Be You Fan or Foe: Are You Riding With Dale Earnhardt Jr. In Talladega?

For the second year in a row, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and sponsor Amp Energy have offered fans a chance to ride with their favorite driver during Talladega's Amp Energy 500.

Last year more than 70,000 names made it onto Earnhardt Jr.’s car and this year has promised to be a repeat performance as more than 105,000 fans signed up to “Get on the 88.”
Approximately 73,000 names adorn the car this year, with the remaining overflow of names to appear on a banner in the No. 88’s pit box.
The multi-step process of designing and wrapping the No. 88 Chevrolet is a painstaking labor of love.
Last year the process took over 200 hours for the Hendrick crew to pull together. HMS Graphic Director, Jim Gravlin spent 80 hours alone just designing the stencil by hand before creating the program on his computer.
With all of the kinks worked out, this year’s sequel proved to be a more streamlined outfit.
HMS graphic artist and car designer Matt Dorton worked with Amp Energy and Jim Gravlin, along with Red Eye Designs to create a two of a kind masterpiece.
Earnhardt Jr.’s back-up car will also sport the specialized wrap.
Dorton designed the basic computerized paint scheme for the Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet in about two hours. A Word document, provided by Amp Energy of all 73,000 names was copied and transposed into an Adobe Illustrator computer program. Gravlin and Red Eyes Designs then spent an additional eight-to-10 hours fitting the names onto the decal template.
From there, Hendrick employees from the Nos. 5 and 88 teams placed the decals on the cars. Each name appears in 13 point, thinly stroked, Franklin Gothic condensed font, a typeface which the designer uses to easily curtail the names into tight spaces, while at the same time retaining legible integrity.
Knowing that it would be hard to improve on last year’s design, Amp chose to modify the colors from the former white background to black. Regardless of the coloring, it is a slick looking car and an awesome way to show appreciation to Earnhardt Jr.’s die-hard fans of all ages.
Fans like Colin Way, a seventh grader from Susquehanna Valley, whose name appears on the front of the car or Doloras Watts, who in her “late-fifties” thinks of “Dale as a son” and sees the opportunity to have her name on Junior's car as “real treat."
As a loyal card carrying member of Junior Nation, I am proud to say that I’ll be riding with Dale Jr. for the second time this Sunday.
Despite his poor performance this year, the fans came out in droves to show their support, proving that Earnhardt Jr.'s appeal is still strong.
But everything is not always what it seems.
On this Halloween weekend, the idiom "one bad apple spoils the barrel" came to mind as I typed my e-mail address into www.ampenergy.com to see where I'd be riding.
As the computer program's bulls-eye honed in on my name, something else caught my eye.
Just three lines above my name, sandwiched between David Hadrich Jr and Tracy Hadrich was the bad apple.
"JUNIOR SUX"

Two simple words that infuriated me on many levels.
Remember, there were over 100,000 people vying for 70,000 opportunities to get their name on the car. 30,000 did not make it.
Thanks to the joker who submitted this "name," there was one less spot available for a well deserving fan.
Upon further research on other fan based sites, I found evidence of ill intent from other Earnhardt Jr. detractors.
One such hater boasted about how he had gotten "Dale Jr Sucks" through the screening process and onto the car, displaying his own e-mail address to enter onto the Amp site as evidence of proof.
While it does not surprise me that this kind of thing can and does happen, it made me curious as to what kind of procedure was used to screen potential entries in the first place.
Last year Gravlin created the stencil by hand, any questionable names could have easily been weeded out; but this year Amp provided the Word document to Hendrick, potentially leaving it up to a computer program to decide what made the cut.
I do know that the names were added to the Word document in the order that they were received, probably through some virtual siphoning process that extracted the names from the entries sent into a tidy format that goes far beyond my own computer comprehension.
I am willing to bet that certain "bad" word were red-flagged in an editing process that would prevent any foul phrases from making it onto the car, but it seems that Junior's clever foes loop-holed their way around that to take a pot shot at NASCAR's favorite driver.
I scanned various sections of the car to see if I could pick up any other misconduct, but with thousands of tiny names filling the screen, it is damn near impossible to do without severe eye strain, but I'd be willing to bet that there are a few more blemishes embedded into an otherwise incredible paint scheme.
Are riding with Dale Earnhardt Jr.? Head over to www.ampenergy.com to find out!
bleacher report/nascar - kara martin

Griese Tacos and NASCAR Tweets: Say Hello to Juan Pablo Montoya's Little Friend

Hola Amigos. It is me again, Chachi.

