Latest news with #NateRyan
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NBC Sports Digital's ballots for the 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame
NBC Sports motorsports writers Dustin Long and Nate Ryan cast ballots Tuesday for the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of a 48-member voting panel. After being part of the voting panel for the first six classes, Long returns this year. It's the 16th consecutive class voted on by Ryan since the first for 2010. There was no vote held in 2021 because the induction of the class that was selected in voting June 9, 2020, had its induction delayed until January 2022. Advertisement The NASCAR Hall of Fame induction process is on its second iteration. From 2010-20, the five highest vote-getters annually were inducted from a list of 20 to 25 nominees. For the past four votes. the ballot has consisted of two categories: Modern Era (10 nominees) and Pioneer (five nominees). Two inductees are chosen from the Modern Era ballot and one from Pioneer (members of the voting panel each vote for two Modern Era candidates and one Pioneer candidate). Here are the ballots of Long and Ryan for the 16th class: Dustin Long's ballot MODERN ERA: 1. Jeff Burton. So highly regarded as a driver that he was looked to have been the hand-picked successor to Dale Earnhardt in the No. 3 car upon Earnhardt's retirement. That speaks volumes. Burton's work with safety has spanned 25 years and played a key role in protecting drivers. His role on behalf of drivers has proved invaluable for competitors. He continues to make an impact in the sport in those roles and also as an analyst for NBC Sports. Advertisement 2. Kurt Busch. The 2004 Cup champion won 34 races, including a Daytona 500 and a Coca-Cola 600. He won at least one race for 10 consecutive years and had another streak of nine consecutive seasons with at least a win before a concussion forced him to retire. PIONEER: Jake Elder. Known as "Suitcase Jake" for moving around often, he still had some of the best drivers in motorsports drive for him and win with him. He was the crew chief for David Pearson when Pearson won championships in 1968 and '69. He also was the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt for the first 13 races in 1980, the first season Earnhardt won the title. Mario Andretti won the 1967 Daytona 500 with Elder as his crew chief. LANDMARK AWARD: Humpy Wheeler. The P.T. Barnum of the sport was more than pizzaz. While he created many sideshows to attract fans to Charlotte Motor Speedway as the track's president and general manager, he also provided counsel to many drivers through the years. Many who worked for him later went on to manage and promote other tracks, playing a pivotal role in the sport, particularly during its boom time in the 1990s and early 2000s. Nate Ryan's ballot MODERN ERA: 1. Jeff Burton. 'The Mayor' claims two Coca-Cola 600 victories among his 21 Cup wins across 21 seasons, but his greatest contributions have been as a hugely important voice within the NASCAR industry. For the past decade, the South Boston, Virginia, native has been among the lead analysts for NBC Sports, and he also has been an important confidant and consultant for today's stars as the director of the NASCAR Driver Advisory Council. Burton also was instrumental in helping push for safety advancements, particularly in the cockpit area. Advertisement 2. Kurt Busch. The 2004 Cup Series champion counts the 2017 Daytona 500 among his 34 career victories. His title came in the first year of the Chase for the Nextel Cup that would evolve into the current playoff system. Busch finished in the top 10 of the points standings 10 times, and his fiery side sometimes got him sideways with other drivers, media members and NASCAR officials. But at 23XI Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing, he became known for his veteran leadership late in his career, which unfortunately was cut short by a head injury sustained in a crash at Pocono Raceway. PIONEER: Banjo Matthews. One of the greatest car builders in NASCAR history, his cars won 262 of the 362 Cup races from 1974-85, including all 30 races during the 1978 season that marked the third consecutive championship for a Matthews-built car. Known as 'the Henry Ford of race cars,' he also served as a mentor to some great crew chiefs and mechanics, such as NASCAR Hall o Famer Ray Evernham. LANDMARK AWARD: Humpy Wheeler. A flamboyant showman as the president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Wheeler is one of the greatest promoters in NASCAR and racing history. He is credited with bringing