Carroll Shelby Dead

Bruton Smith’s Statement on the Passing of Carroll Shelby

Bruton Smith statement on Carroll Shelby’s passing:

“Carroll was one of the best friends I ever had. He was known all over the world as an icon in the automotive industry and one of the greatest names in the history of motorsports. He was a great Texan and a great innovator with a style of his own. I’ll never forget how he would climb out of that sports car with bib overalls and a cowboy hat. Ford will do all but close the company because of his passing. I admired him a great deal and will miss him greatly as a friend and a business partner.”

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NASCAR Hall Of Fame Voted 2012 About.com Winner For Best Museum In Charlotte

 

 April 3, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 3, 2012) – The NASCAR Hall of Fame is the recipient of the 2012 About.com Charlotte Readers’ Choice Award for Best Museum in Charlotte.

Now in its fifth year, the About.com Readers’ Choice Awards honor the best products, features and services across more than a dozen categories, ranging from technology to hobbies to parenting and more, as selected by its readers.

“This year’s Readers’ Choice Awards program had a record number of nominations submitted across dozens of categories and featured hundreds of finalists,” said Margot Weiss, managing editor, About.com. “We are thankful to all our readers for their participation and congratulate the NASCAR Hall of Fame on their success.”

“Being voted Best Museum in Charlotte is a huge honor for the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said Winston Kelley, executive director for the 150,000 square-foot facility. “We are genuinely honored to receive such a prestigious award especially considering the remarkable array of museums that we are fortunate to have in Charlotte. This also helps validate the incredible and collaborative work from the huge team involved in designing and building the NASCAR Hall of Fame along with the superb staff we have who embrace each and every guest who we are honored to have as our guests.”

The NASCAR Hall of Fame, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010 and was the second highest attended sports hall of fame in America its opening year. The high-tech venue features high-octane fun with more than 50 hands-on stations, authentic NASCAR artifacts and historic stock car exhibits. Guests can actively get involved and practice a pit stop, walk through a full-size NASCAR Sprint Cup hauler, call a race, get behind the wheel in iRacing simulators and more. Younger rookie racers can get their hands-on experience in Kobalt Kids Zone and Race Week’s child-friendly pit stop challenge.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame is conveniently located in uptown Charlotte, N.C. at 400 East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.  For more information about the NASCAR Hall of Fame, guests should call 704-654-4400 or visit NASCARHall.com.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

RICHARD PETTY

There’s a reason that to this day, Petty is simply known as The King in and outside of NASCAR circles. He has seven Cup championships (tied for most all-time), 200 Cup wins (most all-time), 123 Cup poles (most all-time), 27 wins in one season (1967, most all-time), 1,027 career starts (most all-time) 10 consecutive wins (1967, most all-time), seven-time Daytona 500 winner (most all-time).

RICHIE EVANS

RICHIE EVANS

b. 7/23/41 – d. 10/24/85)
Hometown:Rome, N.Y.

Competed: 1973-85

Starts: 1,300 (estimated)

Wins: 475 (estimated)

The recognized “king” of Modified racing, Evans captured nine NASCAR Modified titles in a 13-year span, including eight in a row from 1978-85.

In the first year of the current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour format in 1985, Evans won 12 races, including a sweep of all four events at Thompson, Conn.

Evans ranked No. 1 in the 2003 voting of the “NASCAR All-Time Modified Top 10 Drivers,” and he was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers” in 1998. 

Junior Johnson will be serving up a different kind of ‘shine’

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 6, 2012) – Junior Johnson will be serving up a different kind of ‘shine’ this month at the NASCAR Hall of Fame…a little bit of sunshine! The Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee is set to serve ham and biscuits to guests in a memorable ‘meet and eat’ experience Saturday, Jan. 21 from 7 – 9 a.m.

Entry into the breakfast is free with general admission and will be located in the Great Hall. In addition, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be open extended hours Jan. 21 from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. for visitors looking to get an early start on their high-octane adventure of more than 50 hands-on stations, authentic NASCAR artifacts and historic stock car exhibits.

