Connect with us

Motorsports

NASCAR Superstar Kevin Harvick Inducted Into Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame – Speedway Digest

Kevin Harvick humbly arrived at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) for the first time in 1997 in a Chevrolet Astro rental van, and 29 years later, he proudly exits as a Texas Motorsports Hall of Famer. Harvick, a nine-time TMS winner across NASCAR’s three national series, was officially inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame […]

Published

4 weeks ago

on


Kevin Harvick humbly arrived at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) for the first time in 1997 in a Chevrolet Astro rental van, and 29 years later, he proudly exits as a Texas Motorsports Hall of Famer.

Harvick, a nine-time TMS winner across NASCAR’s three national series, was officially inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame during Friday’s Speedway Children’s Charities luncheon presented by Würth in The Speedway Club Ballroom. The event was highlighted with the unveiling of Harvick’s Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame podium that will join the 23 others located on the Speedway Club circle. Harvick is the first new inductee since three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart in 2019.

“Anytime that you can go to the racetrack to be honored for something you did there to be successful is always a lot of fun,” Harvick said. “This racetrack has just been high on the success list for our teams, and above and beyond all that, is all that they’ve done for racing and my career, and Marcus (Smith, Speedway Motorsports president and CEO) and I are great friends, so to be able to have this honor is quite special.”

Harvick shared a number of stories of his experiences at Texas Motor Speedway throughout the years, including his initial visit to the speedway during its opening year while working for the Spears Motorsports truck series team.

“Let me tell you about my first time I came to Texas Motor Speedway,” Harvick said. “I was working on the Spears truck, so my first laps at the speedway were in that (rental) Chevy Astro van and I could beat (three-time truck series champion) Jack Sprague. He would beat me really bad down the straightaway, but his Cadillac would bounce the right front tires so much in the corner it would go all the way to the wall, and he’d have to let off, and my Astro van would make it wide open around the track. I don’t know if the insurance was approved for that, but we sure took liberty to do whatever we wanted at the time.”

He also discussed the peaks and valleys of his career at TMS, from the disappointment of the near misses to the elation of finally snapping a 29-race Cup Series winless drought at “The Great American Speedway” in the fall race of 2017 with Stewart-Haas Racing.

“We didn’t win as many Cup races here as we should have, but we probably won more than our fair share on the Xfinity side, so it’s always great to be able to go back somewhere and kind of bring those thoughts and memories back up,” Harvick said. “You know, as a driver, you would go to these places, and you knew going in, okay this is a weekend you need to capitalize on, and we were able to do that here at Texas so many times. It took a long time to get to Victory Lane on the Cup side, but in the end, it was a good run all the way through the years, and we were able to do it a few years in a row, too.”

Harvick quickly made up for lost time in Victory Lane on Sundays at Texas by winning the fall event for three consecutive seasons (2017-2019). In 39 career starts, he also posted 25 top-10 finishes, with 13 of those among the top five, and a pair of poles. He also had five NASCAR Xfinity Series wins (2001 spring race, fall race in 2005, ‘06, ‘07 and ‘12) and one in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2011 fall race).

Harvick, currently a television analyst for NASCAR on FOX broadcasts, concluded his full-time racing career in 2023 and finished with 121 victories across NASCAR’s three national series. His 60 wins in the NCS ranks 10th on the all-time list, and he added 47 in the Xfinity Series (NXS) and another 14 the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS).

Harvick’s major achievements include being the 2014 NCS champion; 2007 Daytona 500 winner; three-time Brickyard 400 winner (2003, ‘19 and ‘20); two-time Coca-Cola 600 winner (2011, ‘13); two-time Southern 500 winner (2014, ‘20); 2007 NASCAR All-Star Race winner; 2001 NCS Rookie of the Year; and two-time NXS champion (2001, ‘06). He also had 31 NCS poles during his career where he drove from Richard Childress Racing from 2001-2013 and Stewart-Haas Racing from 2014-2023.

“I think for me as a fan watching (you) race your whole career, racing here at Texas, the thing I think a lot of fans love about you and the way you race is that you were there to take care of business and such an amazing competitor,” Speedway Motorsports President & CEO Marcus Smith told Harvick on stage. “You have an amazing perspective on that now as a guy who gets to be in the TV booth and take it all in and see all the cars, not just the car out the front windshield or what’s in the mirror, and it’s really been cool to see that. But I always loved watching you race, you’d come here, and that car was so fast.”

