IT TOOK THEM AWHILE BUT THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT. NASCAR has announced its recognition of Bobby Allison as the official winner of the NASCAR Cup Series Myers Brothers Memorial at Bowman Gray Stadium on August 6, 1971. The NASCAR record books have been updated to reflect Allison in sole possession of fourth place on the all-time Cup Series wins list with 85 wins.
“For 53 years, the Myers Brothers Memorial was the only race run by NASCAR that did not have an official winner,” said Jim France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “As we began preparations for the upcoming Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, the topic of that August 6, 1971 race returned to the forefront. We felt it was the right thing to officially recognize Bobby’s win and honor him as an 85-time NASCAR Cup Series winner. We are grateful for Bobby’s lifetime contributions to NASCAR.”
Earlier, France and Senior Advisor to NASCAR Mike Helton visited with Allison to inform him of the news.
The race was one of six that season that featured a mix of Grand National (Cup Series) cars and smaller Grand American cars. Allison, who competed in both series at the time, chose to drive his Grand American Ford Mustang and won the race, leading 138 of 200 laps. Despite being presented the trophy in Victory Lane, the win never counted towards Allison’s Cup Series total.
With Allison’s win total updated to 85, he now only trails fellow NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (200), David Pearson (105) and Jeff Gordon (93).
Allison, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s second class in 2011, is a five-time NASCAR champion – Cup Series (1983), Modified Division (1964, ’65) and Modified Special Division (1962, ’63). He won the Daytona 500 three times (1978, ’82, ’88), holding off his son and fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Davey Allison in his final career victory – creating one of the most memorable moments in NASCAR history. In 2023, Allison was named one of the 75 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR history
Len Sammons Productions has announced the dates for the 38th annual Motorsports Racecar and Trade Show, as well as the Indoor Auto Racing Series' three indoor race weekends for January and February 2025.
The Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports 2025 will once again take place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. The show will be held on Friday, January 24th, from 2 PM to 9 PM, and Saturday, January 25th, from 10 AM to 7 PM. This will mark the 17th time the event has been hosted at this venue.
The 2025 Indoor Auto Racing Series will kick off with two weekends of thrilling competition on the concrete floors of arenas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The series, featuring TQ Midgets, Champ Karts, and Slingshots, will begin with its traditional opener at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA, on January 3rd and 4th. Ironton Global will sponsor this event, which will include feature races for all three divisions each night.
In a notable upset, 15-year-old Tanner VanDoren of Slatington, PA, won the Friday night feature in 2024, while Ryan Flores of Mooresville, NC, who would go on to win the overall Indoor Series championship, claimed victory on Saturday night.
For the 23rd year, Len Sammons Productions will host the series at Atlantic City’s historic Boardwalk Hall. The NAPA Know How weekend in Atlantic City is scheduled for January 31st and February 1st, 2025. Tickets for the 2025 Atlantic City event, go on sale Friday, October 4, with special pre-sales taking place leading up to the public on sale.
In 2024, Ryan Flores won Friday's Black Jack 21, and Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, NY, captured the prestigious Gambler’s Classic 40 on Saturday night for the third time.
Next on the calendar is the only LSP Indoor Series event held on a clay surface: the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals at Trenton, NJ’s CURE Insurance Arena, scheduled for February 21st and 22nd.
The event, first held in 2017, will feature wingless 600 Sprints with qualifying races and main events on both Friday and Saturday evenings. Anthony Perrego of Walden, NY, who won the 2024 event in his debut 600 Sprint start, will be a notable competitor.
Pioneer Pole Buildings, sponsoring the Motorsports show for the 14th year, will showcase a significant display at the event's entrance. Based in Schuylkill Haven, PA, PPB is a major supporter of auto racing. Their exhibit will feature many of the race cars they sponsor and offer opportunities for driver autographs.
A special showcase display and other notable appearances will be announced soon. The show will also include a large Hard Core Racer section, speedway, racing series, and collectible displays, along with a full schedule of free racer seminars.
The Aqua Duck Water Transport-sponsored Ms. Motorsports competition will cap off Friday’s activities at 8 PM. Additionally, the Little Miss competition is planned for Saturday afternoon, along with the annual RAACE Foundation-sponsored Big Wheel races.
For more details on the Indoor Auto Racing Series, including advance ticket sales and special host hotel deals, visit IndoorAutoRacing.com. For information on exhibit space for the Motorsports show, visit www.motorsportstradeshow.com. To request a full-color show brochure or more information, email motorsports@aarn.com with your name, address, and phone number, or call Danny Sammons at 609-888-3618.
