAR race, and I love sharing that excitement with others. I’m an evangelist for our sport, and I enjoy sharing the good news of NASCAR with our current fans and people who may have never experienced a NASCAR race before. Last year, you were named to NASCAR’s board of directors. What does that milestone mean to you personally and professionally? I am incredibly honored to be appointed to the board of directors. As a lifelong fan of the sport, I feel a great sense of pride and duty in our work to position the sport for long-term success. I am grateful for the leadership and example set by the France family and am genuinely humbled by their continued trust in me.

POLE POSITION 2021

What do you enjoy most when you visit tracks during any given NASCAR weekend? I enjoy listening to our fans and hearing their passion and seeing their devotion to the sport and their drivers. They wear that passion as a badge of honor, and they are always open to share their excitement with others. We have certainly missed having our fans at the track during this pandemic and I can’t wait until we can welcome them back in greater numbers. Where do you see the sport going in the next five years? It may be difficult to see right now in the middle of a pandemic, but the future of our sport is so incredibly bright. We are truly on the threshold of a new golden age of NASCAR, with new stars emerging like Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace, and a new car that’s on the horizon. Add that together with some of the other exciting things we can’t wait to share about our future schedule and there’s certainly a lot to be optimistic about when it comes to the future of NASCAR. Our fans are going to be excited. On a personal note, tell us something about you we don’t know. Is there an interesting accomplishment away from NASCAR that you’re most proud of? Well, I was a member of the indoor and outdoor track-and-field teams at the University of Vermont. As for the accomplishment I’m most proud of, it has to be my family. How do you relax when you’re away from the race track? I certainly love spending time with my family, and I try the best I can to stay in shape through cycling. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

NASCAR BACK STORY

PRESENTED BY

BACK STORY:

THE BLACK NO. 3 CAR BY BEN WHITE

rom 1969 through 21 of 31 races on

1987, the iconic blue-and-yellow colors the 1981 schedule, Richard Childress needed to be replaced by a paint scheme was an independent driver in NASrepresenting new sponsor GM GoodCAR’s premier stock car series. During wrench. During the months between the those years, Childress campaigned cars 1987 and 1988 seasons, Childress, memwith the numbers 13 and 96, but another bers of his crew and Goodwrench ofnumber stood out as his favorite by 1976. ficials searched for another iconic paint “The No. 3 was the only single car scheme to brand around Earnhardt. number available at the time when I What looked impressive in renderstarted using it,” Childress said. “Junior ings on paper and in color samples on Johnson was one of my heroes when quarter panels simply didn’t pop on the I was growing up in Winston-Salem race track, prompting numerous paint (North Carolina) and he used it. schemes to be considered. Then one “A guy named Ferrell Hinkle actually color became the overall favorite, in part designed that No. 3 we used on my cars. out of frustration He was charging more money to paint a “I remember we went through a good •• How the Black No. 3 came to be was more of a 9 and a 6 than he was a single 3. I liked many paint schemes and how they process of elimination than a design epiphany. it because single-digit numbers have alshould be placed on the car,” Childress ways been winners, especially that No. 3.” has said in recent years. “We tried blue Childress left the driver’s seat in 1981 to make way for rising and white to match the Goodwrench logo. We tried red, silver star Dale Earnhardt. The eventual seven-time champion reand white. We tried this and that and just couldn’t come up with turned to Richard Childress Racing in 1984 after wheeling Fords what we really liked. It just wasn’t working out. I can’t remember for team owner Bud Moore in 1982 and 1983. who it was, but one of the Goodwrench executives said, ‘Oh what Earnhardt won his second NASCAR Cup Series championthe heck, why don’t you just paint it black?’ So that’s really how it ship in 1986 and defended his title in 1987, driving Childress’ all began. No one had thought of it until he mentioned it. We ran No. 3 Chevrolet. silver numbers in 1988 and changed them to white in 1989 and When Wrangler Jeans ended its sponsorship in November stayed with white numbers from then on.”

POLE POSITION 2021

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Meet Kimber, Boyd’s Best Bud

hen NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Spencer

Boyd was 3 years old, his parents adopted a yellow Lab named Shammy. When Shammy passed away, the family waited less than two years to adopt another yellow Lab, Kimber, who is now 11 years old. Although Boyd, 25, moved out a few years ago, he still lives just down the road from his parents’ house, which is rather convenient when considering his strong affinity for the 80-pound canine he still refers to as “my dog.” “It’s funny: I tell my mom all the time, ‘I’m swinging by. I miss my dog,’” Boyd said. “So, I stop by and just play fetch, hang out and watch TV with the dog.” Kimber, who bears what Boyd calls a “spooky” resemblance to Shammy, doesn’t ever get to go to the race track with Boyd, but she’s still with him in another sort of way. “My parents obviously watch all the truck races, and they have my scanner going. My dog sits on the couch and listens to the scanner with my dad the whole race,” Boyd said. “That’s kind of cool. She can tell when I’m talking on the radio.”

BY JARED TURNER

•• Kimber has been a big part of Spencer Boyd’s life.

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Purple Heart Heroes Hunt

ast November, Trin-

guests to go clay shooting ity Oaks hosted and fishing for bass and seven Purple Heart catfish in between excurU.S. military veterans at sions into the woods. At their Thumbtack Ranch night, everyone spent in Batesville, Texas, once time together around a again providing these campfire getting to know American heroes with the each other and sharing hunting experience of a their life experiences. lifetime. “This event was a little Participating for the bit different. I really got to third consecutive event hang out with one veteran as a “celebrity tour guide” – his name’s Mike. We be•• Spencer Boyd (front row, left) served as an official tour was NASCAR Camping came really good buddies,” guide on Record Rack’s “Purple Heart Heroes Hunt.” World Truck Series driver Boyd said. “He got blown Spencer Boyd, whose up in a Humvee over in sponsor, Record Rack, Afghanistan. plays a key role for this charity by providing all the feed needed “I watched him take down his first buck, which was exciting. for the deer and exotic species on the ranch. He had never done that before. We hunted for three or four days Boyd was on hand for the duration of the five-day hunting exand ate steak and crab legs, and we’ve talked weekly since then. perience, which also included opportunities for the distinguished We just hit it off.”

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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EXPRESS YOUR NASCAR FANDOM

R P X TO E

R U O Y S S E

R A C S A N M O D N A F H OW

Want to prove you’re a serious and passionate NASCAR fan? It’s not all that difficult, really. But it is probably going to require more than just watching a race on TV once a month or attending one race a decade. Yes, to show the world you’re truly sold out to the sport you love, it’s a good idea to go the extra mile – even if it costs you a little money, time and effort along the way. The truth is, if you’re really devoted to NASCAR and making sure your fandom

POLE POSITION 2021

is on full display, you won’t mind being a little inconvenienced because, well, that’s all part of the fun. Following are several sure ways to wear your fandom on your sleeve and let everyone in your world know just how devoted you are to the guys and gals who drive fast stock cars and turn left – and sometimes right – for your entertainment.

BY JARED TURNER AND AARON BURNS PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Collect NASCAR Diecasts

ne of the most revealing signs of a diehard

NASCAR fan is often found in the display cases in his or her home. That’s where diecast collectibles – usually dozens and sometimes hundreds, if not thousands, of them – tend to be. In short, there’s no better or more tangible way to show your allegiance to your favorite driver or the sport in general than by buying 1:64 and 1:24 scale diecasts. “We’ve always believed the diecast car in our sport is sort of the jersey of the sport,” said Howard Hitchcock, the CEO of Lionel Racing, the Official Diecast of NASCAR. “In traditional stick-and-ball sports, folks collect jerseys or wear jerseys to sort of symbolize their fandom for a particular team or player. In our case, there’s certainly driver uniformtype stuff, but the reality is the car oftentimes is as big of a star as the driver is in terms of the way people sort of connect to the sport. … So, us having authentic replications of the car is a very, very important piece of it.” The most devoted fans tend to purchase diecast collectibles not only of their favorite driver’s primary paint scheme but of other paint schemes their driver might campaign during a season. With Lionel Racing, fans can even purchase diecasts designed to mirror the exact way their favorite driver’s car looked just moments after winning a race. Although the larger 1:24 scale cars are more expensive than the smaller 1:64, it’s worth it to purchase the biggest and most realistic version of the car you can possibly find.

PHOTOGRAPHY: LIONEL RACING

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

EXPRESS YOUR NASCAR FANDOM

Attend the Daytona 500

hile it may not be feasible to

attend this year’s Daytona 500 in-person due to capacity restrictions related to COVID-19, this is the single greatest one-day event in all of sports bar none. If you want to show what a passionate and devoted NASCAR fan you are, it’s a must that you make time for and plan a trip to the sport’s biggest and most prestigious race – at least once in your lifetime, and preferably several times.

POLE POSITION 2021

Speaking from experience having covered the Daytona 500 three times in person for FOX Sports, I can tell you there’s a buzz in the air at this race that is unlike any other on the NASCAR schedule. From the moment you drive your vehicle onto the property of the sprawling 2.5-mile superspeedway that the late NASCAR founder and chairman William H.G. France built, you will feel a different, special vibe that is truly one-of-a-kind. The aura and electricity surrounding

the Daytona 500 – appropriately nicknamed The Great American Race – is spectacular enough to send chills down the spine of any NASCAR fan. While being at Daytona at any point during Speedweeks is special, there’s nothing quite like that feeling on the morning of the Daytona 500, where guest celebrities have included, among others, two sitting presidents of the United States. Being at the Daytona 500 is the kind of experience that NASCAR fans will tell their children and grandchildren about. There’s simply nothing like it in all the world.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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Support NASCAR Partners & Sponsors “ Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” That’s an

old adage in NASCAR, which refers to the idea that an automaker – Chevrolet, Ford or Toyota – sells more vehicles soon after one of its cars wins a race. Of course, strategically buying the same kind of vehicle that your favorite driver races on Sunday afternoon or, in rare instances, Saturday night is just one of many examples of ways fans can express their fandom by the things they purchase. After all, every NASCAR Cup Series driver has a primary sponsor, and these days, most drivers and teams have several primary sponsors since it has become increasingly difficult in recent times for a single sponsor to bear the financial load that comes with being a primary backer for a full

POLE POSITION 2021

36-race season. Now to the crux of the matter: If you’re a true Chase Elliott fan, why would you consider going anywhere but NAPA – Elliott’s main primary sponsor – for your auto parts? If you’re a Kyle Busch fan, it would serve you well – and solidify your fanhood – to go and buy a pack of M&M’s every day or at least a couple of times a week. You can make Busch proud and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time. In addition to purchasing the product associated with your driver’s primary sponsors, you can also show love for NASCAR itself by buying from or shopping at businesses tied to NASCAR’s official corporate partners, which include but are not limited to Coca-Cola, GEICO, Monster Energy, Visa, Goodyear and Advance Auto Parts. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Plan to Visit Every Cup Series Track

