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NASCAR Numerology — The Lineage Behind The No. 9

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kasey Kahne has the ride. Bill Elliott has the history.

And together, the two drivers represent the vast majority of accomplishments by the No. 9 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, with some of the most memorable taking place at Talladega Superspeedway — site of Sunday's Aaron's 499.

And just how appropriate is it, that when Elliott decided to step away from racing full-time, he served as a mentor to Kahne, helping prepare the young driver to take over the No. 9 — a car number that had become forever part of NASCAR lore with Elliott behind the wheel.

Elliott made 446 starts in the No. 9 between 1976 and 2003 — out of 1,300 total starts among 97 drivers. The No. 9 had 49 victories coming into the 2009 season; Elliott had 38, followed by Kahne (nine), Donald Thomas (one) and Herb Thomas (one).

Two of those victories for Elliott came at Talladega, during a time when Elliott was the man at NASCAR's two biggest tracks, Talladega and Daytona. Elliott and the red-and-gold No. 9 Coors Thunderbird more or less ruled the high banks in the mid-1980s, before the safety-oriented mandate of carburetor restrictor plates.

Elliott had six poles in a row at Talladega from 1984-87; the fifth pole in that run was a history-maker. Elliott set an all-time NASCAR qualifying record on April 30, 1987 at 'Dega, averaging 212.809 mph.

Due to the advent of plates, the record still stands today and likely will stand forever.

Kahne, who drives the modern incarnation of the No. 9 — it's a Budweiser-sponsored Dodge — has added considerably to the number's legacy in only five years. He has nine victories, including a series-leading six during the 2006 season.

It all began for the No. 9 in the second race of the very first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (then called Strictly Stock), on the old Daytona beach-road course, with Herb Thomas driving. Herb also got the number's first victory, in 1952 at North Wilkesboro. Herb's brother Donald got the second win for the No. 9 in the very next '52 race, at Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta.

— Source: NASCAR

NASCAR Newscast: Aaron's 499 Preview

Aaron’s 499 Weekend Notes — 40 Years of Racing

In 2009, Talladega Superspeedway proudly celebrates 40 years of the most competitive racing in NASCAR. While the track has seen changes made to the cars that circle its high banks, the surface that they race on and the grandstands that thousands of fans fill twice a year, one constant remains; Talladega Superspeedway is authentic NASCAR racing at its finest.

Key terms that describe NASCAR weekends at Talladega Superspeedway:
• Close, thrilling finishes
• Side-by-side racing
• Phenomenon
• Legendary/historic
• Fast/high speed
• Fan-friendly
• Authentic NASCAR
• Friends get together

Talladega Superspeedway makes it more affordable and convenient for fans:
• Low-priced tickets still available for the Aaron’s 499.
• The best deal in 40 years — grandstand tickets for Aaron’s 499 start at $40.
• Dega Dollar Combo — $45 gets a reserved seat and 10 “Dega Dollars” useable at Americrown food concessions.
• Infield one-day tickets reduced 40% to $40.
• Fairway to Speedway — two tickets to Aaron’s 499 and two rounds of golf playable at nine of the 11 RTJ championship golf courses for only $200 — 25% savings.
• Updated hospitality offerings including new tent design, layout, entertainment and free beverages.

Lower priced concessions and new menu items:
• Fans save 25% with combo value meals (cheeseburger or hotdog w/ fries and drink). NEW
• “The Big One” — 1/3 pound hot dog served with a special Speedway Sauce. NEW
• Branded foods onsite — Papa John’s Pizza, Boardwalk Fries and Juicy’s Outlaw Grill. NEW

Continued convenience and value:
• New pedestrian bridge over the 30-lane main entrance for improved fan traffic flow and safety.
• Free camping available as well as free parking on property.
• Fans can still bring their own food and beverage in approved coolers.

SPECIAL NOTE: TSS President Rick Humphrey presented Samson Mayor Clay King with 1,000 tickets. to the Aaron’s 499 for emergency workers and town residents in hopes of providing some relief and excitement to the devastated Geneva County town. Samson was the site of a horrific mass shooting on March 10 that left 11 people dead and an entire community grieving.

First Class Entertainment/Dignitaries:
• Nick Saban, University of Alabama Head Football Coach — Grand Marshal for the Aaron’s 499
• Miss America 2009, Katie Stam, will perform the National Anthem prior to the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway and visit fans in the Dodge Speedway Sports Club and Pepsi Pit Tour Experience Zone hospitality areas.
• More than 10 driver appearances throughout the weekend including the MRN at Full SPEED fan forum Sunday at 9 a.m. on the SPEED stage and special appearances at Intl. Motorsports Hall of Fame.
• Country/Rock duo LoCash Cowboys to headline free infield concert at Talladega Superspeedway.

Source: NASCAR

NASCAR Numerology — The Lineage Behind The No. 8

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Aric Almirola is the latest driver to drive the No. 8 car in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. As for who is the greatest, let the debate begin.

And believe it not, that debate does not begin and end with Dale Earnhardt Jr., his considerable success notwithstanding. Instead, a pretty convincing case can be made for Joe Weatherly being "the man" when it comes to the No. 8's legacy.

Weatherly made 110 starts in the No. 8 between 1961-64, winning 20 times and capturing back-to-back NASCAR Sprint Cup championships in 1962 and '63. Weatherly, who died in a racing accident at Riverside, Calif., in '64, was named in 1998 to the elite list of "NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers."

Earnhardt made 291 starts in the No. 8 from 1999-2007, continuing a family alignment with the number. His grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, drove the No. 8 in the 1950s and '60s in NASCAR Sportsman competition and other short-track events.

An interesting aside: The grandfather made 51 starts in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition but none were in the No. 8. The grandson won 17 times in the No. 8, most notably the 2004 Daytona 500.

And then there's this historical gem which can't be overlooked: Eventual seven-time series champion Dale Earnhardt even made one NASCAR Sprint Cup start in the No. 8 — his series debut in the 1975 Coca-Cola 600.

While the No. 8�s all-time history in NASCAR Sprint Cup is spread out among 86 drivers and 1,319 starts, the total number of times the number has visited Victory Lane is attributable to a surprisingly small group. The No. 8 accounts for 38 wins. In addition to the win totals of Weatherly and Dale Earnhardt Jr., the only other No. 8 win was provided by Bobby Hillin Jr. at Talladega Superspeedway in the summer of 1986.

Those are some strange statistics to grasp, especially considering the history-rich "family tree" of the No. 8. Consider: The 1950 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bill Rexford had two starts in the number; Jeff Burton had 59; Mark Martin had 24; Dick Trickle, Hut Stricklin and Morgan Shepherd also took the No. 8 out for some afternoon spins.

And then there�s Ed Negre, who may have lacked quality finishes but certainly not quantity. Negre made 283 starts in the No. 8 between 1967 and 2007, second only to Earnhardt�s 291. Negre, who usually owned the cars he raced, failed to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup race during his career.

Almirola, driving for the Earnhardt-Ganassi organization, will attempt to make his 18th start on Sunday in the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

— Source: NASCAR

NASCAR Numerology: The Lineage Behind The No. 2

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — For a singular digit, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ No. 2 car boast multiple accomplishments.

Its roots run parallel to the sport – all the way back to the inaugural season of 1949 – and its driving roster includes both pioneers and champions.

A quick look at the No. 2’s all-time numerical totals:
• 61 wins
• 1,530 starts
• 113 drivers

Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) is the current driver. Now in his fourth season with Penske Racing and at the No. 2’s helm, the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion is thriving in what is popularly known as the “Blue Deuce”.

As teams prepare for Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, where Busch has won twice in the No. 2, the number provides its own karma. The No. 2 has 10 wins at Bristol; Busch and the No. 2 also are the series’ most current winners, on March 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The No. 2’s history began with Sam Rice, its first driver in 1949. Three other drivers followed Rice in the seat that season – Bill Blair, Jimmie Lewallen and Frank Mundy.

Rusty Wallace, the 1989 series champion, is the No. 2’s best-known driver. He leads all No. 2 drivers with 522 starts, 37 wins and 16 seasons. Seven of his wins came at Bristol. Dave Marcis is second with all-time starts in the No. 2, with 136. Busch is third, with five of his 19 career wins having come in 112 starts in the No. 2.

Bobby Allison, the 1983 series champion, is fourth, with seven wins in 103 starts in the No. 2. Seven-time series champion Dale Earnhardt and Bill Blair each recorded 78 starts in the No. 2. Earnhardt had six wins during his No. 2 tenure (two at Bristol); Blair had three.

Two other drivers have won while driving the No. 2. Jim Paschal won once (1950, ’62 and ’63). Tim Richmond won twice while driving the No. 2 during the 1980 season.

— Source: NASCAR

NASCAR's State Fair Flair

By Cathy Elliott, Guest Columnist

Have you ever been to a state fair?

I remember the first time my parents took my brother and me to the fair in Raleigh, N.C. For a kid who thought the Tilt-A-Whirl at Dowdy's Amusement Park at the beach was the pinnacle of excitement, the state fair overwhelmed me by the sheer size and volume of things to see and do, packed into a relatively small space.

Everywhere I looked, there was movement and activity. People were chowing down on foot-long hot dogs and cotton candy, tossing ping pong balls into goldfish bowls and shooting water pistols into the mouths of clowns. There was The Amazing Bearded Woman (nowadays, that could easily be handled with a couple smears of hot wax and a moderately high tolerance for pain), and The Amazing Guy Who Hammered Nails Up His Nose.

The rides were way more exotic than the Tilt-A-Whirl; they had a Scrambler, bumper cars and that zero gravity thing that spins you around really fast and then drops the floor out from under you, leaving nothing but G forces to hold you plastered into the mesh cage.

For a 10-year-old, it was the wow factor to the millionth power. It seemed at the time to be an embarrassment of riches.

Then I attended my first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, which happened to be at Darlington Raceway, and suddenly the fair seemed ... just fair.

Usually when you attend a major sporting event, you chart your own course and set sail. A NASCAR event is an entirely different animal. It's like being in the center of a hurricane that carries you along from one exciting attraction to the next.

This might include a little tailgating in the parking lot, a couple of passes through the souvenir haulers to find that rare copy of "Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Guide to Style" or "Matt Kenseth's Hilarious Hijinks, Vol II," followed by a stroll through the pits to observe the fascinating process of securing lug nuts to wheel wells with whatever that yellow goo they use is called.

If you're lucky, you could get an autograph from someone's gas man or rear tire changer as they get their team's gear ready to race. If you're really lucky, you might spot a driver who has accidentally wandered through the pits on his way to a hospitality tent appearance or a media interview. And if you're extremely lucky, and blessed with good timing, the aforementioned driver might even sign your shirt or hat.

Just as a cowboy never saddles up without his six-shooter strapped to his side, a NASCAR superstar never leaves his hauler without that trusty Sharpie tucked securely in his pocket. You never know when you might need to be armed and ready to sign.

On your way to the grandstand, you can wander through the midway area and check out all the massive sponsor displays; you might even run across The Guy Who Can Change a Tire in Under Five Seconds. Now, that's amazing.

You can stop by the concession stand and pick up a foot-long hot dog, plus a two-feet-long turkey leg. Even the food is bigger at a race track.

And then there are the rides, dozens of them; 43, to be exact. No two are alike. They embody the constant position-changing of the Scrambler, the hang-on-to-something-and-hope-for-the-best tumult of the Tilt-A-Whirl, and the nudge-and-grind of the bumper cars, all in one loud, fast and glistening package, spinning so fast you do feel the bottom has dropped from beneath your feet.

Stock racing is much, much more than fair. It is the greatest thrill ride of all.

Note: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series are off during the weekend of March 14-15. Both series will return to race action on March 21 and 22 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

— Source: NASCAR