Times may change, tradition rolls on which is why Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Budweiser are reuniting to bring back one of the most recognizable paint schemes in racing history. The NASCAR Hall of Famer will drive the historic No. 8 Chevrolet with the iconic Bud King of Beers paint scheme once again for a limited series of Late Model Stock Car Races in 2024 and 2025. The paint scheme will make its return to the track for the first time in 17 years on November 23, 2024 when Earnhardt Jr. competes in the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway.
In addition to the infamous red-and-black paint scheme, Earnhardt Jr. will return to his stylized No. 8, made famous during his tenure behind the wheel from 1999 through 2007.
“It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No.8,” said Earnhardt Jr. “Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We've always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”
This return for Budweiser is the latest in Anheuser-Busch’s long-standing commitment to NASCAR and the motorsports industry. With driver partnerships, key event sponsorships and media investments in the sport, Anheuser-Busch has proudly supported and elevated NASCAR through Budweiser, Busch and Busch Light for more than 40 years.
“There are names that when mentioned, draw on the significance of their place in American history. Among them, Budweiser, and Earnhardt,” said Matt Davis, Vice-President of Partnerships at Anheuser-Busch. “This return to the racetrack alongside Dale with the Bud King of Beers paint scheme is another chapter in Anheuser-Busch's long and storied sports history.”
Anheuser-Busch and its brands Budweiser, Busch and Busch Light have a proud history supporting NASCAR legends and growing forces in the sport – notably as the primary sponsor of Earnhardt Jr. for nine seasons, through a 13-year partnership with Kevin Harvick, and with Busch Light as the current primary sponsorship of Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain announced in 2023.
JR Motorsports is showcasing the return of this iconic pairing with a line of Budweiser x Dale Jr. merchandise that is nostalgic of the early 2000s. Available now at shopjrnation.com.
Stay up to date with the event by following along on the JRM X account and watching on www.FloRacing.com.
Hendrick Motorsports opted not to appeal the Alex Bowman disqualification from the Charlotte road course, an admission that there didn’t appear to be such an extenuating circumstance that they could convince an appeal hearing officer that it didn’t violate the intent of the rule.
HMS thought Sunday it had all four of its cars advance to the Round of 8 until Bowman’s car failed post-race weight requirements. Instead of earning 29 points, the disqualified Bowman earned one point for the event, putting him below the playoff cutline and Joey Logano into the playoffs.
All cars go through pre-race tech and must weigh 3,400-3,500 pounds depending on the weight of the driver (drivers are weighed periodically throughout the year). The top-5 cars, and then in the playoffs, the playoff cars, are weighed post-race. There is a tolerance of 0.5 percent, about 17 pounds, in the post-race inspection to allow for any natural loss of weight from the competition as parts and pieces break and fluid levels can fluctuate.
"Hendrick Motorsports will not appeal the disqualification of the No. 48 car following Sunday’s race at the Charlotte Roval," the team said in a statement. "NASCAR allows a clear margin to account for the difference in pre- and post-race weight.
"After a thorough review by our team and the sanctioning body, we simply did not give ourselves enough margin to meet the post-race requirement. Although unintentional, the infraction was avoidable. We are extremely disappointed to lose a playoff spot under these circumstances and apologize to our fans and partners."
Whether Hendrick did something uncouth or just is a victim of circumstance can be debated. The sport has a history of ingenious ways to take weight out of the car (and maybe even put it back near the end of the race). Wherever there is a tolerance, teams potentially will do things to get closer to the tolerance level. On pit road, drivers push their speed to the 5 mph tolerance above the speed limit.
There likely are ways to slyly remove weight or change a piece sometime between pre-race tech and the end of the race. Teams have put weight in a helmet bag. Teams have put different air in tires for tech in order to make the car heavier. It’s part of the game. It’s not that no one tries to get the car lighter after they go through tech, it’s just how far they want to get to the line where if something unintended happens, they fail the weight requirement.
NASCAR hasn’t said how much off the Bowman car was in tech, so there’s no way to definitively know how close they were. But the team was allowed to top off fuel and purge and replace its water system. That didn’t help the car make weight, and likely was key to the decision not to appeal as it appeared NASCAR gave Bowman’s team every opportunity to make weight.
It’s unfortunate for Bowman and hard to say how much it helped him, whether the weight of the car was worth the nine points he needed to advance to the next round. But it’s obvious Hendrick folks didn’t see a way where they could— pardon the pun — tip the scales in their favor. So they have paid the price.