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money and, yes, patience, but if you really want to show how sold out you are to the sport of NASCAR, it would be well worth attempting to visit every NASCAR Cup Series track at some point in your lifetime. Forty years ago, this would have been much easier, of course. That’s because back then, most all tracks were located in the Southeast corner of the United States and therefore a drivable distance from each other. Not so anymore. These days, you’ll find NASCAR Cup Series tracks all the way from California to North Carolina and from New Hampshire to South Florida. If you’re not into air travel, visiting every race track is going to be tough, but let’s

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assume you’re good with flying. Since there are just over 20 tracks, maybe plan on visiting one a year if you’re under the age of 45. If you’re over 45, it might not be a bad idea to hit at least a couple of tracks every year, just in case you’re not as excited about traveling in your later years. However, regardless of how and when you do it, it’s worth every NASCAR fan’s time to visit every track at some point. Not only will you get to experience different parts of the country and see what makes each track unique, but you will make sweet memories with family and perhaps friends while doing it – especially if you go in your RV or motorhome so you can arrive a couple of days early and enjoy the full fan experience.

here are numerous ways NASCAR fans can showcase their passion for America’s

fastest sport. Perhaps the easiest is to be actively involved and engaged on social media, where NASCAR’s foremost drivers, team owners and personalities frequently interact. Twitter has become the de facto location for NASCAR’s elite competitors to speak to and hear from their ardent supporters, and it’s been a beehive of activity since the 2012 Daytona 500 – when Brad Keselowski snapped a cellphone photo from his cockpit during a red flag. Keselowski’s impromptu photo provided that year’s eventual champion with two things: PHOTOGRAPHY: ERIC ESTEPP

Dover Richmon e artinsvill

Be a Force on Social Media

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a threefold increase in Twitter followers, and a $25,000 fine from NASCAR for tweeting during a race. Despite the lightened wallet, Keselowski’s “transgression” gave other drivers the green light to become more involved on Twitter. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano are but a handful of drivers who frequently post on Twitter after – but not during – their races. Jumping in the conversation can give any fan the platform needed to jumpstart a new conversation, or in some cases, a new opportunity. It’s where many social media influencers, including “Out of the Groove” host Eric Estepp, build a base of followers who flock to Estepp’s Twitter and YouTube pages for the latest news and informed takes on what’s happening in NASCAR. Fans seeking to show off their photos, opinions, memorabilia collections and marriage proposals can enjoy the same benefits of increased enjoyment and social media engagement without worrying about a $25,000 fine. Sounds like a good deal!

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

EXPRESS YOUR NASCAR FANDOM

Wear NASCAR Stuff

ne of the easiest ways to prove you’re a

NASCAR fan is to wear merchandise supporting your favorite driver or team. While it’s not as permanent as getting a tattoo, it’s probably a more affordable method for new fans looking to showcase their support. Fanatics.com and NASCAR.com offer fans a plethora of merchandise options, from the traditional shirts and hats to loungewear, hoodies and jackets, visors and bandanas. Polo shirts and button-downs are also easily available if you’re more interested in what pairs well with a work outfit. In addition to traditional retailers, race tracks and race team shops also offer lots of swag for fans to wear at the track, in the living room or in the office.

POLE POSITION 2021

If you’re a Chase Elliott fan, you’ve got lots of options for new apparel featuring the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion – but you’d be well-served to move quickly. Some of Elliott’s hats sold out on his website’s store soon after they went on sale late last season, prompting a slew of fans to request a warpspeed restocking. He’s the most in-demand of all active NASCAR drivers, but if you fancy one of the sport’s underdogs, don’t worry. There are shirts and hats for pretty much every driver in the field if you’re into the newest gear. If you’re more like Ryan Blaney – or, you just like Ryan Blaney – go with the old-school option and check out throwback merchandise on eBay. After all, a Tim Richmond hat looks good on any fan. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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Visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame

aying a visit to the NASCAR Hall of

Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, is typically a bucket-list item for even the most casual NASCAR fan – much less those who are truly sold out to the sport. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s “Uptown” area, this head-turning 93,000-square-foot museum serves as the ultimate shrine to the history, heritage and future of NASCAR. With more than 50 interactive fan experiences, which include no fewer than 15 iRacing simulators along with opportunities to

POLE POSITION 2021

simulate pit stops and more, visitors can engage in a true race-day experience from the unique perspective of the drivers and crew members they cheer for on Sunday afternoons. Of course, the Hall isn’t just a place to play games; it’s a place to carefully study and soak up the history of the sport. One of the best ways to do this is stopping by the Hall of Honor where personally selected artifacts are on display paying tribute to the 55 legends currently enshrined in the Hall. Another can’t-miss stop here is

the High Octane Theater, a 278-seat, state-of-the-art auditorium featuring a roughly 15-minute film designed to serve as an introduction to the history of NASCAR. Perhaps the Hall’s most popular and well-known attraction is Glory Road, a signature exhibit on the first floor featuring a banked ramp leading to the second floor. The display showcases 18 historic cars and 43 current and historic tracks with two ways for fans to walk up and experience race track banking of 14 and 33 degrees, respectively.

PHOTOGRAPHY: NASCAR HALLF OF FAME

Support a Driver’s Charity Long thought of as a way for NASCAR drivers to give back to important causes, driver charities are another avenue for fans to show how much they’re invested in the sport. It’s also an impactful way to influence society. Some high-profile examples of charities include: •• The Kyle Busch Foundation’s “Bundle of Joy” fund advocates infertility education, awareness and grants to give opportunities to couples needing financial assistance to have their own bundle of joy. The group began its journey with the REACH (Reproductive Endocrinology Associates of Charlotte) infertility clinic. •• The Dale Jr. Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged individuals, with a focus on youth, by providing the resources to improve their confidence and education and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals.

TDJF frequently partners with organizations including Blessings in a Backpack, Make-A-Wish and the Nationwide Children’s Hospital. In some cases, driver charities were borne of drivers’ families experiencing the difficulties their charities work to overcome. “We knew this was our calling and we knew that there weren’t many groups out there supporting IVF financially for couples,” said Samantha Busch, Kyle Busch’s wife and the co-founder of the Bundle of Joy fund. “We really felt like we always prayed about it and God was like, ‘You’re going through this journey for a reason.’ “Seeing the couple (who received a grant) – it was like a visible weight was lifted off their shoulders when we told them that we would be paying for their treatment. We started working really hard for that.”

Join the Official NASCAR Members Club

Passionate NASCAR fans can express their fandom by joining the Official NASCAR Members Club. Members receive a slew of benefits, including: DISCOUNTS AT THE MEMBERS ONLY STORE Save up to 70% on NASCAR and driver products on the ONMC online store, which is exclusive to members. Get exclusive first looks at deals. The Official NASCAR Members Club can offer the best prices on memorabilia due to its partnerships with manufacturers and suppliers of products and services. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

VIP EXPERIENCES While this comes with a big asterisk for 2021 (*depending on track safety protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the VIP experiences are the perks that most ONMC members rave about. These experiences include NASCAR Cup Series garage tours, entry to driver meetings, the opportunity to high-five drivers at introductions, and entry to the Winner’s Circle post-race. Future plans include providing ONMC members the opportunity to wave the green flag during practice and joining the parade laps during driver introductions. A SOCIAL OUTLET Many ONMC members become lifelong friends after meeting at tracks and sharing their love for NASCAR. From a social media perspective, members can stay up to date on NASCAR news as it happens and gain access to content from NASCAR’s most respected writers and insiders. CONSTANT SUPPORT If a member has a question before heading to the track, he or she is encouraged to reach out to ONMC Member Services for guidance and peace of mind. ONMC staff will respond to emails or calls between Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST). Web: www.onmc.com Phone: 877-696-2722 Email: memberservice@onmc.com POLE POSITION MAG.COM

EXPRESS YOUR NASCAR FANDOM

Get a NASCAR Driver Tattoo

uying a driver’s shirt or hat shows off

your fandom whenever you wear it, but a tattoo lasts forever (unless the driver’s number changes – then you’ve got a conundrum on your hands). Fans have gotten driver, car and number tattoos for decades, but as the tattoo industry continues to expand, the number of fans who’ve inked up their arms and legs with NASCAR tattoos has likewise grown. Scott McNew, a NASCAR fan from Monroe, Michigan, has followed the sport since the mid-1990s. McNew has an Earnhardt sleeve, with ornate tattoos of Dale Earnhardt’s No. 3 car and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 machine along with each driver’s signature, likeness and even logos of the Brickyard 400 and the Pepsi 400 covering an entire arm. “I’ve always been an Earnhardt fan, so I thought getting the No. 3 on my upper arm looked really cool,” McNew said. “I decided to add his signature on there and then I figured, why not just turn it into a whole sleeve with Dale Sr. on the upper arm and Dale Jr. on the lower arm?” Talk about being expressive! “Getting a driver tattoo shows how passionate you are about your favorite drivers and it shows that you’ll stick with them through thick and thin,” McNew added. “If there are fans out there thinking about getting a driver tattoo, I say ‘Go for it.’ “It may not be cheap and it will take time to get done, but in the end, it is most definitely worth it.”

POLE POSITION 2021

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Name Someone After Your Favorite Driver Naming someone after a driver leaves a lasting legacy – and can be a very flattering honor for the subject. Aaron White, the quality engineer for ECR Engines, collaborated with his wife, Leslie, on a special name for their son: Rex, after Rex White, the 1960 NASCAR Cup Series champion. “Little Rex” was born on Dec. 15 of last year. “I’m a huge supporter of not forgetting our history in NASCAR and having the last name ‘White’ presented an opportunity that just couldn’t be missed,” Aaron White said. “We were looking for a simple, easy-to-say but also not an overly common name. (My wife) liked it because it checked the boxes. I liked it because I knew the significance and

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my dad knows Rex personally. “I think it’s great that we can tie in our son’s name to not only NASCAR history, but history in general. Roots are important to me and it’s great to remember the people who came before us. I’m looking forward to putting a No. 4 on the side of little Rex’s first Power Wheels car.” For his part, the original Rex White – now 90 years old – loved it. “In all my years, I’ve never had anyone named after me,” White, a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, said. “I have to say it is such an honor to have my name passed down to someone else. My hope for little Rex is to always be happy, healthy, find his direction in life and make a lot of money.”