The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame induction was part of the opening day for this weekend’s Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR tripleheader at Texas Motor Speedway. The three-day weekend features a race every day, beginning with tonight’s NCTS SpeedyCash.com 250 at 7 p.m. The NXS Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. and the weekend culminates with the NCS Würth 400 on Sunday beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Event tickets and camping passes for the 2025 Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR tripleheader weekend are on sale now. Click HERE for more information and to buy tickets.

In addition to the May 4 NCS Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY, the weekend also includes the May 3 NXS Andy’s Frozen Custard 300, the May 2 NCTS SpeedyCash.com 250 and two days of Kubota High Limit Racing sprint car competition, May 1 and 3, on the half-mile Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track.

Texas Motor Speedway’s current 2025 events calendar includes Kubota High Limit Racing (May 3 at the TMS Dirt Track), Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR tripleheader weekend (May 2-4), C10 Nationals (May 9-10), Holley LS Fest Texas (May 16-17), Bandas y Trocas (May 24), Solar Car Challenge (July 17-23), Goodguys Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals (Sept. 26-28), Texas World Dirt Track Championship (Oct. 3-4 at the TMS Dirt Track), October Truck Madness (Oct. 11), Kubota High Limit Racing All-In Championship (Oct. 17-18 at the TMS Dirt Track), FuelFest (Oct. 25), POWRi Sprint Cars (Nov. 7-8 at the TMS Dirt Track) and Xtreme Xperience (Dec. 11-14).

TMS PR



Link

6
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Motorsports

Joe Gibbs Racing Announces Partnership With Christopher Bell, COOFANDY

“We look forward to helping COOFANDY celebrate their 10-year anniversary and introducing their brand of clothing to our fans,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “They have an outfit to help inspire confidence for any occasion and our race team shares a lot in common with COOFANDY, as we both pursue excellence and […]

Published

6 minutes ago

on

May 28, 2025

By


“We look forward to helping COOFANDY celebrate their 10-year anniversary and introducing their brand of clothing to our fans,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “They have an outfit to help inspire confidence for any occasion and our race team shares a lot in common with COOFANDY, as we both pursue excellence and have a passion for winning.”

The partnership is part of COOFANDY’s “Dress the Win” campaign, built on the belief that every victory deserves the perfect outfit. It encourages men to express their individuality with confidence and charm.



Link

0
Continue Reading

Motorsports

NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson Races to WME

WME gets to rev its talent-representation engines with a new client, NASCAR great Jimmie Johnson. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will rely on the agency for representation in all areas, and to extend his influence via team ownership, working with brands, entrepreneurial pursuits and media including his Sirius XM podcast, “Never Settle,” which Johnson […]

Published

29 minutes ago

on

May 28, 2025

By


WME gets to rev its talent-representation engines with a new client, NASCAR great Jimmie Johnson.

The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will rely on the agency for representation in all areas, and to extend his influence via team ownership, working with brands, entrepreneurial pursuits and media including his Sirius XM podcast, “Never Settle,” which Johnson hosts with Marty Smith.

Johnson won five consecutive NASCAR Cup Series titles between 2006 and 2010 and is recognized as one of the most decorated drivers in motorsports history. His seven overall NASCAR Cup wins are tied for the most-ever won by a driver. He has accumulated 83 career wins, including two Daytona 500 victories. Until 2019, Johnson was the only driver to have qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs every single year since the event launched in 2004. He holds the record for the most consecutive and total playoff appearances.

He has made appearances in films and TV series including “Herbie: Fully Loaded,” “Las Vegas” and “Superstore.” He once voiced an animated lobster named Jimmie on the animated kids’ program “Bubble Guppies,” and appeared in the music video for the Avett Brothers’ song “Ain’t No Man.”

He currently drives on a part-time basis the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE for Legacy Motor Club, in which he holds an ownership stake. WME will also provide strategic representation for the racing entity.

Johnson is a lifelong racer, having gotten his start with motorcycles when he was just a child. He began to compete in off-road series, then stock-car races before eventually moving on to some of NASCAR’s biggest events.