Janet Guthrie into stock-car racing (leveraging her ability to sell tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 against the Indy 500). He also was a mentor to many NASCAR stars and a friend to the media, which appreciated his amusing and pithy quotes that filled in his savvy big-picture vision. The late sportswriter David Poole once referred to Wheelers as "NASCAR's Yoda" for his boundless wisdom. NR NHOF 2026 Long's previous NASCAR Hall of Fame ballots 2010: Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, David Pearson, Bill France Sr. 2011: Pearson, Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Dale Inman 2012: Waltrip, Yarborough, Inman, Richie Evans, Herb Thomas 2013: Thomas, Cotton Owens, Leonard Wood, Wendell Scott, Rick Hendrick 2014: Fireball Roberts, Dale Jarrett, Hendrick, Tim Flock, Joe Weatherly 2015: Bill Elliott, Scott, Weatherly, Hendrick, Terry Labonte Ryan's previous NASCAR Hall of Fame ballots 2010: Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, David Pearson, Bill France Jr. 2011: Pearson, Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Lee Petty 2012: Waltrip, Yarborough, Dale Inman, Raymond Parks, Curtis Turner 2013: Fireball Roberts, Turner, Fred Lorenzen, Herb Thomas, Tim Flock 2014: Roberts, Turner, Lorenzen, Flock, Joe Weatherly 2015: Lorenzen, Turner, Weatherly, O. Bruton Smith, Rick Hendrick 2016: Turner, Smith, Hendrick, Ray Evernham, Bobby Isaac 2017: Hendrick, Evernham, Benny Parsons, Parks, Red Byron 2018: Evernham, Byron, Robert Yates, Alan Kulwicki, Buddy Baker 2019: Jeff Gordon, Kulwicki, Baker, Davey Allison, Jack Roush 2020: Tony Stewart, Baker, Waddell Wilson, Joe Gibbs 2022: Kirk Shelmerdine, Dale Jr. (Modern Era); Jake Elder (Pioneer). 2023: Matt Kenseth, Kirk Shelmerdine (Modern Era); Hershel McGriff (Pioneer). 2024: Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus (Modern Era), Banjo Matthews (Pioneer) 2025: Jeff Burton, Ricky Rudd (Modern Era); Banjo Matthews (Pioneer) LANDMARK 2015: Raymond Parks 2016: Raymond Parks 2017: Raymond Parks 2018: Ralph Seagraves 2019: Jim Hunter 2020: Ralph Seagraves 2022: Janet Guthrie 2023: Janet Guthrie 2024: Dr. Dean Sicking
NBC Sports
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
NBC Sports Digital's ballots for the 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame
NBC Sports motorsports writers Dustin Long and Nate Ryan cast ballots Tuesday for the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of a 48-member voting panel. After being part of the voting panel for the first six classes, Long returns this year. It's the 16th consecutive class voted on by Ryan since the first for 2010. There was no vote held in 2021 because the induction of the class that was selected in voting June 9, 2020, had its induction delayed until January 2022. The NASCAR Hall of Fame induction process is on its second iteration. From 2010-20, the five highest vote-getters annually were inducted from a list of 20 to 25 nominees. For the past four votes. the ballot has consisted of two categories: Modern Era (10 nominees) and Pioneer (five nominees). Two inductees are chosen from the Modern Era ballot and one from Pioneer (members of the voting panel each vote for two Modern Era candidates and one Pioneer candidate). Here are the ballots of Long and Ryan for the 16th class: Dustin Long's ballot MODERN ERA: 1. Jeff Burton. So highly regarded as a driver that he was looked to have been the hand-picked successor to Dale Earnhardt in the No. 3 car upon Earnhardt's retirement. That speaks volumes. Burton's work with safety has spanned 25 years and played a key role in protecting drivers. His role on behalf of drivers has proved invaluable for competitors. He continues to make an impact in the sport in those roles and also as an analyst for NBC Sports. 2. Kurt Busch. The 2004 Cup champion won 34 races, including a Daytona 500 and a Coca-Cola 600. He won at least one race for 10 consecutive years and had another streak of nine consecutive seasons with at least a win before a concussion forced him to retire. PIONEER: Jake Elder. Known as 'Suitcase Jake' for moving around often, he still had some of the best drivers in motorsports drive for him and win with him. He was the crew chief for David Pearson when Pearson won championships in 1968 and '69. He also was the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt for the first 13 races in 1980, the first season Earnhardt won the title. Mario Andretti won the 1967 Daytona 500 with Elder as his crew chief. LANDMARK AWARD: Humpy Wheeler. The P.T. Barnum of the sport was more than pizzaz. While he created many sideshows to attract fans to Charlotte Motor Speedway as the track's president and general manager, he also provided counsel to many drivers through the years. Many who worked for him later went on to manage and promote other tracks, playing a pivotal role in the sport, particularly during its boom time in the 1990s and early 2000s. Nate Ryan's ballot MODERN ERA: 1. Jeff Burton. 