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POLE POSITION 2021

NASCAR fan? Support at least one driver in all three major series – the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – as well as the NASCAR-sanctioned ARCA Menards Series. Now, doing this is going to take some real time, research and commitment since it can be hard to block out just the 3-4 hours a week required to watch a Cup Series race, much less a race in one of the other series. But if you want to be the quintessential NASCAR fan, you will educate yourself on all four series enough to know who’s who in terms of personalities, driving style and background in the sport. Of course, picking a favorite driver in four series isn’t as hard as it might seem. Consider, for example, that Joe

Gibbs Racing has a heavy presence in both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. On top of that, one of JGR’s Cup Series drivers – Kyle Busch – is a preeminent team owner in the Camping World Truck Series. Meanwhile, team owner Joe Gibbs has a grandson, Ty Gibbs, who has competed in the ARCA Menards Series the past two years. So, if you’re a fan of one of JGR’s Cup drivers, it might not be a bad idea to go ahead and support a JGR Xfinity Series driver, one of Busch’s Camping World Truck Series drivers, and Ty Gibbs in ARCA. And, if there’s no natural connection among your favorite drivers from one series to the next, that’s OK, too; if anything, it may mean you’re just an even more dedicated NASCAR fan. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

EXPRESS YOUR NASCAR FANDOM

Play Fantasy NASCAR Fantasy football has become a staple of late-summer football season preparation, much like how fantasy baseball has been a popular springtime go-to for decades. Why not try the four-wheeled version? Fantasy NASCAR has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 10 years, with NASCAR.com, FanDuel and DraftKings serving as de facto stops for fans to assemble a lineup of drivers for every race weekend. The format is similar to other fantasy sports: Pick a team of drivers and “start” the ones most likely to compete for the checkered flag every week. NASCAR Fantasy Live, a free service on NASCAR.com, enables fans to play the role of team owner by selecting five drivers per race for their lineup. Each driver is given points based on

their finishing position, place differential, pass differential, laps led and fastest laps. If you had Kevin Harvick last year, you probably had a pretty fun season – even more so if Harvick and Chase Elliott were in your lineup. Fantasy NASCAR is a phenomenal way for fans to not only show off their strategic skill and NASCAR knowledge, but to also make friends (and enemies) by joining leagues, winning races and trash-talking like they’re in Victory Lane with their driver. Most leagues offer prizes for winners, so there’s often more at stake than simply your reputation as a teambuilder. Being an expert fantasy owner can also lead to raking in some cash, as places like DraftKings pay big money to the most skilled and active players.

Support a Local Track Many of the biggest names in NASCAR cut their teeth at short tracks across the country. In addition to catching all of the NASCAR Cup Series races on television – or, at the track – fans can do their part to support the sport’s future by attending races at local short tracks. Fans who attend local Saturdaynight short-track races will also get to see some of NASCAR’s up-and-comers before they reach the big time. And, who knows? Depending on which tracks are closest to you, you may find an unexpected name in the Late Model lineup. Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott are two of NASCAR’s biggest stars who not only support their roots in racing, but they go one further by going to short tracks to compete

POLE POSITION 2021

against the quickest hot-shoes in town. While he’s a proud Georgian who’s raced on bullrings like Watermelon Capital Speedway in his home state, Elliott is also a devout Late-Model fanatic who’s spent plenty of time on short tracks throughout the Southeast. Last December, Elliott nearly became a three-time winner of the prestigious Snowball Derby at Florida’s Five Flags Speedway, a track that has also seen Busch, Darrell Waltrip and Donnie Allison enjoy the thrill of victory. “It’s important to support short-track racing in places like Pensacola (home of the Snowball Derby),” Elliott said. “Getting to know the crowd growing up there and the crowd getting to know me, it makes it special to not only win but to return as often as I can.”

•• Bowman Gray Stadium (Winston-Salem, N.C.)

•• Madison International Speedway (Oregon, Wis.)

PHOTOGRAPHY: MADISON INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM

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CHARACTERS OF NASCAR

Characters of NASCAR:

Mark Martin BY ROB TIONGSON

uring NASCAR’s meteoric rise in popularity during the 1990s, Mark Mar-

tin, of Batesville, Ark. was embraced by fans as a perennial frontrunner in Jack Roush’s No. 6 Ford. After a strong runner-up points finish in 1990, Martin and his team looked ahead to the 1991 NASCAR Cup Series season as a title contender. Martin, whose team learned from its mistake at Richmond in ’90, recalled the uphill battle that he and then crew chief Robin Pemberton faced the following year. “Well, we had had a really good year in ’90 and just hoped that we could keep that going in that direction,” Martin recalled. “We scored more points, the most points in 1990, but we had a penalty that cost us the championship. “We went into ’91, and things changed, and we weren’t able to be as competitive as we wanted. And we spent the whole year trying to get fast enough to win, and we didn’t win a race until the last race of the season (at Atlanta). So, it was a little bit of a disappointing season for us. We were consistent, but we weren’t winners until the final race of the season.” While Martin and the No. 6 Folgers Ford Thunderbird visited Victory Lane on only one occasion in ’91, he was a popular, go-to driver during TV and radio broadcasts. As NASCAR’s races were airing more frequently on broadcast and cable networks, drivers often spoke with the broadcasters via two-way radio from inside their race cars. As technology and instant communication improved, Martin recognized the importance of providing these unique insights for the race fans at home. “It was a tremendous opportunity for the fans, and I completely understood the

concept of building the sport,” he said. “I had started out on the dirt tracks in Arkansas, and this was being able to have more interaction with the fans and with the broadcasters and everything. Just made the sport better and made it more attractive to the fans. “You’re delivering more interest and more upclose and personal. So, it was an important part of the whole package. And as that came along, pretty soon, in-car cameras came along as well. And a lot of people didn’t want to carry in-car cameras, but we understood that there was a marketing advantage to that and that it was good for the sport, so we kind of embraced it.” Naturally, like most racing legends, Martin reminisces about a memorable car that was like a favorite sports coat. “We started numbering our cars at Roush’s with No. 1, JR1,” Martin said. “We built JR10 in 1989. And that is the car that we got our first win in ’89. And we ran that car in ’90 and ’91 as well. And we retired that car, and we brought it back out and reskinned it in ’93 and won with it again. “JR10 was our best car. I don’t have an accurate number of how many wins we got with that car, but of the 35 wins, I would have to credit it with probably four or five of the 35. It was a special car. Got us our first win but it was retired on two different occasions and then brought back out and rebodied and won again for us. So, when we needed a chassis really quickly, we would bring it out of retirement, and cut the body off and put a new body on and bring it back out.”

P L AY I N G FAV O R I T E S

Mark’s Fast Thoughts

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In terms of drivers who remind Martin of himself, “I’m a fan

of Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick.”

While Martin had good friends in NASCAR, as he observed, “Ernie

Irvan was the guy that I liked to hang out with.”

As Martin recalled about his driving style, “I could turn right and

catch the back end without having to move my hands.”

Although NASCAR’s popularity blossomed in the 1990s, Martin noted the passing of

Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki as “two major superstar losses.”

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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Wild Silly Season Sees Numerous Changes Ross Chastain’s shift to Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 42 car was one of the many moves made in preparation for the 2021 NASCAR season. BY JARED TURNER

POLE POSITION 2021

In a typical year, the NASCAR Silly Season doesn’t truly ramp up until after Memorial Day. Some years, it’s even well into the summer before the proverbial movers and shakers start making their intentions known. But 2020 was a year unlike any other, of course, so it now seems fitting that the first real domino of Silly Season fell all the way back in mid-April – at a time when the NASCAR Cup Series was on an extended sabbatical due to a global pandemic, no less. With NASCAR in the early weeks of what turned out to be a more than two-month break due to the COVID-19 crisis, many drivers turned to iRacing to get their racing fill and to provide some entertainment for people quarantined at home at a time when virtually all sports were absent from television. What no one could have ever anticipated was that something that happened during an iRacing event would have a major impact on Silly Season and which drivers ultimately landed with which teams for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. After being caught on a hot mic uttering a racial slur during an iRace, Kyle Larson was swiftly fired by Chip Ganassi Racing and suspended by NASCAR. Larson’s poor decision inadvertently did two things: It opened the seat of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet for a new driver and it left no doubt about the fact that if Larson was ever reinstated by NASCAR and returned to the Cup Series, it would be with another team. As a result, it was then that team owner Chip Ganassi, needing to quickly fill Larson’s old seat, called on Cup Series veteran and former series champion Matt Kenseth, who came out of retirement to drive the No. 42 for the rest of the season. However, when the season ended, Kenseth wasn’t interested in returning, so it left a vacancy that was ultimately filled by Ross Chastain. Larson, meanwhile, underwent extensive racial sensitivity training before petitioning NASCAR late in 2020 to be reinstated. When NASCAR granted that request, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick wasted no time offering Larson – whose talent behind the wheel has never been called into question – a ride for the 2021 season. Larson quite graciously embraced the opportunity and is looking forward to competing in the best equipment he’s ever had all while working to mend fences and restore his reputation among NASCAR’s key stakeholders, including competitors, fans and sponsors. “Hendrick Motorsports is a championship organization that has set a high bar for performance and for how its drivers represent the team and its partners,” Larson said. “My goal is to win races, be a great teammate,