After making her way through the ranks of dirt racing and stock car racing, Hailie Deegan will shift her focus to open-wheel racing in 2025, competing in INDY NXT by Firestone with HMD Motorsports.
Deegan will drive the No. 38 entry for the full 14-race calendar of INDY NXT, the INDYCAR development series. Deegan, 23, becomes the fifth confirmed driver for HMD Motorsports, joining teammates Caio Collet, Josh Pierson, Tommy Smith and Bryce Aron and will join her teammates at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on Friday, Oct. 18 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
“I am excited about the opportunity and look forward to working with a proven program in HMD Motorsports,” Deegan said. “I have much to learn, but I am ready to go. The team brings a wealth of knowledge for me to pull from, and I look forward to soaking up as much of that as possible before my race debut next March in St. Petersburg.”
While Deegan has not competed in any open-wheel racing, she has been hard at work in preparation for the upcoming season. Working closely with Nathan Toney, former HMD Motorsports engineer and owner of Toney Driver Development, Deegan has completed test sessions at various circuits. She will gain her first open-wheel race experience later this month in the final race of the Formula Regional Americas season at Circuit of the Americas.
“Hailie, and especially the Deegan name, are huge in motorsports, and we welcome them to the HMD Motorsports family,” HMD Team President Mike Maurini said. “Hailie has already been out to the shop and is taking the move to open-wheel racing seriously. She is looking for a place in the Indianapolis area to be immersed with the team and is already working with her engineer. We want to make sure she and all the other HMD Motorsports drivers are as ready as possible for every on-track session.”
Southern California native Deegan comes to the series with a diverse racing resume. Her experience spans several championships, including the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS), NASCAR K&N Pro Series, ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. She is the daughter of Brian Deegan, freestyle motocross legend and 16-time X Games medalist in motocross and rallying.
In LOORRS, Hailie Deegan earned a class championship in 2013, a regional title in 2015 and a national championship in 2016, earning Driver of the Year that same season. Competing in both the East and West Championships of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in 2018 and 2019, Deegan earned a combined three wins and 10 additional top-five finishes. Deegan also became the first female driver to win a race in the series. In 2019 and 2020, Deegan claimed three podium finishes in the ARCA Menards Series.
Deegan’s progression continued as she made her NASCAR Truck Series debut in 2020. Across three full seasons, she earned five top-10 finishes. In 2024, she stepped up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, competing in a partial season and achieving a best finish of 12th.
The NHRA Breakfast, which is always one of the most popular events of the annual SEMA Show, is slated to take place Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Westgate Las Vegas Casino Paradise Event Center, hosting four NHRA stars – plus a legendary surprise guest – as part of a can’t-miss event and unique topic.
The NHRA Breakfast, a staple of the SEMA Show for more than two decades, takes place from 7:30-9 a.m.with a special topic: “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.” NHRA stars Ron Capps, Tony Schumacher and Austin Prock, along with crew chief Jim Oberhofer will appear – as well as a celebrated surprise guest – to discuss the “giant” that helped start their drag racing career.
Capps will speak about his start with Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and later racing for Don Schumacher, while T. Schumacher will share about his time racing for his father. Oberhofer will discuss his extensive time working with legendary Connie Kalitta, and Prock will talk about his time racing for the legendary John Force and now being tuned by his father, Jimmy Prock, who is widely considered one of the greatest nitro crew chiefs of all-time.
For the sixth time, NHRA on FOX announcer Brian Lohnes will be the panel moderator for the thrilling show, asking each member of the legendary panel detailed questions about racing for some of the biggest names in NHRA history. Everyone in attendance will get the chance to listen to incredible stories from the four panel members – as well as the special guest – in a fun and festive setting at the NHRA Breakfast.
“This year’s SEMA NHRA Breakfast is going to be fantastic,” Lohnes said. “It is one thing to hear the stories of heroes, but what about the people those heroes inspired to become pro drivers and crew chiefs? Whether they are family members, legendary racers, hall of fame drivers, or the sport’s biggest personalities, this is going to be a unique experience to hear what it’s like to stand on the shoulders of giants in NHRA drag racing.
“The stories will be unfiltered, unedited and only heard live in ONE place!
“What was Prudhomme like as a new team owner? Learning to tune a Top Fuel dragster with Connie Kalitta? Having your dad be Don Schumacher!? Oh, and maybe being in the middle of one of the best Funny Car seasons in history with your pop and brother as a crew chief. You’ll never get this anywhere else!”