'The Mayor' claims two Coca-Cola 600 victories among his 21 Cup wins across 21 seasons, but his greatest contributions have been as a hugely important voice within the NASCAR industry. For the past decade, the South Boston, Virginia, native has been among the lead analysts for NBC Sports, and he also has been an important confidant and consultant for today's stars as the director of the NASCAR Driver Advisory Council. Burton also was instrumental in helping push for safety advancements, particularly in the cockpit area. 2. Kurt Busch. The 2004 Cup Series champion counts the 2017 Daytona 500 among his 34 career victories. His title came in the first year of the Chase for the Nextel Cup that would evolve into the current playoff system. Busch finished in the top 10 of the points standings 10 times, and his fiery side sometimes got him sideways with other drivers, media members and NASCAR officials. But at 23XI Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing, he became known for his veteran leadership late in his career, which unfortunately was cut short by a head injury sustained in a crash at Pocono Raceway. PIONEER: Banjo Matthews. One of the greatest car builders in NASCAR history, his cars won 262 of the 362 Cup races from 1974-85, including all 30 races during the 1978 season that marked the third consecutive championship for a Matthews-built car. Known as 'the Henry Ford of race cars,' he also served as a mentor to some great crew chiefs and mechanics, such as NASCAR Hall o Famer Ray Evernham. LANDMARK AWARD: Humpy Wheeler. A flamboyant showman as the president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Wheeler is one of the greatest promoters in NASCAR and racing history. He is credited with bringing Janet Guthrie into stock-car racing (leveraging her ability to sell tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 against the Indy 500). He also was a mentor to many NASCAR stars and a friend to the media, which appreciated his amusing and pithy quotes that filled in his savvy big-picture vision. The late sportswriter David Poole once referred to Wheelers as 'NASCAR's Yoda' for his boundless wisdom. (Nate Ryan) 2010: Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, David Pearson, Bill France Sr. 2011: Pearson, Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Dale Inman 2012: Waltrip, Yarborough, Inman, Richie Evans, Herb Thomas 2013: Thomas, Cotton Owens, Leonard Wood, Wendell Scott, Rick Hendrick 2014: Fireball Roberts, Dale Jarrett, Hendrick, Tim Flock, Joe Weatherly 2015: Bill Elliott, Scott, Weatherly, Hendrick, Terry Labonte 2010: Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, David Pearson, Bill France Jr. 2011: Pearson, Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Lee Petty 2012: Waltrip, Yarborough, Dale Inman, Raymond Parks, Curtis Turner 2013: Fireball Roberts, Turner, Fred Lorenzen, Herb Thomas, Tim Flock 2014: Roberts, Turner, Lorenzen, Flock, Joe Weatherly 2015: Lorenzen, Turner, Weatherly, O. Bruton Smith, Rick Hendrick 2016: Turner, Smith, Hendrick, Ray Evernham, Bobby Isaac 2017: Hendrick, Evernham, Benny Parsons, Parks, Red Byron 2018: Evernham, Byron, Robert Yates, Alan Kulwicki, Buddy Baker 2019: Jeff Gordon, Kulwicki, Baker, Davey Allison, Jack Roush 2020: Tony Stewart, Baker, Waddell Wilson, Joe Gibbs 2022: Kirk Shelmerdine, Dale Jr. (Modern Era); Jake Elder (Pioneer). 2023: Matt Kenseth, Kirk Shelmerdine (Modern Era); Hershel McGriff (Pioneer). 2024: Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus (Modern Era), Banjo Matthews (Pioneer) 2025: Jeff Burton, Ricky Rudd (Modern Era); Banjo Matthews (Pioneer) LANDMARK 2015: Raymond Parks 2016: Raymond Parks 2017: Raymond Parks 2018: Ralph Seagraves 2019: Jim Hunter 2020: Ralph Seagraves 2022: Janet Guthrie 2023: Janet Guthrie 2024: Dr. Dean Sicking
NBC Sports
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
All-Star Race North Wilkesboro weekend schedule, TV info for NASCAR Cup and Truck