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

continue my personal efforts to grow, and hold myself to that high standard personally and professionally. Making the absolute most of this platform and the opportunity in front of me is my focus. I know what’s expected of me and what I expect of myself, on and off the track.” If there’s one driver who will be under perhaps a bigger microscope this season than Larson, it’s Bubba Wallace, who after three full seasons with Richard Petty Motorsports jumped at the opportunity to compete for 23XI Racing – a new venture co-owned by veteran NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. As the NASCAR Cup Series’ only African American driver, Wallace couldn’t pass on the opportunity to compete for Jordan – who along with being almost universally considered the greatest basketball player of all time now becomes the Cup Series’ second African American team owner. With technical support from Toyota Racing Development and Joe Gibbs Racing, and a host of sponsors lining up to be on his No. 23 Toyota, Wallace is raring to go. “I’m pumped to get the season started,” said Wallace, who in 2020 became a major advocate for social justice and inclusion. “I wish Daytona was tomorrow. We’re heading in the right direction and we’ll be ready when we get to Daytona. As I’ve said before, this is an opportunity of a lifetime for me and there’s no more excuses. We want to go out and win, and I know we’ll have everything we need each week to make that happen.” Wallace’s decision to leave Richard Petty Motorsports freed up the iconic No. 43 car, which will be driven this year by two-time Cup Series race winner Erik Jones, who needed a ride after learning in 2020 that he wouldn’t be back at Joe Gibbs Racing for a third Cup season. “It’s an incredible honor to have Richard Petty want you to drive for his race team and with the car number he made famous,” Jones said. “Richard Petty Motorsports has a rich history in the sport, but they are not resting on that history. They still have something to prove, and I have something to prove. We are both motivated to write a new chapter.” Jones’ replacement at JGR is Christopher Bell, a former JGR NASCAR Xfinity Series driver who not surprisingly struggled a bit in his rookie Cup Series season with Leavine Family Racing – a single-car team that suspended operations at season’s end. Bell was expected to land with JGR’s Cup Series program sooner rather than later, so – unlike most of the other Silly Season happenings – his appointment came as no surprise. POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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5 Who Have Switched Series

fter an ultra-successful nine-win season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last

year with Stewart-Haas Racing, Chase Briscoe was looking for a potential opportunity to jump to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021. Turns out he didn’t have to look far. When Clint Bowyer unexpectedly announced in early October that he would vacate his Cup Series ride at SHR after the 2020 season to join the FOX NASCAR broadcast booth in 2021, a top-notch Cup ride suddenly became open with the organization co-owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas. The natural choice to fill the seat was Briscoe, based on his enormous success not only in 2020 but the potential he showed in 2018 and 2019 by earning an Xfinity Series win in each of those two seasons despite running just half of the schedule in ’18. “Wins are my benchmark, and Chase did a lot of winning in 2020,” Haas said. “His stats alone merit his place in Cup, but Chase has also proven to be a strong ambassador for our partners who appreciate his grit and determination.” One of those partners is HighPoint, a customer service and technology solutions company that joined Briscoe in late 2019 as a primary sponsor of his Xfinity Series efforts. After returning as a primary sponsor of Briscoe in 2020, HighPoint is now following Briscoe to the NASCAR Cup Series. “Chase has worked incredibly hard to make his mark in NASCAR and has earned this promotion to the NASCAR Cup Series. Thanks to HighPoint and Ford, we were able to make it happen,” said Stewart, a three-time Cup champion driver. “We’ve been able to do great things with Chase, and I feel there are more great things ahead of us.”

•• Chase Briscoe

▶ While Chase

Briscoe’s move to the NASCAR Cup Series from another division is certainly huge, he’s not the only one. Following are four others who’ve notably switched series for 2021.

POLE POSITION 2021

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK:

BEN BESHORE: After

ROSS CHASTAIN:

RUDY FUGLE: The crew

Rather than returning to

spending the last two

An eighth-generation

chief for Kyle Busch

Front Row Motorsports

years as a crew chief

watermelon farmer,

Motorsports driver

for a second season in

for multiple drivers

Chastain is no stranger to

Christian Eckes last season

the NASCAR Cup Series,

associated with Joe

hard work. He’s also no

in the NASCAR Camping

Nemechek opted to return to

Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR

stranger to the NASCAR Cup

World Truck Series, Fugle

the NASCAR Camping World

Xfinity Series program,

Series, having run a mostly

was tabbed by NASCAR

Truck Series to compete for

Ben Beshore has been

full schedule in both 2018

Cup Series team owner Rick

Kyle Busch Motorsports —

promoted to the NASCAR

and 2019 before cutting back

Hendrick to join Hendrick

arguably the top organization

Cup Series side of the

to eight Cup races in 2020

Motorsports as the Cup

in the truck ranks. The

company where he will

while he competed full-time

crew chief for William Byron

second-generation driver

serve as crew chief for

in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

in 2021. Fugle replaces

is no stranger to the series,

two-time Cup champion

Chastain takes over the

seven-time Cup champion

having earned six truck

Kyle Busch on the heels of

No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing

crew chief Chad Knaus, who

victories in 102 starts spread

one of Busch’s toughest

Chevrolet driven mostly by

had worked with Byron the

over eight seasons.

years in the sport.

Matt Kenseth in 2020.

past two seasons.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

5 Who Have Switched Rides

AFTER TRYING BUT

Following are five key drivers who have remained in the NASCAR Cup Series but switched rides for the 2021 season. BUBBA WALLACE

being unable to convince team owner Rick Hendrick that he was the person to fill the vacancy left at Hendrick

KYLE LARSON

No driver has more to

be amped about this year than Wallace, who is campaigning the No. 23 Toyota for the new 23XI Racing team co-owned byAs featured in ADVERTISEMENTJoe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. Wallace, who last drove for Richard Petty Motorsports, will have great resources from Toyota Racing Development and his new team’s technical alliance with JGR.

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Arguably the hot-

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Johnson’s retirement from NASCAR, LaJoie COREY LAJOIE

Suarez will compete for a new team known as Trackhouse Racing.

Spire Motorsports.

BOWMAN MADE the offseason switch from Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 88 team to Hendrick’s No. 48 team and will take over the ride formerly occupied

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WHY I RACE

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Why I Race: Myatt Snider Following a solid NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign a year ago, Myatt Snider shares his thoughts about driving Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 TaxSlayer Chevrolet in the full Xfinity Series schedule this season.

BY ROB TIONGSON

Snider: I am a guy who flies under the radar half the time. I’ve spent a lot of my time in the No. 93 car last year, and that kind of obviously was an under-the-radar ride. I pushed that thing to its max with performance. I think there is a good chance we win at least a couple races this year. There’s a certain point where people start liking you at so many wins, and then once you get above that certain amount, then people start hating you. But there’s a chance I could win some races this year. It’s phenomenal because I’ve had to go through not quite a straight path to get here, going from a fulltime ride in 2018, to kind of cobbling something together in 2019, to getting together what I could for 2020 and being able to run some select races at RCR and the rest of the races in the No. 93. It feels good and the fact that I’m back with the same team makes it even better. I’m glad that I’m keeping most of the same guys, and it’s good to be building on what we built on last year. This will only be my second fulltime season in anything NASCAR with one team at a time. Obviously, 2020 was a little bit special, switching between the two teams, which

POLE POSITION 2021

made for a unique challenge. But it taught me a lot that I can transfer to this year. So being able to build on what we built at RCR with crew chief Andy Street, TaxSlayer, ECR Engines and everybody, I think it’ll be good going into 2021, and I think my experience in the No. 93 and the No. 21 cars is really going to help me. I think it’s going to be great because we had a couple races there where we performed really well. I think I was maybe a lap or two away from winning Pocono. We ran top-five at Bristol. There were plenty of times where we were the fastest car on the race track last year. I think it’s all just a matter of putting it together. I had a couple of strong performances in the No. 93. The fact that I was able to do that and really kind of put together a good season out of something that I didn’t even know was going to be happening until Homestead, I think it really leads into a great opportunity for 2021. We’re pushing the limits in every aspect in this sport. For example, in a race at Homestead, watch us rip the fence there. We’re running within inches of the wall, trying to get as much grip as we can. That’s running at the absolute limit of what the aerodynamics on a car can do. I prefer the heat much more over the cold. Now, the benefit of driving a race car in the cold is that it’s always warm inside, so you never have to worry about losing feeling in your feet or anything. But I’ve always preferred the heat. When I grew up racing Late Models, it would be 100 degrees outside, 95 percent humidity in the North Carolina summers, so it was always intense. I think the most intense it ever was a race day at South Boston Speedway. We had to quit halfway through because of rain, and it rained for like four hours. I have never seen any place more humid than that after that. It was bad, but I prefer the heat all day, every day. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?

Billy Madison

BY JOSEPH WOLKIN

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND?

Everyone knows Matt DiBenedetto is a unique personality. He’s a funny guy who drives for one of NASCAR’s most storied teams, Wood Brothers Racing. DiBenedetto is entering his seventh season in the NASCAR Cup Series and second consecutive with the Wood Brothers. His performance late last season helped secure a second year with the Team Penske affiliate. Now, he’s hungrier than ever to score Wood Brothers Racing’s 100th Cup Series victory. On the track, DiBenedetto is a fierce competitor. He’s well known for his astonishing ability to pass on restarts. But in 2020, the competition saw a new DiBenedetto, one who could compete for victories. Now that he’s comfortable racing at the front of the pack, expectations are high for the No. 21 team in 2021. The 29-year-old DiBenedetto constantly hits the gym, and he is among the most fit drivers in NASCAR. But there’s plenty fans might not know about the California native. From making plenty of social media videos with his wife, Taylor, and their dog, Brian, to showing people his everyday life, DiBenedetto is one of NASCAR’s most relatable figures.

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Steak, for sure

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Poorly behaved kids

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The new Ford GT500; the DCT transmission is bad ass

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THE NOISEMAKERS

MEET THE

Noisemakers 10 Drivers Who Will Make an Impact in 2021 BY JARED TURNER

n the heels of one of the most unusual, unpredictable and drama-

filled seasons in NASCAR history, the new NASCAR season has the potential to be truly special. From an array of new tracks and events on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule to the forming of numerous new driver/team and driver/crew chief combinations, it’s going to be a season for fans to watch – albeit most often from the comfort of their home while NASCAR and the tracks continue to navigate the tricky landscape created by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. While there are many reasons to tune into the action and be excited, at least 10 drivers – or “noisemakers,” if you will – figure to make things particularly interesting as the season develops. Following is a list of those 10 drivers along with information about their teams, sponsors and all the reasons they are bound to make a major impact on the NASCAR Cup Series campaign.