It has been a long time since my last article; that gringa of mine never leaves the computer unattended long enough for me to jump on and say what I need to say.

I showed her; I threw her a bone and locked her outside in the backyard for a change. Hey, a Chihuahuas got to do what a Chihuahuas got to do for the love of Juan Pablo Montoya…and tacos!

I may be Montoya’s littlest fan, but my bark and ankle bites are huge. There is nothing I would not do to show my adoration for my favorite NASCAR driver.

Imagine my outrage when I heard college football announcer Bob Griese culturally insult my main hombre during ESPN's broadcast of last Saturday's Minnesota vs. Ohio State game.

When analyst Chirs Spielman asked during a NASCAR promo for an upcoming race in Martinsville "where Montoya was" (in the Chase points standings), Griese chuckled before blurting out "He's out having a taco."

Talk about your color commentary !

Out having a taco?! Way to judge a book by its Hispanic cover Griese!

Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish, I should know since I myself hail from Mexico. Get your facts straight; Montoya is from Bogota, Colombia.

I would have had more respect for your insensitive remarks if you’d at least come close.

Maybe next time you are asked where Montoya is, say “out having a full-bodied cup of Colombian Roast with Juan Valdez and his coffee bean hauling mule Conchita.”

Insulting? Yes, but at least it is culturally correct.

We all know that you gave two half-hearted on-air apologies for the remark, but I'm glad to hear that ESPN took it a step further by suspending you for one game and docking you a week’s pay.

Montoya originally declined to comment about Griese's suspension and brushed off the remark, but today got the last laugh when he posted to his Twitter account :

“Guess what I’m having for lunch…TACOS!!!!!...and I’m serious about it!!!!”

I’ve got to say that one made me choke with delight on my own frijoles.

Te amo hombre!

Montoya tweeted again about his dinner plans proving that a Latino’s menu is not all tacos, all the time.

“just landed in talladega getting ready to have some dinner and no im not having tacos for dinner!!!!!!”

So Griese, if you’ve got anything else to say about this matter be prepared to say hello to Montoya's little friend…ME!

Viva Juan Pablo and tacos lovers everywhere!

Montoya currently sits fifth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings, 200 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.

Follow Montoya on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jpmontoya

Follow Chachi on Twitter at http://twitter.com/daChachi

Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the dog's owner.

Photo credit: Colin S. Johnson

bleacher report/nascar - kara martin

Burger King Reveals The Truth About Tony Stewart

On Wednesday, Oct. 20 Burger King and motorsports TV broadcaster Matt Yocum teamed up to put Tony Stewart to the test.

A polygraph test that is.

Burger King celebrated it’s multi-year sponsorship agreement with Stewart-Haas Racing and driver Stewart by putting him on the hot seat and grilling him with fan inspired questions.

During the live broadcast we not only learned that Stewart really does love the Whopper, which he prefers “without pickles and onions,” but he revealed a few humorous and at times downright embarrassing truths about himself.

Stewart sat strapped into a chair within the confines of a strategically lit interrogation room setting. Suspenseful theme music, a la Who Wants to be a Millionaire, added dramatic flair to the event.

Much like a typical polygraph test, Stewart was asked a series of simple pre-interview questions by certified polygraph examiner John Grogan. This allowed Grogan to collect some preliminary information and would serve as “control questions” in which to gauge Stewart’s truthful responses.

Question: Is your name Tony Stewart?

Answer: Yes

Q: Were you born on May 20?

A: Yes

Grogan indicated that Stewart was being truthful with a big thumbs-up.

Next, the “stim” test was conducted. Stewart was asked to lie so that the examiner could detect deceitful answers during the actual test.

Q: Are you wearing ladies underpants right now?

A: Yes

After a climatic pause, Grogan indicated that Stewart was (thankfully) lying with a thumbs-down.

Once the test began, Stewart was measured for any psychological changes during the questioning, including heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and electro-dermal activity (sweatiness). Fluctuations in the test indicated when Stewart was being deceptive in his answers.

Over the course of about an hour Stewart answered approximately 35 questions from the absurd to uncomfortably personal.

Some of Tony’s truthful responses included:

Q: Have you ever crank-called another driver?

A: Yes

Q: Have you ever done a donut on private property?

A: Yes

Q: Have you ever cried after losing a race?

A: Yes

Q: Have you ever been rejected by a woman?

A: Yes

Q: Do you know who won the first Daytona 500?

