Author: Mike Haag

Courtesy of TMS Media Relations FORT WORTH, Texas – An 18th birthday always is a milestone moment so it was only appropriate that NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Todd Gilliland was serenaded with “Happy Birthday” by approximately 6,000 elementary school students during Wednesday’s Speeding To Read Championship Assembly at Texas Motor Speedway. Gilliland returned the favor to the kids as he served as the special guest and recognized the top readers in the Backstretch Conference, which consisted of 10 of the 21 Dallas/Fort Worth elementary schools and approximately half of the 12,061 students that competed in the year-long education program. Verizon…

FORT WORTH, Texas – A photographic look at the Speeding to Read Frontstretch Championship Assembly held Wednesday at Texas Motor Speedway. All photos provided courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway and Getty Images. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In the least surprising racing story of 2018, four-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Wednesday in his first year of eligibility. But Gordon certainly wasn’t the only worthy choice for the Class of 2019. Team owner Jack Roush, a brilliant innovator who has racked up victories and championships across a broad spectrum of motorsports, will join Gordon when the stellar class is officially ushered into the Hall on February 1, 2019. Team owner Roger Penske, who fostered the Hall of…

Courtesy of TMS Media Relations FORT WORTH, Texas – Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Scott Dixon and Gabby Chaves didn’t have to wait until Sunday’s 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 to enjoy some fan adulation. On Tuesday, Dixon, a four-time series champion, and Chaves, the 2015 series rookie of the year, enjoyed a raucous welcome from roughly 6,000 Dallas/Fort Worth elementary school students as special guests for the first of two Speeding To Read Championship Assemblies held in the frontstretch grandstands of Texas Motor Speedway. To the delight of the students, Dixon and Chaves arrived in a bullpen-style cart outfitted…

FORT WORTH, Texas – A photographic look at the Speeding to Read Frontstretch Championship Assembly held Tuesday at Texas Motor Speedway. All photos provided courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway and Getty Images. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kevin Harvick has positioned himself to make NASCAR history in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 – a victory in the iconic race would give the 42-year-old former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion his second three-race winning streak of the season. And this weekend will mark only the 13th race of the schedule. That Harvick and his veteran No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford team could accomplish such an impressive mark was never a question. And perhaps the motivation was only stoked in the preseason when Harvick very publically cautioned excited NASCAR fans not to hand over…

Photos provided courtesy of NASCAR and Getty Images https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzwRHb3FLCQ

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series INDIANAPOLIS – In what has become another May tradition, the Indianapolis 500 practice session on the day after qualifications provided a true indication of the thrills that fans can look forward to in this year’s running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” All 33 drivers turned precious laps in race-like conditions on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, the three-hour session serving as an appetizing preview for the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. In all, 2,526 laps were completed, with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s Sage Karam setting the…

Courtesy of the NHRA TOPEKA, Kan. — Courtney Force captured her first career back-to-back Funny Car victories Monday afternoon at the 30th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. The event was postponed until Monday after weather delayed the track activity until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, which allowed for only two rounds of eliminations for Top Fuel and Funny Car, and one round for Pro Stock. Clay Millican (Top Fuel) and Deric Kramer (Pro Stock) were also victorious in their respective categories at the eighth of 24 events on the Mello Yello Drag Racing…

Courtesy of the NHRA TOPEKA, Kan. – Rickie Smith drove to victory Monday during the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service portion of the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented by Summit Racing Equipment is the fourth of 12 events this season. Smith ran a 6.262-second pass at 233.52 mph in his Chevrolet Camaro to take down the No. 1 qualifier Chad Green in the final round and earn his second victory of the season and 13th of his career. Smith defeated…