POLE POSITION 2021

BUBBA WALLACE OWNERS: Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin TEAM: 23XI Racing SPONSORS: DoorDash, McDonald’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper, Root Insurance MANUFACTURER: Toyota CREW CHIEF: Mike Wheeler

n the 73-year history of NASCAR, many team

owners have fielded cars for wildly successful drivers while earning hundreds of millions of dollars in personal income, attracting dozens of major corporate sponsors and becoming widely known not only in NASCAR but throughout the sports landscape. However, when it comes to name recognition, influence and notoriety on a global scale, no team owner has ever compared to Michael Jordan – principal owner of 23XI Racing, a newly minted NASCAR Cup Series team that the NBA legend formed in September in partnership with longtime friend and Cup Series veteran driver Denny Hamlin. “This is obviously very, very big,” said Hamlin, who along with serving as minority partner of 23XI Racing is continuing in his familiar role as driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. “It’s very groundbreaking in our sport to have this new team come in here and be at the caliber that Michael is and how big of an icon he is worldwide. It certainly brings a lot of attention. Certainly, I see a lot of articles get written by outlets that never cover NASCAR at all, so it’s been big.” The team, scheduled to make its official on-track debut during Daytona Speedweeks with driver Bubba Wallace campaigning its No. 23 Toyota, boasts far more resources than the typical startup organization. Through a partnership with Toyota Motor North America, 23XI Racing has support from Toyota Racing Development, U.S.A., which is responsible for building the team’s engines and providing technology, data and technical assistance. The Toyota relationship also incorporates an agreement with Toyota powerhouse organization Joe Gibbs Racing that allows 23XI Racing to obtain chassis and other services. “My main goal for 23XI Racing is to be competitive for a championship as soon as possible,” said Jordan, a winner of six NBA championships as the undisputed floor leader of the Chicago Bulls. “Our partnership with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing gives us the equipment, resources and expertise to do it.” Technical information sharing and communication among 23XI Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing’s four teams is encouraged to help improve performance across the Toyota and TRD family. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to provide

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

resources to this new Toyota team to help them get started,” said team owner Joe Gibbs, who ushered Joe Gibbs Racing into the NASCAR Cup Series in 1993. “We can remember being in a similar position nearly three decades ago, and we were fortunate to have a similar agreement that helped us in the beginning. “We’re happy for Denny to realize his dream of ownership, and certainly it’s a big deal for NASCAR to have someone with the respect and stature of Michael Jordan enter our sport.” Indeed, it is. The retired superstar athlete and now majority owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets is a universally acclaimed figure who can help NASCAR expand its fanbase even further into the African American community, of which Jordan is a part. Wallace, who is also African American, is one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers and enjoyed a seismic rise in 2020 while becoming an outspoken advocate for racial equality and social justice. Wallace, who left Richard Petty Motorsports to enter into a multiyear agreement with 23XI Racing, couldn’t be any more enthusiastic about his future. “This is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I believe is a great fit for me at this point in my career,” Wallace said. “Both Michael and Denny are great competitors and are focused on building the best team they possibly can to go out and compete for race wins. I’m grateful and humbled that Michael and Denny believe in me, and I’m super pumped to begin this adventure with them.” Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, Jordan played 13 seasons for the Chicago Bulls and is a five-time NBA regular season MVP and six-time NBA Finals MVP. As one of the world’s most popular and recognizable figures, Jordan boasts an endorsement portfolio that includes Gatorade, Upper Deck and Hanes, among others. It’s therefore not surprising that he’s helped lure an impressive list of sponsors to come on board with his first-year NASCAR team. Among them are DoorDash, McDonald’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper and Root Insurance. “I’ve been a NASCAR fan my whole life,” said Jordan, who grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina. “The opportunity to own my own racing team in partnership with my friend Denny Hamlin and to have Bubba Wallace driving for us is very exciting for me.”

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THE NOISEMAKERS

CHASE ELLIOTT OWNER RICK HENDRICK

TEAM HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS

SPONSORS N A PA , H O O T E R S , L L U M A R

CREW CHIEF A L A N G U S TA F S O N

MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET

fter reaching the playoffs but being shut out of Vic-

tory Lane in his first two years in the NASCAR Cup Series, Chase Elliott took it up a notch with three-win seasons in 2018 and 2019, respectively. But the culmination of Elliott’s improvements came in 2020 when the secondgeneration driver who is the son of 1988 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bill Elliott captured five victories on the way to his first series championship. The last and most important of those wins came in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway where Elliott drove masterfully after starting at the rear of the field to beat out fellow title contenders Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin. Elliott will certainly be one of the biggest newsmakers of the new season as he seeks to become the first driver since 2010 – the year Jimmie Johnson earned the last of his recordsetting five consecutive titles – to secure back-to-back championships in NASCAR’s premier series. With Elliott being only 25 years old, it’s widely believed that 2020 could be just the first of many championships to come for the youngster from Dawsonville, Georgia. “A big moment like winning the championship really cements you in everybody’s head as the real deal,” said Johnson, a seven-time champion who was Elliott’s teammate for the past five seasons at Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s one thing to win races, it’s one thing to be fast, but to get it all done and win races and be fast and win a championship is the most difficult thing to do in our sport. For him to have a championship at this age and being so young, there’s no telling what the win total will be for him or his championship total.”

MOST POPULAR DRIVER EVEN IF CHASE Elliott doesn’t repeat as NASCAR Cup Series champion in 2021, he’s the early favorite to win the National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award. Elliott has earned this distinction the past three years – since Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s retirement from full-time racing – and could eventually catch and surpass his father, Bill, who was named NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver a record 16 times. “I’m grateful for the best fans I could ever ask for,” Chase said.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

KEVIN HARVICK OWNERS TONY STEWART AND GENE HAAS

TEAM S T E W A R T- H A A S R A C I N G

SPONSORS BUSCH, MOBIL 1, HUNT BROTHERS PIZZA

CREW CHIEF RODNEY CHILDERS

MANUFACTURER FORD

espite enjoying one of the most successful seasons

in recent history, Kevin Harvick was unable to accomplish his ultimate 2020 goal: winning the championship. In fact, much to the astonishment of everyone in the NASCAR world, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver didn’t even qualify for the Championship 4, thanks to a particularly dreadful three-race stretch in the Round of 8. While it seems unlikely that Harvick will match his NASCAR Cup Series-high nine wins from a year ago, he’ll likely be in the championship hunt and probably win more than a race or two. A lot of eyes will certainly be on the 2014 Cup Series champion to see how he responds from last season’s disappointing ending. Harvick, at least outwardly, seemed to take last season’s culmination in stride. “I’ve been punched in the gut a lot harder,” said Harvick, who finished fifth in the standings. “We won nine races, had a great year, and, the championship is kind of a bonus. It would be great to win it, obviously, but I’d rather go through the year and win races and do the things that we did and just came up short.” Harvick still finished the year with more wins, top-fives (20), top-10s (27) and laps led (1,531) than anyone else. His average finish of 7.3 was also best among full-time drivers. “These championships aren’t won like (Richard) Petty and (Dale) Earnhardt used to win them,” Harvick said. “You have to put them together three weeks at a time, and it comes down to one race.”

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

ELDER STATESMAN WITH JIMMIE Johnson’s retirement from NASCAR at the end of the 2020 season, Kevin Harvick – who turned 45 in December – is now the oldest full-time driver in NASCAR’s premier division. With few drivers these days competing past their mid-40s, conventional wisdom suggests that Harvick could hang it up sooner rather than later. But the veteran driver has a contract with Stewart-Haas Racing through 2023 and has given no indication of being ready to turn in his helmet and gloves.

THE NOISEMAKERS

P O WER. FORGED IN STEEL.

DENNY HAMLIN OWNER JOE GIBBS

TEAM JOE GIBBS RACING

SPONSORS FEDEX

CREW CHIEF CHRIS GABEHART

MANUFACTURER T OYO TA

t’s hard to believe that anyone is going to be busier this

season than Denny Hamlin, who along with his regular duties as driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing will carry additional responsibilities as minority owner of the new 23XI Racing in partnership with NBA legend Michael Jordan. While Hamlin certainly hopes to find quick success in his new venture as co-owner of the No. 23 Toyota driven by Bubba Wallace, his primary focus will still be winning races as a driver. Hamlin went to Victory Lane an impressive seven times in 2020 – second only to Kevin Harvick – but once again fell short in his quest to walk away with a NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy in hand. One of the biggest keys for Hamlin will be learning how to juggle his new role as a team owner with his longtime role as a driver, ensuring that the former doesn’t take away from the latter. Hamlin’s duties as a team owner will include nurturing relationships with the new sponsors of 23XI Racing – not just the sponsors of his No. 11 car. “I’m fortunate that during my time at Joe Gibbs Racing I’ve been able to have a great mentor and see how Coach (Joe Gibbs), as an owner, is able to service each partner. That’s new for me – learning the owner side while still on the driver side – but I’m in for the long haul and will continue this far beyond my driving years.”

JUST A BIT SHORT DESPITE qualifying for the Championship 4 in each of the past two seasons as well as 2014, Denny Hamlin has finished no better than third in the standings. His best career points finish came prior to the Championship 4 era, in 2010, when he was runner-up to Jimmie Johnson. Now widely considered the best active driver to have never won a championship in NASCAR’s premier division, Hamlin will work hard to ditch that label in 2021.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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he biggest surprise of 2020 in the NASCAR world was

undoubtedly the fact that a global pandemic forced a more than two-month break in the season and resulted in tracks subsequently being required to operate at limited or no fan capacity. The second biggest surprise was probably the struggles of Kyle Busch, who a year after winning his second NASCAR Cup Series championship was eliminated in the Round of 12 and went to Victory Lane just once – at Texas Motor Speedway, in Race No. 34 of 36. By then, it was likely obvious to team owner Joe Gibbs that a change was needed on Busch’s No. 18 team, since Gibbs announced after the season that Busch’s crew chief from the past five years – Adam Stevens – would call the shots for another JGR team, that of JGR newcomer Christopher Bell, in 2021. Busch, meanwhile, is paired with Ben Beshore, who served as engineer for Busch’s No. 18 team prior to moving to JGR’s Xfinity Series program as a crew chief in 2019. “We go through a process at the conclusion of every season that includes evaluating each of our teams,” Gibbs said. “We believe our crew chief lineup for 2021 will best position each team and driver for success across both series.” One of the most scrutinized and talked about driver-crew chief pairings of 2021 will be the Busch/Beshore combination as Busch seeks to return to championship form and recapture the magic of some of his best seasons in the sport.

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ne of the more unusual developments of last season

happened near end of the year when it was announced that Matt DiBenedetto would remain with Wood Brothers Racing for a second season in 2021 – but that he would not return as driver of the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford in 2022. That’s when Team Penske – which works together in a close technical alliance with the Wood Brothers – will promote NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Austin Cindric to the No. 21 car, leaving DiBenedetto in search of a new ride. Nevertheless, DiBenedetto is thankful to be back with the Wood Brothers in 2021, a season when he will attempt to reach the playoffs for the second year in a row and also break into Victory Lane for the first time. “It’s such an honor to be able to continue to drive for Wood Brothers Racing and have another year to grow with this organization,” DiBenedetto said. “I am excited to learn from our 2020 notebook, and I’m confident that with a full season under our belt and working together as a team, we will produce even better results.” DiBenedetto collected a career-high 11 top-10 finishes, including three top-five results, and came painfully close to capturing his first career win in 2020. He finished second last season on two occasions – both, coincidentally, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – and was stripped of what would have been a second-place finish in the fall race at Talladega Superspeedway, where NASCAR penalized him for dipping below the double yellow line on the final lap.