A: No

To Stewart’s credit, he recalled that Lee Petty took the checked flag after his original answer.

At times, Stewart tried to sneak in a few untruths, but Grogan picked up on them right away stating to the audience, "He's a better driver than he is a liar."

Q: Do you ever notice hot women in the stands during a race?

A: No

Stewart admitted, “All right, maybe I do. Maybe during a caution.”

Q: Have you ever cried after a movie of the week?

A: No

Stewart swore that he had no recollection of doing so.

Q: Have you ever gone commando under your fire suit?

A: No

After coming clean, Stewart claimed that he had no clean laundry that day.

Q: When you were a little boy, did you have a special blanket or toy?

A: No

While he was adamant about not having a blanket or toy, Stewart recalled having a pillow that he traveled with as a child.

Q: Do you go out on a lot of dates?

A: No

Stewart professed that "it didn't seem like a lot." Perhaps what society deems “a lot” is not the same as Stewart’s personal interpretation.

Q: Can you walk past a mirror without checking yourself out?

A: Yes

Yocum razzed Stewart about his attempt at lying about his vanity. Stewart ultimately admitted to checking out his hair before driver introductions.

While the test was intended for entertainment purposes only, it was an actual polygraph conducted by a professional examiner. When facilitated correctly and read by a certified polygraph examiner a polygraph can be 80-95 percent accurate.

For Stewart's fans, the truth is now out there.

If you were unable to catch Stewart live in the hot seat or just want to see it again, the pre-recorded replay is still available for your viewing pleasure at truthabouttony.com .

bleacher report/nascar - kara martin

From Tailgate To Trackside: NASCAR Is Comin' Home To Charlotte

After a brief hiatus, I am pleased to announce the return of "From Tailgate to Trackside!"

With just six to go before we crown a new champion, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series comes home this weekend to North Carolina’s Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

The running of the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America means we’re halfway there and for some Chase drivers, they are indeed living on a prayer. So take my hand and we’ll make it I swear as we go from tailgate to trackside in NASCAR’s hometown of Charlotte.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway was designed and built in 1959 by O. Bruton Smith and one of NASCAR’s first drivers, Curtis Turner. The 1.5-mile super speedway hosted its first race, the World 600 on Jun. 19, 1960 where Joe Lee Johnson took the checkered flag for only the second and final time in his short racing career.

The following year the track fell into Chapter 11. After much needed reorganization it emerged a success. Smith chose to pursue other business ventures and left the speedway behind in 1962, only to regain control of its day-today operations in 1975 and hired H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler as the speedway’s general manager.

The pair, committed to the ultimate in customer satisfaction worked tirelessly to build a state of the art venue. In 1984, LMS became the first sporting facility in America to offer condos that overlook the speedway.

In the early 90's, Smith and Wheeler added a $1.7 million permanent reflective lighting system, making LMS the first modern superspeedway to host night racing. "The revolutionary lighting process uses mirrors to simulate daylight without glare, shadows, or obtrusive light poles.”

Class Dismissed, Mama We're Comin' Home!

LMS offers a wide array of camping to fit every budget. The infield accommodates down and dirty, bring your own tent style camping all the way up to the modern hookups and conveniences for motor homes of every size.

Have no fear, tents are separate from the motor homes for your safety because of the carbon monoxide they produce.

Standard camping is also located around the outside perimeter of the track as well as near by with shuttle service available.

As an added bonus, the Thomas Johnson Campground Pavilion will be featuring the Redneck Olympics this weekend, so come prepared to catch a greased pig. Which leads us into our next segment.

What the Fans Be Grillin?

We are in North Carolina y’all so naturally the first thing that comes to mind is barbecue. It would be considered a sin not to indulge in one of Carolina’s most recognized and sought after delicacies while attending a race.

Serve it up with some coleslaw, a side of baked beans, sweet potatoes, hushpuppies, grits (yes, I said grits!), swallow it down with some local moonshine and you've got yourself a real southern feast.

North Carolina is also the home of Pepsi and Krispy Kreme donuts, so eat up; I can't think of a better combination than that!

*For the record I do not condone the ingestion of most home made 'shine; please drink responsibly and at your own risk!

"Badly-produced moonshine can be contaminated with toxin, mainly from materials used in construction of the still. Stills employing used automotive radiators as a condenser are particularly dangerous; in some cases, glycol products from antifreeze lead at the connections to the plumbing. Both glycol and lead are poisonous and potentially deadly."