Schumacher is the most successful driver in Top Fuel history, picking up 88 career victories and eight world championships, while Capps has been a star driver for three decades, picking up 76 wins and three Funny Car world championships. Oberhofer has been a top-notch crew chief for years for a multitude of teams, while Prock, the 2019 NHRA Rookie of the Year, is the current points leader in Funny Car, racking up seven wins during his memorable 2024 campaign.
In addition to the must-see topic, the popular trivia questions at the end of the show will continue with NHRA prize packs, which will include tickets to the upcoming In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, which takes place Nov. 14-17at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip to close out the 2024 NHRA season.
The NHRA stars will also appear at the NHRA Booth (#22619) at the SEMA Show for an autograph signing at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
The NHRA Breakfast at the SEMA Show will be held Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 7:30–9 a.m. at the Westgate Las Vegas Casino Paradise Event Center. The annual NHRA Breakfast is part of the 2024 SEMA Show, the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world which draws the industry’s brightest minds and products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 5-8, 2024.
The NHRA Breakfast is open to all registered SEMA Show attendees at no cost — however tickets are required. A continental breakfast will be served.
Freddie Rahmer of Salfordville wrapped up his fourth career Williams Grove Speedway Lawrence Chevrolet 410 sprint car track title with the conclusion of the National Open at the track on October 5.
The 28-year old Rahmer took top honors for the fourth time in his career at the historic oval.
The crown is also his second in a row aboard the Rich Eichelberger-owned No. 8.
Rahmer’s previous Williams Grove Speedway track titles came in 2017, 2020 and in 2023.
His oval titles in 2017 and 2020 were at the wheel of his father’s No. 51.
Throughout the 2024 campaign at Williams Grove Speeedway, Rahmer garnered just one victory, on March 22.
But he backed up the win with a trio of seconds, four thirds, a pair of fourths, three fifths, three sixths and one eighth place finish.
His average finish at the end of the season capped at 7.6.
He recorded two heat victories during 2024 qualifying event action.
The speedster now owns a total of 18 career wins at the Cumberland County oval.
Rahmer’s mechanic, Matt Stover, earned the Dave Brown Sr. Mechanic of the Year Award.
Hanover’s Troy Wagaman Jr. finished second in the WilliamsGrove season point standings aboard the Heffner No. 27 and Liverpool’s TJ Stutts rode home third behind the wheel of his own No. 11.
Stutts took Most Improved Driver honors at Williams Grove for his 2024 oval performances that encompassed three wins including a triumph over the World of Outlaws in July.
Kody Hartlaub of East Berlin won Rookie of the Year honors aboard John Trone’s No. 39.
York’s Bryn Gohn earned the 2024 Williams Grove Speedway Sportsmanship Award.
Danny Dietrich of Gettysburg won the 2024 Hoosier Diamond Series title at the track while behind the wheel of Gary Kauffman’s No. 48.
Dietrich took three wins in the eight-races completed. It was his second series title in a row.
Keep up to date on all the latest speedway news and information by visiting the oval’s official website located at www.williamsgrove.com and by following the track on X, Facebook and Instagram.
NASCAR Holdings’ leadership has been having discussions with its IMSA sports car property about working together on a future race event in which both series compete. IMSA concluded its ’24 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season with Saturday’s 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on NBC and USA Network. The property stands out in racing for having 18 carmakers involved, and it had a 19th officially announce its entry this week with a potential 20th that could soon be on the way. That includes the likes of Acura, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Lexus, Porsche, Cadillac and BMW. That compares to three carmakers in NASCAR, two for IndyCar and a handful in F1.
IMSA has run companion events with NASCAR, but not as a fully planned race since 2014. It had two of its four classes compete in 2020 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval as part of the racing properties trying to complete their season amid the pandemic.
Asked if running a future NASCAR companion weekend is on the cards, IMSA President John Doonan told SBJ: “Ben Kennedy, Steve O’Donnell, Steve Phelps and I sit down a lot and talk about places where, ‘Could we run with you together,’ so those talks are ongoing. I think it would be incredible for them to come to some of the places we race, and there’s quite a few places I can think of on their schedule — in particular we did it during COVID at the Charlotte Roval — that I would love to see us collaborate on. Nothing to announce, but I think the discussions are ongoing where there’s a lot of benefit to share a weekend and give the fans a different experience.”