The NASCAR All-Star Race returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the third consecutive year with a few new wrinkles in the race format and schedule at the 0.625-mile oval in North Carolina. Cup cars will be on track for practice and qualifying Friday, two heat races to set the main event field Saturday and then the Open and All-Star Race will be Sunday night. The main event will feature a 'promoter's caution' that can be thrown ahead of Lap 220 of 250. A new 'Manufacturer Showdown' will pit Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota in a battle for the best combined overall finish in the All-Star Race. The Pit Crew Challenge also will be held during qualifying Friday and determine pit selection for Sunday's 250-lap main event. Nate Ryan, Joey Logano is the defending winner of the All-Star Race. Kyle Larson won the 2023 inaugural All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro. The CARS Tour, Camping World Truck Series and Whelen Modified Tour also will be racing at North Wilkesboro this weekend. Dustin Long, All-Star Race schedule at North Wilkesboro (All Times Eastern) Friday, May 16 Garage open 10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. — Cup 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Truck Series Track activity 5:05 - 5:50 p.m. — Cup practice (FS2, MRN) 6:10 - 6:50 p.m. — Cup Open qualifying (FS1, MRN) 7:05 - 8 p.m. — Cup All-Star Race qualifying/Pit Crew Challenge (FS1, MRN) 8:15 p.m. — CARS Tour race (100 laps, FS1, Flo Racing) Saturday, May 17 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. — Truck Series 1:30 - 7:30 p.m. — Cup 9:35 - 10:30 a.m. — Truck practice (FS2) 10:35 - 11:30 a.m. — Truck qualifying (FS2) 1:30 p.m. — Truck race (250 laps, 156.25 miles, Stage 1 at Lap 70, Stage 2 at Lap 140; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) 5:10 p.m. — All-Star Race Heat 1 (75 laps, 46.875 miles, FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) 6:15 p.m. — All-Star Race Heat 2 (75 laps, 46.875 miles, FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) Sunday, May 18 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. — Whelen Modified Tour 2 - 11:55 p.m. — Cup 10:15 - 10:45 a.m. — Whelen Modified Tour practice 10:55 - 11:25 a.m. — Whelen Modified Tour practice 12:45 - 1:15 p.m. — Whelen Modified Tour qualifying 2 p.m. — Whelen Modified Tour race (150 laps, 93.75 miles, Flo Racing, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR) 5:30 p.m. — All-Star Open (100 laps, 62.5 miles, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR) 8 p.m. — All-Star Race (250 laps, 156.25 miles, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR) Weekend weather Friday: Cloudy with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible. A high of 86 degrees and winds from the west-southwest at 5 to 10 mph. Saturday: Cloudy with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible. A high of 85 degrees and winds from the west-southwest at 10 to 20 mph. It's expected to be 82 degrees with a 15% chance of rain at the start of the Truck race. It's expected to be partly cloudy with a high of 82 degrees and a 15% chance of rain at the start of the first of the two Cup heat races. Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a high of 84 degrees and winds from the west at 5 to 10 mph. It's expected to be 75 degrees with a 1% chance of rain at the start of the All-Star Race.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR teams pitch in to help Katherine Legge ahead of her Cup debut at Phoenix
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Multiple NASCAR teams have helped Katherine Legge prepare for her first Cup start this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. 'Everybody has given me the best opportunity to go out there and do a good job,' Legge said Friday. The 44-year-old driver from England will become the first woman to compete in a NASCAR Cup race since Danica Patrick drove in the 2018 Daytona 500. Legge will pilot the No. 78 for Live Fast Motorsports, which is running a limited Cup schedule this season. The list of women who have raced NASCAR Cup with Katherine Legge set to become the latest She will make her premier series debut at Phoenix Raceway with Live Fast Motorsports. Nate Ryan, Nate Ryan, Legge's Cup debut came together quickly. She talked to NASCAR two weeks ago at Atlanta on what she needed to do to compete in a Cup race. She was told that a road course or short track was where she needed to start. Legge said not everything could be put together fast enough for her to make her debut last weekend at Circuit of the Americas, so Phoenix became the next best option. 'It's been a very intense lead-up,' Legge said. She has been busy this week. Richard Childress Racing provided a static sim for her to run laps on the Phoenix track. Chevrolet gave her time in one its Driver-in-the-Loop simulators. She worked on pit stops by driving the car for Hendrick Motorsports' pit practice. Kaulig Racing also has provided support, she said, along with AJ Allmendinger and former Cup driver Andy Lally, the president of the Trans Am Series. 