Link

0
Continue Reading

Motorsports

Milton Keynes College students dream of future in motorsports – MKFM 106.3FM

Aston Martin Aramco Formula® One Team and Valvoline™ Global Operations inspire Milton Keynes College students. Mechanic and graphic design students from Milton Keynes College had the trip of a lifetime around Aston Martin’s Aramco Formula® One Team’s AMR Technology Campus at Silverstone.  The visit was made possible by a collaboration between the College, the racing team, […]

Published

48 minutes ago

on

May 28, 2025

By



Aston Martin Aramco Formula® One Team and Valvoline™ Global Operations inspire Milton Keynes College students.

Mechanic and graphic design students from Milton Keynes College had the trip of a lifetime around Aston Martin’s Aramco Formula® One Team’s AMR Technology Campus at Silverstone.  The visit was made possible by a collaboration between the College, the racing team, and global leader in automotive and industrial solutions, Valvoline™ Global Operations.

The connection with the College began last year, when the companies supported mechanic students in refurbishing a Formula Renault racing car, with the intention of getting it back to full working order.  That work has continued this year, again with the companies’ sponsorship as part of Valvoline Global’s Mechanics Month, an annual global event celebrating those either with a career in the field or who aspire to have one.  Meanwhile, graphic design students were given the challenge of creating advertising for Valvoline Global that could be featured on the racing car’s body panels.

Another element of the collaboration was to send a group of eighteen students to take part in an International Women’s Day event at Aston Martin Aramco Formula® One AMR Technology Campus.  Alongside 200 other young women, the students heard from inspirational speakers including Jessica Hawkins, Aston Martin Aramco Formula® One Team’s driver ambassador.

Both Aston Martin Aramco Formula® One and Valvoline Global aim to encourage more women to enter the automotive profession, and ran a half-day event for ninety girls from local schools at the College’s South Central Institute of Technology at Bletchley, where they heard from two current Milton Keynes College students, Lucy and Georgie, as well as Rebecca Moroney from Aston Martin and Kara Dunmore and Evangelia Boumpouli, both mechanics at Steven Eagell Group’s Cambridge branch.

The graphics students who’ve been involved in the work on the Formula Renault car went to the Aston Martin Aramco Formula® One Team Technology Campus at Silverstone to present their designs to judges from the racing and lubricant companies, with the winning team looking forward to seeing their design on the Milton Keynes College car.

At the final event, the motor vehicle mechanic students presented their team’s work to a panel of judges, including Jamal Muashsher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Valvoline Global, who selected the best three. The winning team will have the fantastic prize of a four-day work experience placement at the AMR Technology Campus, while the second and third placed teams received professional mechanics’ tool kits.

One of the winning student mechanics, Sam Mitchell, said, “The challenge was really enjoyable and tougher than I thought it might be.  It’s taught me an improved understanding of electrical theory and application, as well as helping with my teamwork and communication skills, not just between me and Joe but with the other teams, as well a wider understanding of race car mechanics.   It was great to have the chance to talk to the Valvoline CEO and other officials and amazing to see the final car, the livery and seeing what we had done.”

Sam’s teammate, Joe Rose, said, “We’d never worked on motorsport vehicles before so this gave us an incredible insight into how it works. It’s given me some really valuable skills and knowledge which could help start my career in the sport, which really is my ambition.”

All the student winners said they had an amazing time at the celebratory event.  Chiamaka Ahaneku, one of the graphics students involved said, “The experience provided by Aston Martin during the presentation of the Valvoline livery was truly inspirational to my teammates and me.  All the members of my design team felt included and heard.  The opportunity we were given will stay with us forever, and we thoroughly enjoyed our day.”

Caroline Indge, Head of Partnerships and Innovation at Milton Keynes College Group, says, “We’re so grateful to Aston Martin F1 and Valvoline for taking such an interest in the students, and for giving them the most amazing window into a world which not only excites them but which is there for them to join if they work hard.  We’re always looking out for local businesses with which to create these kinds of partnerships.  They’re great for the students, and they also give companies an insight into the calibre of skilled young people we’re training.”

Mark Gray, Head of Build & Car Assembly at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team, stated: “We are proud to continue supporting Valvoline’s Mechanics Month initiative. Mechanics play a crucial role in our sport – without them, racing wouldn’t be possible. It was a pleasure to welcome students from Milton Keynes College, give them a behind-the-scenes look at our work, and hopefully inspire the next generation of mechanics, whether in Formula 1 or the broader mobility industry.”