“How many people can say that Junior Johnson served them breakfast?” said Winston Kelley, executive director of the interactive, entertainment attraction. “Only NASCAR Hall of Fame visitors will have the pleasure of taking part in this one-of-a-kind experience. This new event is a perfect complement to the Induction festivities, driver appearances, exhibit reveals and special events scheduled during NASCAR Acceleration Weekend.”

NASCAR Acceleration Weekend is highlighted by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2012 Inductees Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough Friday, Jan. 20. On Saturday, Jan. 21 NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint will offer a festival-like experience for fans that features driver autograph and question-and-answer sessions, show car appearances, simulators, games and more. The weekend activities will conclude with the unveiling of the Class of 2012 Inductee Tribute exhibit in the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Sunday, Jan. 22.
Combo tickets for NASCAR Hall of Fame and NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint start at $20 and include the Junior Johnson Breakfast. NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony tickets start at $40 and include Hall admission.  Tickets can be purchased at  www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. For updates and details about NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, guests can visit www.nascaracceleration2012.com.

For updates and details about the NASCAR Hall of Fame, guests can visit www.NASCARHall.com, www.Facebook.com/NASCARHall or @NASCARHall on Twitter.
About NASCAR Hall of Fame

Conveniently located in uptown Charlotte, N.C., the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. It was the second highest attended sports hall of fame in American its opening year. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010 and includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Media Group-operated broadcast studio. The venue is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. seven days a week and has an attached parking garage on Brevard Street. The five-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000 square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. www.NASCARHall.com.

NASCAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

NASCAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

The prestigious NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony features presentations about each inductee from prominent members of the NASCAR community. The highlight of the event is the official induction of the 2012 Class of Inductees: Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough.

WHEN AND WHERE:

Friday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Crown Ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center.

DAN WHELDON

Dan Wheldon/IN MEMORIAL                                                                   1978 – 2011

Sam Schmidt Motorsports

• » Birthday: June 22, 1978
• » Hometown: Emberton, England
• » Residence: St. Petersburg, Fla.

Dan Wheldon has been the Indianapolis 500 runner-up the past two years in a Panther Racing car.

Wheldon won the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and IZOD IndyCar Series championship, and finished runner-up to Sam Hornish Jr. in the 2006 title chase.

Wheldon was named a national spokesperson for the National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe program, an intervention program for at-risk youth in America. He still competes in karting throughout the year.

Career Statistics – IZOD IndyCar Series *

Year	Starts	Wins	Poles **	Top 5	Top 10	Laps Led	Running at Finish
2011	2	1	0	1	1	1	2
2010	17	0	0	4	10	108	15
2009	17	0	0	3	9	8	14
2008	17	2	0	10	12	164	16
2007	17	2	1	6	11	605	12
2006	14	2	2	9	12	761	12
2005	17	6	0	12	15	752	15
2004	16	3	2	12	13	433	14
2003	14	0	0	5	9	33	9
2002	2	0	0	0	1	0	2
Total:	133	16	5	62	93	2865	111

* Under INDYCAR sanction
** Includes all poles, including those awarded based on entrant points

IZOD INDYCAR SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

First start: Sept. 8, 2002 (Chicagoland)
First pole: March 21, 2004 (Phoenix)
First victory: April 17, 2004 (Twin Ring Motegi)

2010
• Finished ninth in IZOD IndyCar Series standings for Panther Racing for seventh consecutive season in top 10.
• Recorded 10 top-10 finishes with high of second at Indianapolis and Chicagoland.
• Had best start of third at Kentucky.
• Led three races for total of 108 laps, including race-high 93 at Kentucky on way to third place.

2009
• Recorded three top-five and nine top-10 finishes for Panther Racing.
• Posted best finish of season with second at Indianapolis after starting 18th.
• Had eight consecutive top-10 finishes between Long Beach and Watkins Glen.

2008
• Finished fourth in IndyCar Series standings for Target Chip Ganassi Racing with two wins (Kansas and Iowa) and 12 top-10 finishes in 17 races.
• Named to drive the No. 4 Panther Racing car just before the season finale at Chicagoland.