Making the Most of Your Race Day Experience

With Charlotte being NASCAR’s very own ground zero, you can bet the weekend on and around the track will be chock full of things to do! There are many scheduled autograph sessions, fan fests, cornhole tournaments, and every thing else in between to make your race weekend a great success.

With the unseasonably cool weather this weekend, fans will need to find creative ways to keep warm. Head inside for a race shop tour , get active on the track for the NASCAR Foundation's Track Walk , take in a few hot laps around the track with the NASCAR Racing Experience , or just get lit at the Coors Light Tailgate Zone .

Whatever you chose, it is sure to be an exciting weekend. Check out the Fan Guide to Fun and other events at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com .

For more news and notes, be sure to check out Bleacher Report's own David Yeazell as he reports trackside from LMS this weekend.

Mark Martin: Why NASCAR's Unlikely Sex Symbol Is Nothing Short Of Red Hot

Standing a mere 5’6" tall, weighing in at 125 pounds and plagued with the stigma of being sponsored in the past by “Viagra,” the venerable Mark Martin is an unlikely sex symbol in the sporting world.

But what is sexy exactly and what defines it?

We humans are hard-wired to instinctively know what appeals to our own sense of attraction and sadly for many of us, beauty is but skin deep.

Sitting pretty in the No. 1 position in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup, Martin has introduced us to a new level of appeal, by showing that growing older only proves just how much one has truly lived.

With age comes wisdom, knowledge and strength. Being beautiful doesn’t come from a cosmetic counter or a costly nip/tuck. The perfect elixir comes from the mind and foresight shines through mature eyes that have not only seen the past but can envision the future.

Allure begins in the brain and radiates outward. Sexiness is all about the manner in which someone carries one’s self. Its confidence, self-esteem and substance all rolled into one highly maintained machine.

For nearly 30 years, Martin has subscribed to a vigorous workout routine, which keeps him in better shape than many of his younger counterparts. Add to that his positive attitude and overall charm and that makes him one very hot commodity.

Facial wrinkles begin to blur the lines between old age and distinction. Graying hair becomes a symbol of a prosperous life lived long and well and remembering that “age ain’t nothing but a number,” inspires endless possibilities. Dreams become reality and reality surpasses even our wildest of dreams.

Suddenly we are drawn to a man who society tells us we traditionally weren’t meant to be attracted to.

Martin’s accomplishments this year have kick-started our hearts and left us weak in the knees.

At the age of 50, he is the oldest driver to ever qualify for the Chase and now with a 35 point advantage over his teammate Jimmie Johnson, it gives us yet another reason to share the love.

Owner Rick Hendrick, enamoured by this year's performance, has already signed his seasoned prodigy to a contract extension which will keep him in the the No. 5 Chevrolet full time through the end of 2011.

Beauty, they say is in the eye of the beholder and from where I stand, Mark Martin, you look simply marvelous!

Here’s looking at you kid!

Photo Credit: Kara Martin

From Tailgate To Trackside: NASCAR Lives It Up in Loudon

Let the Chase begin!

This week we return to Loudon, NH for the Sylvania 300, where the Chase for the Championship kicks off in full force. All eyes will no doubt be on the top 12 drivers as they battle for their place in NASCAR history.

The Sylvania 300 is one of the season’s hottest tickets around. At press time the track reported only a limited amount of single seats, standing-room and infield “trackside-view” tickets available for purchase, so expect a full house!

The New Hampshire Motor Speedway, often described as “Martinsville on steroids,” is a 1.058 mile oval speedway considered by many drivers to be one of the toughest to tackle on the circuit.

The track opened its doors on Jun. 5, 1990 and hosted its first NASCAR event the following month, the Budweiser 300 in the Nationwide Series. The Sprint Cup Series followed three years later, with Rusty Wallace taking the checkered flag in the Slick 50 300.

Loudon was the first superspeedway to be constructed in the United States since the late sixties, filling a void for NASCAR’s northeastern fans by offering a chance to catch live Sprint Cup racing twice a year.

In 2004, the speedway played host to the first race in the inaugural Chase for the Sprint Cup, a tradition that continues some five years later.

The Sprint Cup draws over 100,000 racing fanatics to NHMS on race day. By catering to fans from New England, New York and Canada, Loudon challenges stock car racing’s southern fried fan base, proving that this is not your father’s NASCAR.

History lesson over…class dismissed, let’s get a little lively!

The speedway offers on-site camping on a first come, first serve basis on the backstretch of the track.