Speaking at the event, Jamal Muashsher, CEO and President of Valvoline Global said, “By providing students with mentorship and resources, we help bridge the global skills gap and support the next generation in building successful careers.  These young mechanics will drive the future of the industry, tackle evolving challenges, and may even become elite engineers behind Aston Martin Aramco Formula One’s success.”



Link

0
Continue Reading

Motorsports

Former NFL player reinvents himself after finding new passion in NASCAR pit crew

Jordan Ferguson went undrafted in 2023 before his NFL dreams were ended. But the former Seattle Seahawks pass-rusher has now found a home in NASCAR and is part of a diverse pit crew 15:51 ET, 27 May 2025Updated 15:51 ET, 27 May 2025 Ex-Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jordan Ferguson has found a new passion in […]

Published

49 minutes ago

on

May 28, 2025

By


Jordan Ferguson went undrafted in 2023 before his NFL dreams were ended. But the former Seattle Seahawks pass-rusher has now found a home in NASCAR and is part of a diverse pit crew

15:51 ET, 27 May 2025Updated 15:51 ET, 27 May 2025

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 10: Jordan Ferguson #42 of the Seattle Seahawks on the sideline during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on August 10, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
Ex-Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jordan Ferguson has found a new passion in NASCAR(Image: undefined via Getty Images)

Former Seattle Seahawks player Jordan Ferguson is making a name for himself in NASCAR, transitioning from the NFL to pit crews. Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt Jr. fears arrest if he visits his father’s grave because of their stepmother.

Ferguson, who went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft and failed to secure a spot on the Seahawks’ active roster, found himself at a crossroads. He has since found his place in NASCAR, thanks to the Diversity and Inclusion program. It comes as Chase Elliott blamed himself for the costly mistakes at the Coca-Cola 600, which saw him finish in sixth.

Trackhouse Racing, a big supporter of the program, boasts a diverse pit crew that includes Ross Chastain – winner of the Coca-Cola 600 due to a surprising pit stop – and Daniel Suarez, who rely on the crew for tire changing, fueling, and jackman duties. In an interview with WBTV at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ferguson expressed his hopes: “I want to be an inspiration to those that are younger than me who may be in the same situation as myself, never knowing they’re going to join NASCAR.

READ MORE: Golf analyst unloads on PGA Tour star as slow play battle unfolds at ColonialREAD MORE: Jailed Masters champion on unstoppable comeback as another half a million picked up

“To come and have this opportunity to take care of your family and have a great life as well.”

During his senior year at Middle Tennessee State, Ferguson was a first-team All-CUSA selection. Over his last two seasons, he racked up impressive stats, including 18 sacks, 34.5 tackles for loss, 126 tackles, eight passes defensed, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one interception.

Back in preseason 2023, Ferguson made three tackles and a sack for the Seahawks. Now, he’s embarked on a new career path, courtesy of the NASCAR diversity program.

NASCAR is ramping up its efforts to embrace inclusivity, introducing a slew of initiatives like paid internships and special tracks designed to groom the next generation of pit crew pros and racecar drivers — and it’s already showing results.

NASCAR
Ferguson found his place on the pit crew thanks to NASCAR’s Diversity and Inclusion program, which is sponsored by Trackhouse(Image: WBTV)

“Without the diversity program, internally, the hiring pool would be a little different,” Kenyatta ‘Kap’ Houston remarked to WBTV.

“Externally, somebody that looks like myself wouldn’t have been exposed to that opportunity of pitting race cars.”.

The NASCAR Cup Series will rev up at Nashville Superspeedway on Sun. June 1.



Link

0
Continue Reading

Motorsports

Nascar expects “significant” Amazon promotion during five-race Cup Series run on Prime Video

Coca-Cola 600 viewership in region of 2.5m Nascar’s Ben Kennedy points to Earnhardt and Garage 56 docuseries on Prime Video as additional marketing assets Nascar is set to benefit from “significant” promotion from Amazon Prime Video during its five-race Cup Series run on the streaming service, according to the series’ chief venue and racing innovation […]

Published

51 minutes ago

on

May 28, 2025

By


  • Coca-Cola 600 viewership in region of 2.5m
  • Nascar’s Ben Kennedy points to Earnhardt and Garage 56 docuseries on Prime Video as additional marketing assets

Nascar is set to benefit from “significant” promotion from Amazon Prime Video during its five-race Cup Series run on the streaming service, according to the series’ chief venue and racing innovation officer Ben Kennedy.

