NASCAR Team Began 60 Years Ago in Stuart, Virginia
Richmond, VA (February 21, 2011)-David Pearson. Cale Yarborough. Joe Weatherly. Dale Jarrett. Donnie Allison. Kyle Petty. AJ Foyt. Elliott Sadler. And now.Trevor Bayne. “Are you kidding me?” Those are Bayne’s words. Five syllables he uttered after winning the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 for the oldest continuous operating NASCAR team. Wood Brothers Racing, which dates back to 1950, began in Stuart, Virginia and is the pride of the Commonwealth today. Each of the aforementioned drivers have raced and won in Wood Brothers Racing stock cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
The Wood Brothers Racing team enjoyed immense success in its heyday, but they haven’t run a full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season since 2006. Their last victory came in 2001 when another Virginian-Elliott Sadler-captured the checkered flag in Bristol.
Today, Wood Brothers Racing is the talk of the entire sports world after winning its fifth Daytona 500 championship. Bayne became the youngest driver to win the race (20 years and one day) in a retrofitted #21 car, paying homage to 1976 Daytona 500 winner David Pearson.
The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is off to an incredible start with a fresh face in Gatorade Victory Lane. The Daytona 500 set a track record for lead changes (74) and race leaders (22). Prior to the weekend, Bayne was slated to run 17 races this season for Wood Brothers Racing and run a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule for Roush Fenway Racing. Whether or not he’ll run additional Sprint Cup races this season is to be determined.
Let’s hope Bayne has Richmond International Raceway in his sights for the Saturday, April 30th, Crown Royal Presents the Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Tickets are on sale now and start at $45. Tickets can be purchased online at www.rir.com or by calling 866-455-RACE (7223).
The weekend also features the BUBBA burger 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Friday, April 29th. Last year, Bayne finished 21st, but rallied for a 3rd-place finish in the September Nationwide Series race. Tickets for Friday start at $30, with children 12 and under admitted free with a ticketed adult in general admission sections. The NASCAR Tripleheader Weekend starts on Thursday, April 28th, with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race. All tickets are general admission and $10, with children 12 and under admitted free with a ticketed adult. For tickets and information, log on to www.rir.com or call 866-455-RACE (7223).