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NOTHING NEW COMPETING AS A lame duck driver is nothing new to Matt DiBenedetto. After all, DiBenedetto spent the final months of the 2019 season with a Leavine Family Racing organization he knew he wouldn’t be with in 2020, after it was announced that he would be replaced in the No. 95 Toyota by Christopher Bell. This didn’t stop DiBenedetto from posting solid results, including a then career-best secondplace finish, which he recorded in the fall night race at Bristol.

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biggest NASCAR newsmakers of early 2020. But many months after being fired from Chip Ganassi Racing and suspended by NASCAR for using a racial epithet while participating in an iRacing event while NASCAR was on hiatus for the COVID-19 pandemic, Larson was reinstated by NASCAR and subsequently hired by team owner Rick Hendrick to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. It took quickly apologizing for his actions, undergoing weeks of racial sensitivity training and reaching out and trying to mend faces with those hurt by his remark for Larson to return to good graces enough to have an opportunity to resurrect his once-promising career. Having done all that, Larson will attempt to prove this season that he is truly a changed man – all while delivering top-notch results in equipment that will undoubtedly be the best he’s ever had. If Larson can accomplish just the former, it will in many ways be a successful year for him. If he can accomplish both, he will be well on his way to becoming one of the sport’s biggest stars and greatest comeback stories of all time. “Kyle is unquestionably one of the most talented race car drivers in the world,” Hendrick said. “He has championshiplevel ability and will be a significant addition to our on-track program. More importantly, I have full confidence that he understands our expectations and will be a tremendous ambassador for our team, our partners and NASCAR.”

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or all the wrong reasons, Kyle Larson was one of the

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variety of sanctioning bodies and vehicle styles. The Elk Grove, California, native began driving at age 7 and has raced stock cars, winged and non-winged sprint cars, karts, trucks and sports cars. This season, he is paired with 32-year-old crew chief Cliff Daniels, who spent last year calling the shots for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion driver Jimmie Johnson.

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CHASE BRISCOE OWNERS TONY STEWART & GENE HAAS

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year after fans witnessed one of the most com-

petitive battles in a long time for the NASCAR Cup Series’ top rookie honors, it will be a much different story this year as newcomer Chase Briscoe is the only newcomer scheduled to compete full time at the Cup Series level. Nevertheless, Briscoe is expected to make his presence known, fresh off a stellar nine-win season last year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series that culminated in a berth in the Championship 4 but no title for his Stewart-Haas Racing team. SHR promoted Briscoe to its Cup Series program at season’s end, naming him the next driver of the No. 14 Ford that previously belonged to Clint Bowyer — who hung up his driving helmet to become part of the NASCAR on FOX broadcast booth alongside Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon. Expectations are understandably high for Briscoe, considering how well he performed at the Xfinity Series level in 2020 in spite of dealing with personal tragedy when his wife, Marissa, suffered two miscarriages. Briscoe couldn’t be any more honored to have Tony Stewart – one of his childhood heroes – as a boss along with SHR co-owner Gene Haas. “Growing up in Indiana and racing sprint cars, the guy I always looked up to was Tony Stewart. To be able to drive for him is a dream come true,” Briscoe said. “Tony and Gene have built something really special in Stewart-Haas Racing. Being a part of it in the Xfinity Series and now, the NASCAR Cup Series, has always been my goal.”

THIRD GENERATION A THIRDgeneration racer whose career began on dirt tracks in and around his home state of Indiana, Chase Briscoe joined the full-time NASCAR ranks in 2017 when he became a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. As a rookie in trucks, Briscoe won four poles and the season-ending race at HomesteadMiami Speedway. Other highlights included making the playoffs, finishing sixth in the standings and becoming the series’ rookie-of-the-year and most popular driver. From there, he spent two-and-a-half seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

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ll but completely overshadowed by the hoopla sur-

rounding Chase Elliott’s championship-clinching victory in the season-ending event at Phoenix Raceway was fact that Brad Keselowski finished second in both the race and the championship battle – a significant achievement for the Team Penske driver, who had finished no better than fourth in the standings since his championship season of 2012. The 2020 campaign was terrific for Keselowski in virtually every statistical category as he finished in the top 10 in two-thirds of the races and went to Victory Lane four times – marking his highest win total since 2016. Over the summer, Keselowski signed a contract extension with Team Penske, taking himself off the market for 2021. Keselowski’s new contact was reportedly just for one year, however, so it’s possible he could be on the market for 2022. The uncertainty about Keselowski’s future, combined with how well he performed in 2020, will make him one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ biggest noisemakers throughout the season. Also, worth watching is how Keselowski does in his second season with crew chief Jeremy Bullins, who replaced Keselowki’s longtime pit boss, Paul Wolfe, prior to the 2020 in what marked a wholesale changeup of the three Penske crew chiefs. Bullins had previously worked with Keselowski’s teammate, Ryan Blaney, who spent 2020 with Todd Gordon – formerly the crew chief for Penske driver Joey Logano, who was paired up with Wolfe. “I think it was one of those scenarios where everybody got better,” Keselowski said. “I think all three Penske drivers got better, and for us, we had a great season.” PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

MUCH IMPROVED WHEN NASCAR announced prior 2020 that the NASCAR Cup Series championship race would be held at Phoenix Raceway for the first time, the news seemingly didn’t bode well for Brad Keselowski. Coming into last season, Keselowski was winless in 21

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lex Bowman received good news last May when

Hendrick Motorsports announced he had signed a one-year contract extension with the organization. The news seemingly got even better in October when Bowman learned he would be moving from Hendrick’s No. 88 car to the iconic No. 48 Chevrolet being vacated at season’s end by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. While Bowman is continuing to work with Greg Ives, his crew chief from the past three seasons, he will have a whole new look as driver of the No. 48 – widely considered the most coveted ride in the sport during the 2020-2021 Silly Season. Although Bowman knows he has big shoes to fill in replacing Johnson, who will go down as one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers of all time, he’s thrilled for the opportunity. “I can’t put my respect for Jimmie into words,” Bowman said. “To me, the No. 48 team’s legacy is about winning but also how you go about your business. It’s leadership, confidence, work ethic, being a professional and holding yourself to a higher standard. No one will ever be Jimmie, and he’s given us a championship blueprint to follow.” As of press time, Bowman owned two Cup Series wins, with one coming in each of the past two seasons with Ives atop his pit box. “We have tremendous faith in this team,” team owner Rick Hendrick said of the No. 48 group. “Every season, Alex gets better. Not only do we see it in the statistics, but his confidence and leadership have truly blossomed.”

EARLY VICTORY ALEX BOWMAN was one of only three drivers to win a NASCAR Cup Series race prior to last year’s more than two-month long sabbatical brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. While Bowman never won again after racing resumed, he advanced to the Round of 8 in the playoffs and finished sixth in the standings – both career-bests. “He’s a proven winner and playoff contender, and his best years are ahead,” team owner Rick Hendrick said.

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2021 XFINITY SERIES AND CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES DRIVERS TO WATCH

Keep an Eye on These Xfinity Series Drivers

Last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series season was historically unpredictable, with eight drivers winning at least two races. Which contender will take charge this year? BY AARON BURNS

There’s something for everyone in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Want to see veterans going for a careerdefining championship? Look no further than Justin Allgaier, Michael Annett and A.J. Allmendinger. Interested in the title hopefuls employed by legendary car owners? Joe Gibbs has Harrison Burton and Daniel Hemric in the fold.

A.J. Allmendinger “The Dinger”

Justin Allgaier Elliott Sadler

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s operation features Noah Gragson and Roger Penske counters with Austin Cindric, the series’ reigning champ. Cindric is the early favorite to repeat as champion, with his team intact and plenty of motivation to prove last season was no fluke. He’ll be challenged early and often, however, by a pack of drivers itching for supremacy and a shot at the NASCAR Cup

Harrison Burton The Xfinity

Austin Cindric Six wins, 19 top-

Series in 2022. There’s a lot to play for in the Xfinity Series’ 40th season, with 33 races and a championship trophy awaiting the driver and team who rises above the rest when it matters most. Here’s a look at a half-dozen drivers who could lay claim to the series title once the season ends in November:

Daniel Hemric One of NASCAR’s

Riley Herbst Herbst takes

enjoyed a scintillating

must’ve passed down

Series’ reigning

five finishes, 26

most well-liked

over the Stewart-

2020 season, which

the title of “Most

rookie of the year

top-10 results and

drivers by fans,

Haas Racing ride

featured two wins in

Successful Xfinity

drives for one of

a championship did

media and his peers,

previously held by

just 11 starts. This

Series Driver without

the sport’s best

everything for Cindric

Hemric has bounced

Chase Briscoe, the

year, Allmendinger

a Championship”

teams – Joe Gibbs

except land him a full-

around the last few

series’ winningest

will chase his first

to Allgaier, who’s

Racing – so he has

time NASCAR Cup Series

seasons. He’s been

driver last year.

NASCAR Xfinity

finished fifth or better

the speed that’s

ride. Returning to Team

competitive in Xfinity

Briscoe parlayed nine

Series title with

in points seven times.

necessary to win

Penske’s Xfinity Series

Series races, but

wins into a NASCAR

Kaulig Racing, one

Last year, he came

a championship.

program, Cindric will

make no mistake: This

Cup Series ride. Don’t

of the series’ most

closer than ever – a

Burton won four

look to replicate Tyler

is Hemric’s prove-it

expect Herbst to

successful new

runner-up finish on

races a year ago. If

Reddick’s feat of back-

year. He’ll pilot Joe

win nine races, but

teams. Look for

the strength of three

he can stay up front

to-back championships

Gibbs Racing’s No. 18

multiple visits to

Allmendinger to be

wins and 19 top-10

and avoid trouble in

in 2018 and 2019. He’s

Toyota, arguably the

victory lane are likely.

at the front on every

finishes. Is this

the playoffs, watch

once again the early

series’ most sought-

He’s got the car

type of track.

the year?

out.

title favorite.

after ride.

to do it.