Starting with last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600, the Nascar Cup Series is being broadcast exclusively on a streaming platform for the first time in its history, a significant step for a sport that has been accused of being slow to modernise.

Prime Video’s global head of sports Jay Marine revealed in the build-up to Nascar’s visit to Charlotte that Amazon was “excited to reach younger audiences” for the series, a sentiment shared by Kennedy. 

“The amount of promotion that [Amazon Prime Video is] doing around Nascar and for the Coke 600 and what they’re going to do for these next five races is going to be significant for us,” he told BlackBook Motorsport.

Related posts

Viewing figures for Nascar’s debut on Prime Video are yet to be officially announced, but BlackBook Motorsport understands they will be in the region of 2.5 million. The Coca-Cola 600 has averaged 3.61 million since 2021.

Nascar commissioner Steve Phelps had previously said that he expected viewership on Prime Video to be “at least as good as what we’d see on cable”. The Nascar Cup Series has averaged 2.2 million viewers on cable since 2020.

While Nascar can claim an encouraging debut on Prime Video, Kennedy added that the series has been working to ensure it remains visible on the platform outside of races and maintains momentum. 

He continued: “We also launched a documentary on Dale Earnhardt last Thursday, that’s already been number one on Amazon Prime. I was on Amazon Prime last night and it was still number one, so [that ranking] for the first four or five days is great.

“We have another documentary coming out with Amazon Prime here in a couple of days documenting the Garage 56 efforts where we developed a car to tick the [24 Hours of] Le Mans a couple of years ago for our 75th anniversary.”

Nascar moves onto Nashville Superspeedway for its next race on Prime Video. The race has averaged three million viewers across the last four seasons, so it will be intriguing to see how sticky the platform’s audience is for the second race of the partnership.



Link

0
Continue Reading

Motorsports

NASCAR on Prime, Pete Rose on ballots, Kyle Larson on spin cycle

It’s been too long since we went to the virtual mailbag, which isn’t as utilitarian as the old mailbag, but it smells better. Folks have gripes, and folks have praise, but mostly folks have gripes … HEY, WILLIE! Well, I see big money has taken over NASCAR like everything else. I just found out the […]

Published

1 hour ago

on

May 28, 2025

By


It’s been too long since we went to the virtual mailbag, which isn’t as utilitarian as the old mailbag, but it smells better.

Folks have gripes, and folks have praise, but mostly folks have gripes …

HEY, WILLIE!

Well, I see big money has taken over NASCAR like everything else. I just found out the next five races will be on Amazon Prime.

NASCAR has priced out the working-class people who have supported NASCAR all of these years. Between the nitpicking and the yellow flags, this is the last straw. I won’t be watching NASCAR after supporting NASCAR for 50 years. 

All of my racing friends feel the same way.

JAMES

NASCAR POWER RANKINGS Top 10 drivers after Coca-Cola 600. Kyle Larson spins off top spot

HEY, JAMES!

Since you wrote this email, it’s now the next four races that will be on Prime. Through one week of Prime time, you don’t want to hear this, but the product is really good, with full-blown commercials only during the stage breaks.

But you might want to hear this — a reminder of last week’s tip: You can sign up for a free month of Prime and, if you want, dump it as soon as the NASCAR racin’ returns to regular cable TV.

Yes, yes, you have to remember to cancel at the end of your month. Amazon’s fiduciaries have concluded it’s worth giving away a month. They think enough of you will like all the other stuff they offer and stick around when you start getting charged.

Not to be cynical (of course!), but they might also think that enough of you will forget to cancel until you realize you’ve been dinged $14.99 for the next month. Fiduciaries have to fidoosh, you know.

HEY, WILLIE!

I don’t understand the reasoning behind NASCAR going to Prime. I do not subscribe to the paying stations. I live on a fixed income and those stations cost way too much.

NASCAR has done a lot of stupid rule changes, and now this. I feel like they want to lose more fans. 

DORIS

HEY, DORIS!

If you really tried, I bet you could understand NASCAR’s reasoning.

There was a time when many said network TV was enough and they’d never pay for cable. Then cable started buying the rights to televise big sporting events. 

I remember people saying they didn’t need a cell phone. Didn’t need to buy a membership for the privilege of shopping in a certain store. Didn’t need WiFi, ATMs, payday loans to pay a dinner tab. Needed none of it, yet here we are, being incrementaled to death.