Speedway Motorsports and Rick Hendrick announce Ten Tenths Motor Club at Charlotte Motor Speedway
In a first-of-its-kind partnership combining unparalleled motorsports history, automotive heritage and business expertise, officials with Speedway Motorsports and business leader Rick Hendrick today announced the creation of the Ten Tenths Motor Club, a 100-acre complex designed to attract automotive enthusiasts and manufacturers from around the world. Operated by Speedway Motorsports, the Ten Tenths Motor Club will include the Ten Tenths Circuit, a purpose-built, lighted road course with three configurations for high-performance driving; the Ten Tenths Clubhouse, a 20,000-square foot special event facility; a members’ garage featuring secure, climate-controlled storage, cigar lounge, bourbon bar and putting course; and expansive off-road driving trails.
“Our vision for Ten Tenths is to create an experiential destination that can be enjoyed by everyone from professional race car drivers to high-performance driving enthusiasts and car collectors,” said Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “It’s the most expansive property development at Charlotte Motor Speedway since we built zMAX Dragway in 2008, and further enhances our desire to innovate for the future.
“As the name Ten Tenths implies, we are going all out to create a place to celebrate the automobile unlike any other place in the world,” Smith added. “Our new project will become a centerpiece of community amongst individual automotive enthusiasts, commercial partners and manufacturers.”
Located outside Turns 1 and 2 of Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Ten Tenths Motor Club will host its grand opening with the Smith Heritage Invitational automotive experience on April 4-5, 2025. Construction on the Ten Tenths Circuit is nearly complete, while work on the Clubhouse is underway.
“In addition to a premier track design and driving experience, Ten Tenths will have unparalleled resources and infrastructure to support every customer and organization we touch,” said Rick Hendrick, chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports. “Just 20 minutes from Charlotte’s center city, it’s accessible by major thoroughfares and two nearby airports while being situated amongst a variety of lodging, shopping and entertainment options. Through our local network of service and collision centers, the facility will offer concierge vehicle maintenance and repair for nearly every exotic or high-performance car on the market. It’s a combination of amenities that cannot be matched in North America.
“The opportunity to partner with Marcus and his brothers on a passion project like this is incredibly rewarding,” added Hendrick, who is an avid car collector and preservationist. “I’ve had a special relationship with the Smith family for more than four decades. Not only do we share a love for automobiles and racing, we are aligned in our core values, our commitment to the local community and our overall vision for Ten Tenths. The collaboration thus far has been tremendous, and I can’t wait to see what our teams accomplish together as this exciting idea becomes reality.”
“For decades, my brothers and I have been blessed to build not only a business relationship with Rick Hendrick, but also a true friendship,” said Smith. “It’s an honor for Speedway Motorsports to partner with him on this joint venture and to create something worthy of the high standards exhibited by our organizations.”
Texas Motor Speedway and Kubota High Limit Racing are proud to announce the return and growth of The Stockyard Stampede at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track in 2025 during the speedway’s May 2-4tripleheader NASCAR weekend.
The May 1 and 3 Stockyard Stampede expands Kubota High Limit Racing’s footprint to two nights of springtime racing after their successful one-night show April 13during this year’s inaugural season. Anthony Macri beat Tyler Courtney to the A-Main checkered flag to earn the Uncle Chicken’s Sippin’ Whiskey Stockyard Stampede presented by Whiskey Myers trophy.
NASCAR Cup Series Champion and Kubota High Limit Racing co-founder Kyle Larson will compete in both nights of The Stockyard Stampede competition at The Dirt Track as well as the May 4 NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on the 1.5-mile oval.
Two-day reserved and general admission ticket packages are available now here with ticket packages discounted through October 31, 2024. Pit passes will not be available for pre-purchase. Children 5 and under are free.
"We're looking forward to not only returning to Texas Motor Speedway with NASCAR in May but also expanding the event to two nights in 2025,” said High Limit Racing co-owner Brad Sweet. “Partnering with TMS on such a big weekend puts Kubota High Limit Racing, all our drivers and teams in the spotlight. It's great for High Limit and the entire sport of sprint car racing."
“We are excited about the success of Kubota High Limit Racing’s inaugural season and look forward to an expanded program in 2025 during our May 2-4 NASCAR tripleheader weekend,” said Texas Motor Speedway Executive Vice President & General Manager Mark Faber. “This spring’s Stockyard Stampede was a crowd-pleaser for both regional sprint car fans as well as race fans in town for NASCAR. We look forward to all the excitement Kubota High Limit Racing brings for this weekend’s All-in Championship and next May.”