POLE POSITION 2021

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6 Camping World Truck Series Drivers to Watch

The youth movement is on in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Defending champion Sheldon Creed returns, but will he out-run all of his challengers again? BY AARON BURNS

Last season’s Truck Series championship battle saw Creed and fellow up-and-comers such as Zane Smith challenge the series’ longtime veterans, like Matt Crafton, with phenomenal results. Not only did Creed and Smith finish first and second in points, but only two drivers older than 30 – Crafton and

Sheldon Creed “The Showstopper”

Hailie Deegan Deegan is another

Grant Enfinger – visited the winner’s circle. Enfinger won four races a year ago and earned the pole for the Championship 4 finale at Phoenix, but the veteran Alabama driver led just two laps and finished 13th. He’ll be looking for more this season, as will other “Old Guard” drivers like Crafton

Brett Moffitt The 2018 series

John Hunter Nemechek Nemechek stepped

and Johnny Sauter. But they’re likely going to have their hands full with the defending champion and a new crop of youngsters. Here’s a look at six drivers who fans should follow from the season opener to the final checkered flag:

Chandler Smith Smith,

Zane Smith The OC’s finest – a

could again be the

rising star with

champion moves from

out of Front Row

Nemechek’s new

Huntington Beach,

show stealer. An

off-road roots.

GMS Racing to Niece

Motorsports’ mid-pack

teammate, is

California, native

accomplished off-road

The daughter of

Motorsports. Moffitt’s

NASCAR Cup Series

another young

– won twice and

racer, Creed proved last

motocross legend

proven he can win,

team and into Kyle

hot-shoe with the

finished second in

year that he’s mastered

Brian Deegan will

provided he has good

Busch Motorsports’

skills to win a title.

points to Creed on

the art of racing on

be in the spotlight

enough equipment.

title-contending Truck

Only 18, Smith’s

the strength of seven

asphalt. Only one driver

from the green flag

He’s got it with Niece,

organization. Expect

very good – and

top-five finishes and

– Matt Crafton – has

at Daytona. She

the team that guided

multiple wins this year.

he’ll only get better.

showings of third,

ever won back-to-

finished 16th in her

Ross Chastain to

There’s also plenty

A partial schedule

third and second to

back Truck Series

lone Truck Series

three victories in an

of reason to believe

with KBM in 2020

end the season. Can

championships. Creed

outing last season.

impressive 2019

Nemechek, who won

yielded two poles

he top his teammate

will have the speed, but

Don’t be shocked if

campaign. Moffitt

races with his father’s

and five top-five

and bring home

can he avoid trouble

she becomes the first

could deliver even

NEMCO team, could be

finishes in his last

the Truck Series

and prevail in the

female to win a Truck

more for Niece in

the champion when all

six starts. His first

championship this

playoffs once again?

Series race.

2021.

is said and done.

win is coming soon.

time around?

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

LEGEND PROFILE NASCAR LEGEND

Johnson Built an Incredible Career

Jimmie Johnson excelled throughout a 20-year NASCAR Cup Series career that included 83 victories. He also joined Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt as the series’ only seven-time champions.

BY BEN WHITE

Born Sept. 17, 1975, in El Cajon, California., Johnson began racing motorcycles when he was 5 years old. Offroad racing followed and led to a chance meeting with Herb Fishel, head of motorsports at General Motors during the early 1990s. Johnson’s short-track success opened the door for him to eventually drive for Cup Series team owner Rick Hendrick. Johnson began racing in the American Speed Association series in 1998, having made only six starts in a full-bodied race car before taking on his new role. He was fourth in points by season’s end and was crowned rookie of the year. From there, the aspiring star joined the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In 2000, Johnson raced the full Xfinity Series for Herzog Motorsports, finishing 10th in points. He notched his first and only Xfinity Series victory in 2001 at Chicagoland Speedway. That same season, Johnson joined Hendrick Motorsports for three Cup Series races after becoming friends with four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon. Johnson was then paired with crew chief Chad Knaus and they developed a magical chemistry for success. Starting in 2002, their on-track success established Johnson as one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers. He retired from Cup Series competition in 2020.

My bucket is full. NASCAR has been so wonderful for me. This journey has been more than I could have ever dreamed of or expected or hoped for.”

–JIMMIE JOHNSON

BEST SEASON DURING THE 2007 SEASON, JOHNSON LOGGED 10 victories with six coming on superspeedways and four on short tracks, including four in a row near season’s end. His second Cup Series championship season also featured 24 top-10 finishes in 36 starts. He held the championship point lead through the final three races. RECORD SETTER JOHNSON WILL BE BEST KNOWN FOR COLLECTING seven NASCAR Cup Series championships while competing under several different championship point systems. Even though he didn’t make the playoffs in his final season (2020), he will be remembered as one of the sport’s most talented racers in its most competitive era.

KNOWN FOR THROUGHOUT 20 YEARS OF CUP SERIES RACING, Johnson was known as a smooth driver who rarely became agitated in the heat of battle. His ability to perform quietly under extreme pressure gave the impression of having a soft nature. Still, success through seven championships and 83 Cup Series victories tells his story.

POLE POSITION 2021

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DRIVER SPOTLIGHT

JIMMIE JOHNSON

FINAL THOUGHTS FROM A SEVEN-TIME CHAMP BY ROB TIONGSON

ollowing a Hall-of-Fame-worthy, 20-year NASCAR

Cup Series career, Jimmie Johnson hung up his helmet from full-time competition in grand fashion at the end of last season. While Johnson didn’t visit Victory Lane nor qualify for the playoffs in 2020, the 45-year-old native of El Cajon, California, showcased his prowess with five top-five finishes and 10 top-10 results. Beyond his 83 NASCAR Cup Series race victories and seven championships, Johnson stood out as an agent for change in both sports and society during his final full-time season by vocally supporting equality and inclusion. “As I’ve grown and matured more as a husband, a father, a citizen of the world; my voice has grown along with that as well,” Johnson observed. “So, there are things that have shown up for me in 2020 to support and be behind that, frankly, I wish they didn’t. “I wish that inclusion was a topic of the past and something we’re reflecting on and we’re well through it. But it’s not, so I’m happy to play my part, and hopefully I’ve been able to have a voice that’s been positive and constructive for those out there.” Johnson’s contributions toward equality resulted in an award from NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. In addition, his foundation, organized by Johnson and his wife

POLE POSITION 2021

Chandra, has raised more than $12 million for public education through the years. For Johnson, the 2020 campaign was more than just his swansong from his main focus since making his Cup Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2001. It was about enjoying those quality moments with his team. “When I wake up on Sundays, even in the offseason, it’s race day, and there’s a feeling that comes with knowing it’s race day that you can never replicate,” Johnson acknowledged. “So, I feel like that is probably what I’ll miss the most, and that shot of adrenaline, and knowing it’s race day. And then, also the experience of working in a team and the environment that happens in team sports and the environment in a locker room is just like any other brotherhood that you can imagine.” When one reflects on Johnson’s Cup Series career, it will be easy to recall how he was immediately successful, starting with his rookie campaign in 2002. Recruited to Hendrick Motorsports by Jeff Gordon following a chance meeting at Michigan International Speedway in 2000, like the commercials that aired during Johnson’s rookie season, it’s safe to say the Californian was ready to win. Scoring all of his 83 victories and seven titles with crew chief Chad Knaus, Johnson’s success was meteoric. Like any successful athlete or professional in their craft, struggles

will occur but not for a lack of effort. Like Jeff Lynne with Electric Light Orchestra or any of the “Fab Four” members of The Beatles, those who prosper in their field are molded by their setbacks. “I honestly think, though, my failures have shaped me more than anything, and that’s absolutely the thing that helped me be humble in those highest of highs,” Johnson said. “And if you look at the statistics, 83 wins in 640-something starts, whatever it is, you do a lot more losing than you do winning and being humbled in those moments and dealing with the emotions, trying to find a way to be a leader of your team during those humbling moments, all of that just has wired me a certain way. “And when I look back to my younger years and climbing up through the ranks, there were very similar experiences through all of that as well. So, I really do think those hard times have shaped me more than anything in my life.” Paired with crew chief Cliff Daniels for the final two seasons of his Cup Series career, Johnson saw flashes of brilliance with the young Virginian, including third-place finishes at Bristol and Dover. Despite missing one race due to a positive COVID-19 test during the Indianapolis race weekend, Johnson made a valiant bid for one of the final NASCAR playoffs spots. Despite the setback, Johnson fought hard during his final 10 races, determined to conclude the NASCAR chapter of his career with a memorable moment. Sure, he drove a unique and distinct paint scheme at Darlington that paid homage to Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, the two NASCAR icons with whom he shares the lineage as seven-time Cup Series champions. Then, Johnson rallied with an 11thplace finish at Las Vegas following a cut tire that damaged his No. 48 car. Johnson and sponsor Ally also made a true connection with a race fan through a specially designed car at Texas Motor Speedway. The livery, conceptualized by Noah “Lefty” Sweet of Ypsilanti, Michigan, highlighted the authentic humility and grace that will define Johnson with future racers and fans. “It’s very special and meaningful,” Johnson said about the car design. “And it’s just the Ally way. I mean, their PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

hashtag Do It Right is how they live day to day, the way they’ve brought me into the family and are honoring me in my final full-time year, and honestly the way they take care of their customers day in and day out. “So, it’s been a real privilege to work for them over the last two years. I certainly hope to maintain a relationship with them in the future. A great bank, great people, great business, great leadership. Very thoughtful and they do an amazing job.” Although Johnson has concluded his full-time NASCAR career, the Californian will compete in select NTT IndyCar Series races this season for Chip Ganassi Racing. With the luxury of now having time on his side, Johnson provided his take on how he hopes NASCAR fans will remember him. “I just want to race and that’s where I find myself once again as this is all coming to an end and I’m looking at what to do in the future,” Johnson said. “I want to race and have fun. And I’m in a position where I can kind of call my shot and create some unique opportunities, so I’m going to do that. “But I’m a racer. I’m sure I have these incredible statistics, and more has happened than I ever thought was possible. But that’s not me. I’ve always just wanted to race. So, I hope I’m viewed as a racer, and I hope I’m viewed as one of the good guys. I would hope those two things are near the top of people’s list.” As for Johnson’s final full-time Cup Series start in the No. 48 Chevrolet, he rocketed from 26th to a strong fifth at Phoenix Raceway. Finishing just behind the Championship 4 contenders, Johnson thought back on his career and what he would have told his younger self about his remarkable journey. “I would have told myself to relax, everything is going to be just fine,” Johnson offered. “I don’t know if I would have asked to change much because I am who I am and all of the overthinking and worrying and the sleepless nights and waking up early to try to find an advantage, all that paid off. So, I don’t know if I would change anything. But maybe I’d tell myself just to chill out and enjoy the ride because everything was going to turn out just fine.” POLE POSITION MAG.COM

SEASON REWIND

BLAST

FROM THE

PAST

BY BEN WHITE BEST DRIVER RICHARD PETTY, driving the No. 43 Petty Enterprises Plymouth, enjoyed one of his best seasons in 1970

•• Buddy Baker – 1970 Southern 500 Bobby Isaac and Bobby Allison proved to be the top championship contenders of the 1970 NASCAR Cup Series season, collecting a combined 14 victories during the 48-race schedule. After years of success as a short-track racer around his home state of North Carolina, Isaac entered NASCAR’s top division in 1961. In his ninth Cup Series season, Isaac finally found success with a championship-caliber team owned by Nord Krauskopf. Isaac placed the No. 71 K&K Insurance Dodges on the pole 13 times with the help of such mechanical stars as Hall of Fame crew chiefs Harry Hyde and Buddy Parrott. Chrysler’s winged Dodges and Plymouths were in their second year of competition, but Isaac and Hyde discovered some of their greatest tricks in the square-nosed Dodge used on short tracks. Amazingly, Isaac won his lone championship by notching all 11 of his victories that season on short tracks. The native of Catawba, North Carolina, native logged 32 top-five finishes in 47 starts. By season’s end, Isaac accumulated 51 more points than Allison to claim the title.

with 18 NASCAR Cup Series victories. The native of Level Cross, North Carolina, led 5,007 of 10,536 laps completed during his 40-race schedule. However, 10 DNFs relegated Petty to fourth in the final standings. BEST RACE ON SEPT. 7, 1970, Buddy Baker wheeled a winged Dodge Charger to victory in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The son of NASCAR champion Buck Baker led 88 of 367 laps for his third of 19-career victories in a car owned by former driver Cotton Owens.