Sometimes, you think the only option is to become the mysterious dude down the street who only comes outside to adjust his ham-radio antenna.

HEY, WILLIE!

Thank you so much for your NASCAR articles in my local paper, the York Daily Record in Pennsylvania. My local TV station doesn’t even mention it at all. Thanks again and keep up the good work.

DORIS (AGAIN)

HEY, DORIS!

Just when you think bargains don’t exist, you’re getting a two-for-one here today.

Yet another burst of research tells me you’re in that Harrisburg-York-Lancaster-Lebanon TV market. You’re closer to Philly than Pittsburgh, which probably explains it. 

But I’ll try to continue slipping some missives past the goalie to keep you slightly informed of what’s happening. 

Pros and cons of Pete Rose

HEY, WILLIE!

I enjoyed your article about Pete Rose (May 14). He was fun to watch, on and off the field. He was a celebrity who made everyone interested in baseball.

At 94, I do not remember much about professional baseball, except when I dated a few players in Sarasota when spring training was in town. But I do remember Pete Rose as a hotshot, and fun to watch and follow.  

I do hope he can be considered for the Hall of Fame, not only for his accomplishments on the field but for creating interest in the game of baseball as a popular sport.

CAROLE IN SARASOTA

HEY, CAROLE!

Guess what part of your email I honed in on. And I did some math. 

At 94, it seems your presumed prime dating years overlapped with Sarasota’s 1946-58 tenure as spring-training home to the Boston Red Sox. Boy oh boy, do I have questions. For another time, of course.

HEY, WILLIE!

I have enjoyed your columns for many years and I believe this is only the second time I have emailed you. Your take on Pete was admirable but failed to look at the whole picture.  

Pete was a very shallow individual, a despicable human being outside of baseball.  He was an adulterer and mistreated many who came into contact with him.

It was always about money to Pete. He put himself above the game, and no player, even Babe Ruth, is greater than the game of baseball.  

If anybody deserves forgiveness, it’s an illiterate man from South Carolina who was coaxed into a position he was not intelligent enough to understand.

AL

HEY, AL!

You were on a roll until you got to Shoeless Joe Jackson, the great ballplayer who couldn’t read or write but didn’t need to do either in order to swing the bat like someone out of Greek mythology.

From what I gather, Joe and the others weren’t given written agreements about throwing the 1919 World Series. Paper trail, you know, so Joe didn’t need to do any fancy readin’ or writin’. And Joe didn’t do a very good job of throwing things — he batted .375 during the series — but still apparently received a five-grand payout, according to testimony.

As for Pete, I’ve hopped off the fence and taken a side. He belongs in the Hall as a ballplayer. He was banned from baseball when it became clear he’d bet on games, presumably only as a manager (yes, presumably).

Much of the general public, and especially those visiting the Hall in Cooperstown, are smart enough to differentiate between Pete the gambler and Pete the ballplayer. A simple plaque in a museum isn’t an overall stamp of approval, but a nod to common sense for all who ever saw him play.

Back to racin’ to discuss Kyle Larson, and Rick Hendrick’s family tree

HEY, WILLIE!

Is that new NASCAR Hall of Famer, Ray Hendrick, related to Rick Hendrick the team owner?

RAY in JACKSONVILLE

HEY, RAY in JAX!

No. A quick visit to the Boys in Research tells us, however, a young Rick Hendrick in the 1960s worked on the pit crew for Ray when Ray was dominating the modified racing scene.

HEY, WILLIE!

Yes, the Indy 500 is a very important race, maybe THE most important, but Kyle Larson is first and foremost a NASCAR driver and he is where he is now because of NASCAR.  

If it wasn’t for his successful achievements in NASCAR he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to attempt the Indy-Charlotte double. If Indy racing is so important to him, then switch over and run it full time.

KEN B

HEY, KB!

It seems the racing gods might agree with you, Kenny. Between last year’s rain-induced debacle and this year’s “spin class,” Kyle might start blocking all calls from the 317 area code.

Kyle’s second and final Month-of-May spin at Indy ended his second Indy 500 earlier than he wished, but it might’ve ended early anyway — the 45-minute delay, due to a misting pop-up sprinkle, could’ve forced him out of the car before the checkers.

During the delay, the Fox cameras captured a great shot of Kyle in the cockpit, checking his watch and probably wondering what he did to anger Ol’ Man Doppler.

— Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com



Link

0
Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending