Nascar Race News!» Richard Petty

Does NASCAR Need a Drivers Union Like IndyCar and Formula One?

Holly Cain — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:50:00 +0000

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Dale Jarrett, Talladega Superspeedway, IRL, NASCAR

No way. Won't happen. No need.

That's the prevailing consensus on whether NASCAR drivers will ever create the type of drivers organization formalized in the IZOD IndyCar Series a couple weeks ago and that has long existed in Formula One and even the National Hot Rod Association.

There have been concerted efforts over the years by some of NASCAR's biggest names, like Richard Petty, and even a rarely-talked-about effort in 1997 by the late seven-time champ Dale Earnhardt, but nothing sustainable. More often, it was a hush-hush, backroom suggestion that a committee or association was even necessary. The idea of anything resembling a union, pure blasphemy.

And that's from current and former drivers, not just the sanctioning body.

"It's pretty simple, NASCAR is the destination of choice for almost every driver in the world so if you don't like it, there's someone that will be right there on your heels ready to take your place,'' driver Carl Edwards said this week. "Maybe that's why they (NASCAR) have been able to do their own thing for so long.''

Or as 1989 champion Rusty Wallace puts it, "Having some sort of committee like that would just screw everything up.''

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TNT’s Disappointing Summer Series

Journo — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:09:28 +0000

After six weeks, TNT’s turn at the helm of the Cup Series broadcasts is over. And if you ask me, it couldn’t have come any sooner. From missed stories, to commercial overkill, TNT’s races were lackluster at best. Thanks to the wonders of technology (the DVR) and Speed’s Wednesday re-broadcast, TC and I usually catch [...]

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Nobody To Blame In Petty/Allmendinger Spat

T.C. — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 02:59:41 +0000

Last weekend at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, Richard Petty and RPM driver AJ Allmendinger had a short confrontation in the garage area after the race. During the race, Allmendinger was involved in a wreck with Kyle Busch that sent him spinning off the track and into the inside wall. AJ went on to finish the race, [...]

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Richard Petty Trace Adkins Contest

Vinny — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:54:39 +0000

You guys and gals know I love bringing you contest where you can win something. Here is a cool contest that should be a lot of fun. BC and Goody’s Online “Pick A Powder” Contest Kicks Off Starring Trace Adkins and Richard Petty Humorous Collection Of Short Videos Showing Them In Each Other’s World Is [...]

Richard Petty Trace Adkins Contest is a post from: Awesome Race Fans

NASCAR Hall of Fame Inducts First Class

Holly Cain — Sun, 23 May 2010 19:36:00 +0000

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Awards, Sprint Cup, NASCAR Hall of Fame

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Nearly two weeks after first opening its doors, the NASCAR Hall of Fame in downtown Charlotte hosted more than 2,300 people - from overall-clad moonshiners to champion drivers to fans dressed in souvenir t-shirts and flip-flops - who came together Sunday afternoon to induct the Hall's first five members.

A Who's Who list of the sport's royalty gathered to celebrate Richard Petty's legend, Junior Johnson's iconic status and to honor the legacies of the late seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt and NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and his son Bill France Jr., who guided NASCAR into its "modern era."

The accolades and primary focus were clearly on the five first-time inductees. It was, however, very clear this day was a celebration of the sport in general and the crucial role this inaugural class played in launching it beyond a regional pastime and into the American mainstream.

"Today, everybody was on the same team,'' said champion team owner Rick Hendrick, who delivered the induction speech for Bill France Jr.

"Today everybody is celebrating our sport. We all won today.''

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As Richard Petty Becomes Duke Fan, His Wife Talks About Her Cancer

Bob Zeller — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:20:00 +0000

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Duke Blue Devils -- nowhere more loved or reviled than here in their home state -- gained a big new fan this year in North Carolina's own Richard Petty, but not for any athletic accomplishments.

Since early February, Petty and his wife, Lynda, have been traveling back and forth from their home in Level Cross to the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, where Lynda has been receiving chemotherapy treatments for a brain tumor at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center.

"If I was never a Duke fan before, I'm a Duke fan now," Petty said at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Tuesday when asked about how his wife was doing. "Not that I wasn't, but it's brought me that much closer to Duke, that's for sure."

Meanwhile, Lynda Petty spoke out for the first time, telling WGHP Fox 8 News in an interview aired Thursday night, "I thought, 'Lord, give me the strength to get through this,' because I knew it was going to be the battle of my life."

Lynda told reporter Bob Buckley of the High Point, N.C., station that she first began having problems while the family was on vacation at their Wyoming ranch home.

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Gala Opening for NASCAR Hall of Fame

FanHouse Newswire — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:16:00 +0000

Filed under: Petty Enterprises

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The rumble from a pair of motors interrupted the opening ceremony at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Nobody seemed to mind, though, when Richard Petty pulled his 1974 Dodge Charger onto the ceremonial plaza, with Junior Johnson trailing in a 1940 Ford. The two members of NASCAR's inaugural Hall of Fame class climbed from the cars they are most associated with to a rousing ovation.

"This is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me," Johnson said of being part of the first induction class.

Started in 1948, the National Association of Stock Car Racing finally opened its Hall of Fame on Tuesday with a star-studded ceremony.

North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue joined Charlotte area dignitaries and representatives of NASCAR's past and present on a stage outside the Hall for the hour-long opening ceremony. After Johnson and Petty's arrival -- Petty in a replica of his No. 43 STP Dodge, and Johnson in a No. 3 Ford that read "Carolina Moonshine" -- several past champions scanned their entrance cards to officially open the doors.

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Ask The Insiders Wednesday #73

T.C. — Wed, 05 May 2010 03:31:05 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for this weekend! Both the Nationwide Series and Cup Series are headed to Darlington, and if you are like me, you can’t get enough of the “Track Too Tough To Tame.” Don’t worry though, this week’s round of reader questions shouldn’t be too tough to tame. If you don’t [...]

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Where Does RPM Go From Here?

Journo — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:53:49 +0000

For all intents and purposes Kasey Kahne is (or was) Richard Petty Motorsports. He’s, young, he’s attractive, and he’s attached, in one way or another, to just about every sponsorship deal the organization has. Kahne’s marketability and talent on the track made him an outstanding asset for an organization struggling to survive. Now that Kahne [...]

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John Andretti Will Drive for Cousin Michael, Richard Petty in Indy 500

Bob Zeller — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:10:00 +0000

Cousins Michael and John Andretti and racing legend Richard Petty are joining forces to field an Indy Car for John in the Indianapolis 500 as well as the May 1 Indy Racing League race at Kansas Speedway.

Michael's team, Andretti Autosport, made the announcement Wednesday and said that Window World, Inc., which has sponsored John's cars in the past, including his entry in last year's 500, will sponsor this effort as well.

After his debut run at Kansas, John will attempt to make his 11th Indianapolis 500 start behind the wheel of the #43 Team Window World car in the 94th running of the Memorial Day weekend classic on May 30.

"I feel like this is my best shot and I want to take full advantage of it," John Andretti said Wednesday during a teleconference. "It's something that can't start soon enough and is going to end way too early, I'm sure.

"If I was to write out what I wanted as a wish list for this race, this is what I'd get," he said. "Hopefully, I can make all my mistakes at Kansas, if I have any, and be ready for Indy and not to make any mistakes."

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