'I feel super well-supported and as prepared as I possibly can be, having never, never driven on an oval like this (with) a Next Gen car,' Legge said. Phoenix weekend schedule, TV info for NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series In a preview of the championship, the 1-mile oval will play host to the top two national circuits. Nate Ryan, Nate Ryan, Legge, who has won in IMSA and competed in four Indianapolis 500s, is realistic about the challenges she faces this weekend. 'I don't think that we have any expectation that we're going to go out and be competitive,' Legge said. 'I think if I finish anything but last, it would be a win for us, honestly, because I don't have the experience that any of these guys have. I don't have the car at the moment that's capable of going and running up in front, so hopefully we can develop me and the car and everything else at the same time and we can get there.' Legge said her goals for Sunday are simple. 'Basically finish all of the laps,' she said. 'I want to do a good job and minimizing mistakes because everybody makes mistakes, but I really want to minimize them. I want to stay out of trouble and show respect and prove that I belong. I think if I do those things, I think I will get the opportunity to do more.'
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR Cup race at COTA comes at right time for Shane van Gisbergen
NASCAR's first road course race of the Cup season comes at the right time for Shane van Gisbergen. After a ninth-place finish in the Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium to begin February, the rest of the month was miserable for the Trackhouse Racing driver. At Daytona, van Gisbergen went to a backup car for the 500 after his car was damaged in his qualifying race. He finished 33rd in the 500 after damage from an early incident. Last weekend at Atlanta, van Gisbergen was in position for a top-15 finish before he was collected in a last-lap crash and placed 23rd. The result is that van Gisbergen enters Sunday's Cup race at Circuit of the Americas (3:30 p.m. ET on Fox) 34th in the points. COTA Austin weekend schedule, TV info for NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series The top two national series will race a new layout for the first road course of the season. Nate Ryan, Nate Ryan, This weekend is the first of five road courses in the Cup regular season that could pave the way for him to make the playoffs. The three-time Australian Supercars champion has excelled on NASCAR's road courses since winning in his Cup debut in 2023 at the Chicago Street Race. 'I just had, I guess, a jump on them at Chicago,' van Gisbergen said of Cup drivers. 'I had, obviously, a great car, great team, but I was used to the street circuits.' Good news, bad news for NASCAR Cup teams heading into COTA weekend Ross Chastain has the best average finish at COTA among active drivers but could face a challenge from teammate Shane van Gisbergen. Dustin Long, Dustin Long, Van Gisbergen has made 11 road course starts between Cup and Xfinity, winning four times — one Cup race and three Xfinity races last year. He nearly won at Watkins Glen last year, finishing second to Chris Buescher after a dramatic final lap. Van Gisbergen described the racing as 'epic.' 'The guys here are just so talented,' van Gisbergen said of the Cup drivers. 'When you race every week, you're going to to get so good at it. I just see the prep and the level here, it's just so high.' How Austin Cindric got Kyle Larson's number after Atlanta crash and how he moved on from disappointment The Team Penske driver tends to avoid fraternizing with his Cup Series peers. Nate Ryan, Nate Ryan, NASCAR will race on a different COTA course this weekend. Cup and Xfinity no longer will run the 3.41-mile course. Instead, both series will run on the track's National course, which is 1 mile shorter. The change, along with the increase in laps from 68 to 95 for the Cup race, is meant to give fans in the stadium area more laps to see the action. 'We don't lose any passing spots,' van Gisbergen said of the change to the track. 'I think it's probably a good thing, a shorter track.' For all the attention on van Gisbergen's success on road courses, his focus throughout the season is elsewhere. 'I just want to be someone who you think of an oval like that,' he said. 'I really want to get better at ovals and every week be a contender, not just five times a year.'