SEASON RECAP DATE LOCATION January 18 Riverside International Raceway February 19 Daytona International Speedway February 19 Daytona International Speedway February 22 Daytona International Speedway March 1 Richmond Raceway March 8 Rockingham Speedway March 15 Savannah Speedway March 29 Atlanta Motor Speedway April 5 Bristol Motor Speedway April 12 Talladega Superspeedway April 18 North Wilkesboro Speedway April 30 Columbia Speedway May 9 Darlington Speedway May 15 Beltsville Speedway May 18 Langley Speedway May 24 Charlotte Motor Speedway May 28 Smoky Mountain Raceway May 31 Martinsville Speedway June 7 Michigan International Speedway June 14 Riverside International Raceway June 20 Hickory Motor Speedway June 26 Kingsport Speedway June 27 Greenville-Pickens Speedway July 4 Daytona International Speedway July 7 Albany-Saratoga Speedway July 9 Thompson Speedway July 12 Trenton Speedway July 19 Bristol Motor Speedway July 24 Smoky Mountain Raceway July 25 Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway August 2 Atlanta Motor Speedway August 6 Columbia Speedway August 11 International Raceway Park August 16 Michigan International Speedway August 23 Talladega Superspeedway August 28 Bowman Gray Stadium August 29 South Boston Speedway September 7 Darlington Raceway September 11 Hickory Motor Speedway September 13 Richmond Raceway September 20 Dover International Speedway September 30 State Fairgrounds Speedway October 4 North Wilkesboro Speedway October 11 Charlotte Motor Speedway October 18 Martinsville Speedway November 8 Middle Georgia Raceway November 15 Rockingham Speedway November 22 Langley Speedway

TOP CARS BOBBY ISAAC,

PRESIDENT

driving the No. 71

Richard Nixon

K&K Insurance Dodge

N O . 1 AT T H E B O X O F F I C E

owned by Nord

Love Story

Krauskopf, won 11 short-track races en route to claiming the 1970 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Bobby Allison’s No. 22 Coca-Cola Dodge owned by Mario Rossi was a threetime Cup Series winner that year.

POLE POSITION 2021

WINNER A.J. Foyt Cale Yarborough Charlies Glotzbach Pete Hamilton James Hylton Richard Petty Richard Petty Bobby Allison Donnie Allison Pete Hamilton Richard Petty Richard Petty David Pearson Bobby Isaac Bobby Isaac Donnie Allison Bobby Isaac Bobby Isaac Cale Yarborough Richard Petty Bobby Isaac Richard Petty Bobby Isaac Donnie Allison Richard Petty Bobby Isaac Richard Petty Bobby Allison Richard Petty Bobby Isaac Richard Petty Bobby Isaac Richard Petty Charlie Glotzbach Pete Hamilton Richard Petty Richard Petty Buddy Baker Bobby Isaac Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Bobby Isaac LeeRoy Yarbrough Richard Petty Richard Petty Cale Yarborough Bobby Allison

NO. 1 SONG

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel

1970

P O P C U LT U R E

Monday Night Football debuts on ABC GALLON OF GAS

36¢

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

A LIFETIME IN NASCAR “A Lifetime in NASCAR” recalls memorable moments from NASCAR’s incredible history. Hosted by longtime NASCAR journalists Ben White and Aaron Burns, here’s a snippet from a recent episode: BY AARON BURNS BURNS: Looking back on it, I’d struggles early with crew chief say of the biggest “Silly Season” Harry Hyde. They got hot in that moves of the 1980s, two really Folger’s No. 25 car, won a ton of stood out. First of all, the shock races and Tim just missed out on and awe that I’m sure everyfinishing second in points to Dale body had when Richard Petty Earnhardt. announced he’d leave Petty Then, here you have Darrell, Enterprises – the team his falate in that 1986 season, thinkther, Lee, founded – to drive for ing “You know what, we’re going Mike Curb and keep the same to create the Dream Team,” with manufacturer, sponsor and car Waddell Wilson and a whole number. group of talented folks. Darrell Visually, it wasn’t a change, signs with Rick and they unveil but it had to be a shock when it this bright-orange, wake-you-upwent down in 1984. when-you-looked-at-it Tide car. WHITE: It really was. The That had to just turn NASCAR on entire motorsports community, its head, because who would’ve I remember when it came out expected the champion to go to and we all said, “No, someone’s a team that had hardly proven gotten some bad information. anything at that point? •• A lot of people think Richard Petty (pictured here in 1964) won 200 races WHITE: In that era, Darrell There’s no way Richard Petty with Petty Enterprises, but that is not correct. was on the top of his game and, is leaving Petty Enterprises. of course, everybody wanted That’s crazy.” to drive for Junior Johnson. It did come close, once, to a situation where Dale But, as the days went on, it became more of a story. Earnhardt was talking about possibly driving for Junior. That didn’t materialize, They’d ran since 1949, when Lee founded the team. It but talking about Darrell, you’re leaving a really strong race team at Junior’s and was a very close-knit, family organization and you’d you’re going to an untested situation at Hendrick. think to yourself, “Man, there’s just no way that can What went wrong in that deal was there was so much talent with Darrell as happen,” but I remember Richard saying that he felt a driver, Waddell Wilson as a crew chief and engine builder, that there just was it was just time to make a change. We found out it no chemistry. You had all that talent under one roof, you had unlimited financial was true and while a lot of people think Richard resources and support from Procter & Gamble with Tide as a sponsor, it was like Petty won 200 races with Petty Enterprises, it’s not a dream team, but as Darrell has said many times, it turned out to be a nightmare. correct. BURNS: For all the success Richard Petty had – BURNS: It’s not anything that anyone expected, like you said. I think as domand it’s worth mentioning, he went back to Petty inant as Dale Earnhardt was in 1986 and as dominant as Bill Elliott was in 1985, Enterprises in the late 1980s – he won his 200th and I think everybody was expecting Darrell and this group to win 12, 13, maybe 14 final Cup Series race at Daytona in 1984 with Mike races. They only won one race in 1987, it was at Martinsville in the fall and it was Curb as his team owner. under very interesting circumstances. Two years later, to me, was the ultimate bombDarrell was running third to Dale and Terry Labonte, Darrell nudged Terry a shell. You had Darrell Waltrip, a three-time Cup bit, Terry got into Dale, those guys got sideways and Darrell drove by and won. Series champion regarded by most of the NASCAR Now, Darrell had a lot of success at Hendrick Motorsports – he won his only media as the best driver in NASCAR, he’s the deDaytona 500 with them in 1989 – but that was after Hendrick had to reshuffle its fending champion. He’s leaving Junior Johnson’s deck a little bit and then, finally, it seemed like Darrell got on solid footing before team to go to Rick Hendrick’s team, Hendrick Mohe dropped another bombshell on the NASCAR world in 1990: He was leaving torsports, this upstart group that didn’t win a single Hendrick to start his own race team. Part of the Out of the Groove Podcast Network, “A Lifetime in NASCAR” is availrace in 1985. able on platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. In 1986, Tim Richmond comes to Hendrick and PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

NASCAR HOME TRACKS

La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway BY KEITH WALTZ

La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wisconsin, has been entertaining race fans in the upper Midwest since 1957 when officials began hosting auto races in conjunction with the annual fair. Today, the five-eighths-mile paved oval, which hosts weekly Saturday night racing under the NASCAR banner, is one of the nation’s premier short tracks. “Our shows are designed for race fans,” said Chuck Deery,

NASCAR HISTORY

who has managed and promoted the facility since 1987. “I’m a race fan, my race director – who I rely heavily on, Jeff Garbers, – is a race fan, and we put on races the way a race fan would want to see the races run. Sometimes it makes us less than popular with some race teams in how we do things, but, ultimately, it turns into a fun event to watch, a fun event to attend and it raises the bar on a competitive level for the race teams.”

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OKTOBERFEST

LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY

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under NASCAR sanction when it joined what is

things up.

now the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series in 1989. “Typically, our weekly shows feature four

“Your hard-core race fans want to see the

Oktoberfest weekend has been the track’s marquee event since 1970.

Late Models and the Sportsman cars, but

“It is a family reunion for race fans and

the occasional fans want to see something

competitors,” Deery said. “For Joe Race Fan

divisions – a late model stock, a sportsman,

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a hobby stock and an entry level four- or

novelty events adds an element to help us

for that matter, it’s an excellent destination

six-cylinder car,” Deery said about the track’s

market the track – plus their fun.”

NASCAR schedule that starts in late April. La Crosse regular Steve Carlson earned the 2007 NASCAR National Championship.

POLE POSITION 2021

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POLE POSITION 2021

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NASCAR Pole Position - February/March

Articles inside

La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway

Cool Stuff for Race Fans

XFINITY Series Drivers to Watch

Reflecting on Richard Petty’s 200 wins

Season Rewind: Bobby Isaac’s 1970 Title

LEGEND PROFILE: JIMMIE JOHNSON

Purple Heart Heroes

WHY I RACE: MYATT SNIDER

Fan Favorite Mark Martin

Camping World Truck Series Drivers to Watch

NASCAR’s Favorite Pets