“RV and camper parking is limited to ticket holders only. All drivers and their guests must have race day tickets in their possession before driving onto NHMS property. Anyone without race day tickets will not be allowed onto the property.”

"RVs and campers must be self-contained with bathroom and water facilities on board. The speedway does not have hookups or dumping facilities. Tents are not allowed. Keep in mind that the dumping of gray water and waste on speedway property is prohibited. Violation of this rule WILL RESULT in arrest, fines, and forfeiture of ticket renewal privileges."

I’m not going to pretend to know what gray water is, but I already know that I don’t like it!

Private camping is also available on the outskirts of the track with free shuttle service to and from the raceway.

What the fans be grillin?

New England is known for its exceptional seafood delicacies, so do it up right! Grilled Tequila Lobster tails, jumbo stuffed clams and deviled crab cakes served up with a side of Boston baked beans and Hasty pudding.

If you are anything like me and seafood is not your thing, how about a foot-long “grinder” filled with Italian meats, cheese, peppers, pickles, tomatoes and oil. Wash it all down with a good locally brewed lager or ale.

Making the most of your race day experience.

Loudon is known for its “Fans First” hospitality.

For the first time ever, NHMS fans will have the opportunity to be the ultimate insider at Sunday's SYLVANIA 300 with the new "Trackside Pass," offering fans “pre-race pit road access; the chance to attend the Town Meeting with speedway officials Bruton Smith, Jerry Gappens, and leaders in the world of motorsports and admission to the "Trackside Tent" and the turn one and two areas of the infield to watch the race.”

"Trackside Pass" guests are allowed to bring coolers (up to 14-inches), lawn chairs, and blankets into the infield. Passes are available for a limited time at $150 per person.

Do it up in style in the Magic Mile Club, not to be confused with the scurrilous “Mile High Club!” The Magic Mile Club offers fans the opportunity to experience a VIP Hospitality experience during NASCAR event weekends. For a $150 dollar membership fee, guests will enjoy access to a private fenced-in tent, food and beverage service, and entertainment.

On race day, other amenities include a catered Continental breakfast, catered luncheon, beverage service, a limited edition souvenir race program and a walking tour of pit road.

Check out these events and more at www.NHMS.com

Virginia is for Lovers, NASCAR and the Drivers We Adore

I was born and bred in Texas, it will always, always be my home. There is a unique hubris that comes from being from the great Lone Star state that one is hard pressed to find anywhere else, but on Saturday night Denny Hamlin made me proud to be a born again Virginian.

I fancy myself a misplaced Texan who has made Virginia my home away from home over the last couple of decades.

I fought the Civil War as a proud Rebel during a weekend at Civil War Adventure Camp in Petersburg, skydived the blue skies above Orange, gazed at the city night lights from a 15 story high-rise in Arlington, set up camp in a rickety old RV outside of Richmond International Raceway and practically lived on the beaches of Croatan and Sandbridge during my formitive years.

Virginia is for lovers, adventurists, beach bums, city slickers, NASCAR, and the drivers that we adore.

Denny Hamlin

Hamlin began his NASCAR career in 2004 by competing in five Camping World Truck Series races with EJP Racing. In 2005 he entered the Nationwide Series, replacing Mike Bliss in the No. 20 Rockwell Automotive Chevrolet. He made his Sprint Cup debut that same year in Kansas behind the wheel of the No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet.

In 2006 he joined the Sprint Cup series full time and played double duty by also racing full time in the Nationwide Series.

He proved to be a worthy competitor by capturing his first wins in both series that year, taking home the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award at the end of the season and finishing third in the final Cup standings, making Hamlin the first rookie of the year ever to make it into the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

He continued to persevere in 2007-2008 by clinching spots in both year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup, twelfth and eighth respectively, but 2009 has been Hamlin’s year to shine.

During the final restart at Pocono on Aug. 3, Hamlin brazenly proclaimed “I’m going to win this race.” He steered his car from sixth to first and took the checkered flag in an emotional victory that he dedicated to his grandmother, Thelma Clark, who had passed away just days earlier.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, Hamlin dominated in Richmond and burst into Victory Lane a hometown hero. When asked about his win, Hamlin, who hails from Chesterfield VA, a suburb of Richmond, replied, “This is my house. It has been for the last two years, we just haven’t got the win to show it.

"Finally today our FedEx Toyota showed that we’re a championship contender. As I told these guys, they better watch out for us and now we’re for real.”