The relief effort for those affected by Hurricane Helene continues for the Oct. 11-12 Kubota High Limit Racing All-in Championship at the half-mile Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. A free pit pass upgrade will be available with the donation of an unopened children’s diaper pack (all sizes appreciated). Donations will be collected at The Dirt Track and transported to the affected areas for distribution.
Event tickets and camping for the 2025 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR tripleheader weekend are on sale now. Save up to 33 percent versus purchasing individual tickets, take advantage of interest-free monthly payments, get the best seat selection, and more. Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets.
The balance of Texas Motor Speedway’s 2024 event season includes the Kubota High Limit Racing All-In Championship (Oct. 11-12), October Truck Madness (Oct. 12), Gift of Lights (Nov. 28-Jan. 1, 2025) and Speedway Children’s Charities Grant Ceremony & Dinner with Santa (Dec. 5). For more information on the schedule and much more, please visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com.
– The 14th Tony Stewart’s Smoke Show fundraiser benefiting Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter raised $78,000 for children in need in North Texas but the biggest smile the three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion put on anyone’s face at Texas Motor Speedway on Oct. 9 was on that of a 99-year-old true American hero.
Fort Worth resident and WWII Battle of Iwo Jima survivor Don Graves sang the national anthem to open the fundraising event, where 16 participants experienced the thrill of riding with Stewart at near-race speeds and also getting behind the wheel themselves.
The United States Marine Corps veteran was then helped into the passenger seat of a Team Texas David Starr’s Racing School NASCAR stock car to take three laps at speed with Stewart behind the wheel. The smile on his face as the race car came to a stop on pit road was priceless.
“I was scared at first, I’ll be honest,” said Graves. “I’ve never done that before. After we got going, I watched him shift, downshift, everything, I said ‘Heck, this guy knows what he’s doing. But I gotta tell you, I enjoyed it. I really did. Next year, I’m ready to go again!”
There was a big smile on Stewart’s face as well.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” said Stewart, who earned Texas Motor Speedway NASCAR Cup Series victories in 2005 and 2011. “I haven’t been in a stock car for a year and then find out your very first ride is a war hero. Definitely wanted to make a good impression on him. The biggest thing I was really nervous about wasn’t crashing the car with him in there. It was getting done with the ride and him going ‘I don’t think you gave me a hundred percent.’
You know, military guys are big on that. They want you to give your all so we made sure we gave him a good ride. It was such an honor to meet someone like him and hear him sing the national anthem for everybody.”
I love the fact that we get to bring race fans that truly don’t understand what it’s like to be a NASCAR driver and you get to bring them to an event that raises a lot of money for Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas and gives that window into what it’s like to be a driver for a day. The most fun part of it for me, just having that one-on-one time, even though it’s a short amount of time, to hear them talk about what they just experienced is worth it all to me.”
Tony Stewart’s Smoke Show has raised more than $2 million since the inaugural event in 2008. Speedway Children's Charities will grant all funds raised throughout 2024 to non-profit organizations that serve children in need in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties.
“That was a memory that tops probably any Smoke Show memory that I’ve ever experienced,” said Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter Executive Director Marissa Chaney. “So many people come to this event in order to meet Tony so watching him give a ride to a true American hero, someone we all respect so much, was something no one here will ever forget. It was emotional seeing Don’s face once he got out of the car. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen at a Tony Stewart Smoke Show.
“Today’s event was just amazing. We had 16 participants, most of whom were new to the program and had never had this experience before so it was really cool to see them walk into the locker room for the first time to have this experience together.”
Team Texas David Starr’s Racing School, owned and operated by veteran NASCAR driver and Houston native David Starr, provided and prepared the former NASCAR race cars adorned in NASCAR paint schemes from the recent past.
SCC-TX distributes grants each December to local nonprofit organizations in the region. In 2023, 22 grants totaling $210,180 were distributed to help more than 20,000 children in need in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties. Since 1997, Speedway Children’s Charities Texas Chapter has distributed more than $12 million.
For more information at Speedway Children's Charities-Texas Chapter or to donate, go to www.speedwaycharities.org/texas/ or contact Marissa Chaney, Executive Director, at 817.215.8564 or mchaney@texasmotorspeedway.com.
Event tickets and camping for the 2025 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR tripleheader weekend are on sale now. Save up to 33 percent versus purchasing individual tickets, take advantage of interest-free monthly payments, get the best seat selection, and more. Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets
