TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: More preseason wheeling and dealing
A NEW DEAL FIT FOR A KING
King Richard Petty’s famous smile got a little wider and a little brighter following a January 15th press conference where an announcement was made regarding a major contract extension from a primary sponsor for Richard Petty Motorsports.
Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Richard Petty Motorsports, along with NASCAR officials, announced a three-year extension and increased investment in Smithfield Foods’ NASCAR program with Richard Petty Motorsports.
The company and its family of brands, including Eckrich, Farmland, Gwaltney, Nathan’s and Smithfield, will return as primary sponsors of the legendary No. 43 Ford Fusion driven by Aric Almirola in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for 29 races in 2014 and beyond, under a contract that extends through the end of the 2016 season. The agreement increases support from 15 events in 2012 and 25 in 2013 to 29 events in 2014-2016.
The partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been a very effective marketing platform for the world’s largest pork processor, with in-store promotional activities and tie-ins yielding successively incremental sales results.
“I believe in the power of NASCAR and Richard Petty Motorsports. My challenge to RPM was to help Smithfield connect our brands with the sport’s 80 plus million fans,” commented Larry Pope, President and CEO of Smithfield Foods. “Our results completely validate our participation.”
This long term commitment from Smithfield Foods will help support Richard Petty Motorsports’ aggressive investment in competition, including the immediate development of a research and development group led by veteran NASCAR team engineer Scott McDougall.
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THE RACING SWAN ALSO SMILED A LOT
Swan Racing announced the addition of Anthony Marlowe as a minority owner. Marlowe, a successful business leader from Iowa City, IA, has been involved in NASCAR as a sponsor with different teams since 2011. His leadership and his experience with business-to-business deals will be increasingly valuable to the team as it seeks additional partnerships.
“Anthony is an entrepreneur like me,” said team owner Brandon Davis. “He has the same work ethic and the same approach when it comes to finding creative and innovative solutions. Anthony is the perfect fit for the team and will be an integral part of it going forward.”
“This is a remarkable day, which for me marks the intersection of my passion for NASCAR and my dream of owning part of a professional sports team at the highest level,” said Marlowe. “I kept a close eye on Swan Racing during its inaugural season last year and was so impressed with Brandon Davis, the way they do business, and their pursuit of excellence that I wanted to be part of his Cup team for the long-haul.”
Brandon Davis purchased the team back in 2012. He will field two teams in the 2014 season for young up and coming drivers Cole Whitt in the No. 26 Toyota and Parker Kligerman in the No. #30 Toyota. Both drivers will be competing for the 2014 Rookie of the Year title.
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BIG NEWS FOR BIG TIME GAMERS
Saying it will offer NASCAR racing fans the most complete experience yet, Deep Silver announced that the racing game NASCAR ’14, developed by Eutechnyx, will launch in North America on February 18, 2014 on the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and PC for the suggested retail price of $49.99. Pre-order offers at Walmart, Gamestop, Best Buy, Target and Amazon may include diecast cars, exclusive paint schemes and more.
Recently NASCAR revealed that more than 700,000 votes were cast worldwide in the “Drive for the Cover” contest as fans voted Tony Stewart, the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, to appear onto the cover of NASCAR ’14. The injury that kept Stewart off the track didn’t stop fans of the driver of the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing from beating another fan favorite, four-time champion Jeff Gordon.
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IT’S A USED CAR BONANZA AT KYLE BUSCH MOTORSPORTS
Two of Kyle Busch’s personal collector cars are set to be auctioned off this weekend as part of Barrett-Jackson’s 43rd Annual Scottsdale Auction. Busch’s vehicles, a Velocity Yellow 2006 Z06 Corvette and an Orange 1969 Camaro SS, are scheduled to roll across the auction block this Sunday, Jan. 19, during Fox Sports 1’s live coverage from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Montoya: “The Brickyard is a big deal, but it’s not the Indy 500”
Last year, Juan Pablo Montoya announced that he would be heading back to IndyCar, driving for Team Penske. The opportunity didn’t shock fans as they could see it coming based on Montoya’s words that he wanted to get back into a car he could win in.
The opportunity to get back in an IndyCar brings forth another opportunity for the Columbian – to win the Indianapolis 500 in May.
“Every year you came here and you’re not in an Indy car, it’s cool, but you want to come to the museum to see the Indy cars,” Montoya commented at an appearance. “It’s not the same. The Brickyard is a big deal, but it’s not the Indy 500. I never thought I’d be back here to try to get another win. I’m excited and to race here for Team Penske.”
Montoya added that while the opportunity is exciting, he isn’t focused on that right now.
“I’m more of a guy who goes, ‘What’s next? Are we testing? Are we doing this or are we doing that?’ I try not to think about it too much,” he added. “Once we need to come to Indy, I’ll worry about Indy and not before. Still it’s exciting. If you think about it, I’m 1-for-1 here and it would be cool to be 2-for-2.”
In preparation for the season, Montoya has been testing at multiple road courses and ovals to get a feel for the new car. Despite there being a learning curve, defending series champion Scott Dixon says that Montoya should do well despite not being in an open-wheel car for a couple of years. Dixon added that the change in testing rules – each team is allowed 18 days total now – will give Montoya more time to adapt to the car.
“That’s good for him, but the addition of being in a really strong team and having really strong teammates will definitely quicken that process up,” Dixon added. “I expect him to be quick straight out of the box and having the possibility of going for race wins straight on.”
Montoya has been attending tests with teammates Will Power and Helio Castroneves. The experienced teammates have help set the cars up initially, followed by Montoya running laps after and seeing if he can get close to their times. In each of the tests he’s done so far, he’s impressed.
However, even with successful tests, Montoya knows he has challenges ahead.
“The short ovals are going to be my biggest challenge because you have to run flat-out,” he commented. “That wasn’t the case when I was in the series in 1999 and 2000. The speed you carry through the corners is unbelievable.”
One of the critical tests for Montoya this off-season was Phoenix International Raceway. Montoya knows the track via his NASCAR experience, but he says the test is necessary with how different the two cars drive.
“The way you drive these two tracks is completely different from NASCAR to IndyCar,” Montoya said. “We’re running about six seconds a lap faster than in NASCAR.”
Montoya’s official return to an IndyCar will be the season opener at St. Petersburg on March 30th.
“I told Roger (Penske) that it’s easy to see why he has so much success in this series,” Montoya said. “These cars are so fast. The people on these teams are very talented. I’m excited about this chapter of my career.”
Ryan Blaney not worried about falling behind with new truck
With the new season, NASCAR announced a new truck for the teams. Change can be good, though can be bad at times. To be competitive, a team must hit on the set-up sooner than the others. Concerns quickly surfaced that teams like Brad Keselowski Racing may fall behind compared to bigger organizations like Turner-Scott Motorsports. BKR driver Ryan Blaney says he’s not worried about that.
“I think my team has really been really prepared for this year, a lot more prepared than we were for 2013, I think,” he commented. “We were kind of behind the 8‑ball going into 2013, and it took us a while to really get going, and I think this year we’re a lot more prepared, and that’s just better for firing off good and starting the season off the way we need to.”
Part of the concern stems to the fact that BKR is one of the lone Ford teams in the field, though Blaney says that Ford is committed to their program.
“I think Ford has done an awesome job for us,” he said. “They’ve really stepped up their improvement for us on the racing side, and that’s really cool to see because they haven’t really had a big impact in the Truck Series for a while, and even that last year in 2013 they didn’t show us a ton of support, but this year they’ve really stepped it up, and with their help and Penske’s help, I think we’re really ahead of where we need to be, and I think that’s just going to let us compete a lot better with the KBMs and ThorSports, and there’s no more RCR, but I think it’s just going to put us in a better spot earlier in the season to put us in a better spot in the long run.”
Some of the concern surfaced more as the trucks hit Daytona for the test due to Blaney on bringing one truck down for the test. However, Blaney says that was done on purpose.
“If we think that if this truck can improve, we can go back and build another one with the improvements to it, better than bringing two trucks here and tearing both of them apart and having to put a new body on them,” Blaney explained. “I wouldn’t say we’re behind, it’s just kind of being smart and not wasting two trucks really if we think we can improve on this one.”
Blaney had a great rookie season last year, finishing sixth in points with a win, eight top fives and 13 top 10s. NASCAR left the option for teams to use 2013 trucks if they wanted to, though Blaney says BKR is going all new tucks this year – except for Eldora.
“We’ve been in the tunnel and we’ve seen how much improvements they are, how much faster they are, just how much better downforce they are and all that stuff,” he explained.
Blaney will be behind his familiar No. 29 Cooper Standard Ford in February for the season opener at Daytona, where he hopes to finish well to start his season on a good note.
“You really want to start out your year good and on a good note. It’s important to come out here and try to have a good run and stay out of the trouble,” he commented. “It’s one of the biggest races and it’s fun to come down here and kind of experience the whole week out here.”
Marshall’s Madness: Rookies vs. Veterans
The quest begins as a multitude of drivers strap into their machines this season hoping and praying for a victory and the overall goal, a championship. Many competitors are seeking their first career win and championship, including Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon and other young rising stars. However, they’ll be competing against veterans of the sport, like Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and other former champions. Youth vs. experience will begin this season and it’s bound to be one of the best brawls NASCAR has ever witnessed. There’s only one question remaining. Who will prevail?
Jimmie Johnson will continue his dominant career after winning his sixth championship last season. The expectations won’t be raised this year for Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus, but certainly won’t be lowered. Johnson’s a championship away from being tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most championships in NASCAR history. However, talent is swarming through the racing ranks, meaning time could be running short for Johnson to tie Petty and Earnhardt. But, if there is anyone who can do it, it’s certainly Johnson.
Austin Dillon sails into NASCAR’s top series anticipating immediate success. He’s already made headlines when he and Grandfather Richard Childress decided to bring back the iconic No. 3 – which was driven by Dale Earnhardt and wasn’t expected to return to the series. He’s a former Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series champion and will attempt to become the first competitor to win a title in each of NASCAR’s top three divisions. Dillon and Larson will headline the rookie drivers this season but they’re just two of the seven ROY (Rookie of The Year) contenders. Regardless of the yellow stripes on his bumpter, many drivers don’t consider Dillon a rookie driver. He’s experienced and determined to become a successful driver and deliver the hardware back to Richard Childress Racing. ‘
Johnson and Dillon are considered the leaders in their classes, obviously Johnson leading the veterans and Dillon the rookies. However, many other drivers won’t be defeated easily.
Below I’ve ranked the top five drivers, in my mind, that are the greatest in their classes at this juncture. We’re entitled to our opinion meaning if you don’t agree, then comment with your top five below!
Top Five Rookie Drivers
- Austin Dillon
- Kyle Larson
- Parker Kligerman
- Michael Annett
- Cole Whitt
Top Five Veteran Drivers
- Jimmie Johnson
- Kevin Harvick
- Matt Kenseth
- Kyle Busch
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
NASCAR Champions Featuring Rex White
Cup Champion: 1960
Born: August 17, 1929
Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C.
Career: 1956-1964
Rex White is a perfect example of what it takes to achieve success. He grew up while the country was in the grip of the Great Depression and spent much of his youth working long hours on a farm. He also suffered from polio as a child, but none of this deterred him from his dream.
“Most of the lessons I have learned have stayed with me all my life. The biggest one was how to conquer fear,” White wrote in his autobiography, “Gold Thunder.”
White was born in Taylorsville, N.C., but later moved to Maryland and began racing on the short tracks in the area. In 1956, he entered his first race in the NASCAR Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup). He was winless during his first two seasons, but in 33 races, he captured 20 top-10 finishes.
In 1958 White moved to Spartanburg, S.C. and joined forces with his friend Louis Clements. Clements became his partner and chief mechanic. Together, they evolved into a formidable team.
They quickly found success, winning two races that first year and achieving 17 top-10 finishes, including 13 top-five results. White was ranked seventh in the point standings at the completion of the season.
White’s consistency and ability to run up front paid off in 1960 when he won the Grand National Championship. He competed in 40 races with six wins, three poles and 35 top-10s, including 25 top-five finishes. His dominance during the season earned him the title of stock car driver of the year and the most popular driver award.
The following season, White had another impressive year. He took home seven wins and finished second in the point standings. In 1962, his eight victories earned him a fifth-place spot at the end of the year. He finished the 1963 season in ninth position.
Rex White retired in 1964 after running in only six races, stating that he couldn’t make enough money to make a living. His total career earnings were $223,51. In comparison, Denny Hamlin’s first-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2013 paid $322,350.
His career may have been short compared to today’s standards, but it was significant. He scored a top-10 finish in 70% of his starts. His 28 victories place him 23rd on the all-time list of premier series winners and his average finishing position of 8.983 is the fourth best in the history of NASCAR.
White remains active in the racing community and enjoys making appearances where he can interact with his fans and sign autographs. If you love the history of NASCAR, pick up his autobiography entitled “Gold Thunder,” the nickname of his famous No. 4 gold and white Chevy. It’s a slice of stock car racing history from White’s unique perspective of NASCAR’s beginnings.
Accomplishments:
1960 – NASCAR Grand National Series Champion (Now Sprint Cup)
1960 – The Most Popular Driver Award
1960 – Driver of the Year Award
1974 – Inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame
1998 – Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers
2003 – Inducted into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame
2003 – Received Smokey Yunick Pioneer Award
2004 – Author – Gold Thunder: Autobiography of a NASCAR Champion
2008 – Inducted into Talladega Walk of Fame
2011 – Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
2014 – Nominee to the NASCAR Hall of Fame
2015 – Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame
*Updated 07/18/2025
Rex White passed away on July 18, 2025. NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley issued the following statement.
NASCAR Hall of Fame Statement on the Passing of Rex White – July 18, 2025
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (JULY 18, 2025) – The following is a statement from NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley on the passing of Rex White.
“First and foremost, on behalf of the NASCAR Hall of Fame team, I want to offer our most sincere condolences to Rex’s family and friends on his passing.
Growing up on a North Carolina farm, Rex familiarized himself with all things mechanical and enjoyed driving anything with wheels. He began his driving career in 1954 before moving to NASCAR’s premier series in 1956.
Rex captured NASCAR’s top prize as both a driver and car owner, winning the 1960 NASCAR Cup Series championship on the strength of six wins and 35 top 10 finishes in 40 starts. A short track specialist, Rex made a name for himself in an era when those tracks dominated the schedule. Of his 28 career wins in NASCAR’s premier series, 26 were on tracks of a mile or less. He accomplished that in only 233 total starts over a period of just nine years.
A member of the Class of 2015, Rex was among NASCAR’s pioneers who remained very visible at tracks and industry events for years. He was a dedicated ambassador who enjoyed supporting any event or activity he was requested to participate in.
NASCAR has lost one of its true pioneers and the NASCAR Hall of Fame team and I have lost one of our staunchest supporters and cherished friends. Rex’s legacy and incredible accomplishments in and contributions to NASCAR will forever remain in our hearts, minds, archives and at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.”