2007
• Finished fourth in IndyCar Series standings for Target Chip Ganassi Racing with two wins (Homestead-Miami and Kansas) and a pole position at Homestead-Miami.
• Recorded six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.

2006
• Finished second in IndyCar Series standings for Target Chip Ganassi Racing with two victories (Homestead-Miami and Chicagoland) and two pole positions (Kansas and Nashville).
• Posted nine top-5 finishes and led a total of 761 laps (most of the season).
• Tied in points with Sam Hornish Jr., but lost tiebreaker championship (race wins).
• Won his debut for Target Chip Ganassi Racing at Homestead-Miami and became second driver to win debut for team (Michael Andretti, 1994).
• Finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500. Led 148 laps, the most of any driver.

2005
• Won championship for Andretti Green Racing with a series-record six victories (Homestead, St. Petersburg, Motegi, Indianapolis, Pikes Peak and Chicagoland).
• Won three consecutive races (St. Petersburg, Motegi and Indianapolis) to tie series record.
• Won the 89th Running of the Indianapolis 500 from 16th starting position.
• Became 25th driver overall and first IndyCar Series driver to also win the series championship.
• Announced in December that he would move to Target Chip Ganassi Racing for 2006 season.

2004
• Finished second in IndyCar Series standings, 85 points behind Andretti Green Racing teammate Tony Kanaan.
• Won three races (Motegi, Richmond, Nazareth), tying Kanaan, Adrian Fernandez and Buddy Rice for most victories in the season.
• Earned pole positions at Phoenix and Motegi.

2003
• Won Bombardier Rookie of the Year title and finished 11th in standings for Andretti Green Racing despite not racing first two events of season.
• Scored five top-five and nine top-10 finishes, including a career-best third in the season finale at Texas.
• Led two races for a total of 33 laps.

2002
• Named test driver for Panther Racing in June and made series debut for team at Chicagoland, qualifying seventh and finishing 10th.
• Started 28th after not attempting to qualify at Texas. Finished 15th, five laps down.
• Conducted first on-track test of new Honda Indy V-8 engine Nov. 8, driving for Andretti Green Racing at Homestead-Miami.

ROAD TO THE IZOD INDYCAR SERIES

2001
• Finished second in Indy Lights championship with PacWest Racing.
• Named Rookie of the Year and scored wins at Gateway and Road Atlanta.
• Won Bosch Platinum Speedway award for driver with most points from oval races.

2000
• Finished second in Toyota Atlantic series, scoring two wins.
• Also recorded four pole positions and seven podium appearances.
• Became first driver to win his debut race in series.
• Named Rookie of the Year.

1999
• Dominated U.S. F2000 championship, winning title on strength of six victories and five other top-three finishes.
• Named Rookie of the Year.
• Won Road to Indy title.

1998
• Finished third in British Formula Ford championship with four victories for Van Diemen team.
• Runner-up in the Formula Ford World Finals at Brands Hatch.

1997
• Finished fourth in British Formula Ford championship with three victories.

1996
• Runner-up in British Formula Vauxhall Junior Championship, scoring three victories and seven top-three finishes.

Early Career

• Competed in kart racing, winning eight British national titles and the Ayrton Senna Memorial World Cup.

Indianapolis 500

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish	Team	Summary
2003	Dallara	Honda	5	19	Andretti Green	Wrecked in turn 4, flipped
2004	Dallara	Honda	2	3	Andretti Green	Running
2005	Dallara	Honda	16	1	Andretti Green	Running; 157.603 mph
2006	Dallara	Honda	3	4	Chip Ganassi Racing	Running
2007	Dallara	Honda	6	22	Chip Ganassi Racing	Crashed on backstretch
2008	Dallara	Honda	2	12	Chip Ganassi Racing	Running
2009	Dallara	Honda	18	2	Panther Racing	Running
2010	Dallara	Honda	18	2	Panther Racing	Running
2011	Dallara	Honda	6	1	Bryan Herta Autosport	Running; 170.265 mph