“Like a Daytona 500 win for anyone else. I mentioned before that I wanted to win this race before I won a 500, but now, of course, I know how special that race is to everyone.

"But this one in particular, to me, was especially after all the heartbreak, it makes it more gratifying to win now. It's by far the biggest win of my career and hopefully goes a long way for this race team over the next ten weeks.”

Richmond International Raceway is certainly not the house that Denny built, but on Saturday night he moved in and sublet it like no one’s business. Not only did he take home a first place finish, he secured his fourth consecutive place in the Chase.

Hamlin has done us Virginian’s proud, but he isn’t the only one. There are many notable drivers who hail from the Commonwealth.

Ricky Rudd

Chesapeake’s Rudd, known as the “Ironman,” for the most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing, was named the 2006 “Virginian of the Year” and in 2007 was inducted into the “Virginia Hall of Fame.”

He ran his first Sprint Cup Series race in 1975’s Carolina 500 in Rockingham, NC. He took home the (then) Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award in 1977, chalked up 23 Sprint Cup wins and ran a total of 902 races over his 32 year career.

Ironman not only applies to Rudd’s exceptional work ethic, the definition itself has proven him to be one bad mother.

In 1984, Rudd was involved in a grizzly crash during the Budweiser Shootout (formally the Busch Clash) in Daytona and suffered a severe concussion. His eyes were swollen so badly from the accident that he taped his eyelids open in order to run the Daytona 500. After Rudd’s incident, NASCAR instituted the policy of medically examining all drivers involved in an accident to ensure their safety and their ability to drive in the following week’s race.

In 1998, despite a day of high temperatures and a faulty in-car cooling system, Rudd took the checkered flag in Martinsville. He suffered blisters and burns over most of his body and conducted his Victory Lane interview lying on the ground breathing through an oxygen mask.

Ricky Rudd was named one of NASCAR’s 50 best drivers that same year.

As a newly licensed driver, I would often drive Virginia’s Route 58 from Virginia Beach to Charlotte NC. It was a stretch of two lane highway between Suffolk and Emporia that was dubbed “the Suicide Strip” due to the high number of fatal accidents that occurred along the roadway.

To deter speed demons and reckless drivers a huge billboard of the Grim Reaper holding a giant sickle was erected on both ends of the devil’s highway that stated “You are now entering the Suicide Strip!” I inhaled deeply every time that I passed that sign and didn’t exhale properly until I got to the promised land that was Emporia.

The tiny town of Emporia was not only my salvation, but home to the Sadler brothers.

Hermie and Elliott Sadler

Hermie Sadler began his NASCAR career in 1993’s Nationwide Series driving the No. 25 Shell Oil/Virginia Is For Lovers Oldsmobile scoring a win at Orange County, finishing tenth in the points standings and was named Rookie of the Year.

1994 gained Sadler another win and fifth place in the points standings. In 1995 he teamed up with his father to run the No. 1 DeWalt Tools Chevrolet, yielding six top-ten finishes and finishing thirteenth in points. The following years brought moderate results before being pushed out of his ride at the end of the 1998 season.

Sadler tried his hand in the Sprint Cup Series but struggled and was plagued with several DNQ’s. In 2001 Sadler and his wife Angela formed their own team running cars purchased from Larry Hendricks.

With only minimal success as an owner he sold his Nationwide team and a majority of his Cup team. He returned to competition briefly in 2007 at Martinsville in the Truck Series behind the wheel of Andy Hillenburg’s Chevrolet Silverado.

Sadler is currently a successful race analyst and interviewer for Speed TV and an autism advocate who is heavily involved in the Autism Speaks charity, as his daughter Hailie was diagnosed with the disorder in 2001.

While Hermie’s racing career cooled off younger brother Elliott’s heated up.

After a knee injury ended his basketball career during his college years at James Madison University, the younger Sadler returned to his racing roots, making his Nationwide debut in 1995 by running in two races in his native state, South Boston and Richmond.

Sadler continued in the Nationwide Series until 1998 collecting five wins, 36 top-tens and five pole positions. He entered the Sprint Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing in 1999 driving the No. 21 Citgo Ford and finished the year 24th in points, runner-up to Tony Stewart for Rookie of the Year honors.

2000 proved to be dismal, as Sadler dropped to 29th in points, failed to qualify at Talledega and scored only one top-ten finish, but he never skipped a beat. With Motorcraft signing on as Elliott’s new sponsor in 2001, he celebrated his first career win at Bristol.

Sadler left the Wood Brothers in 2003 for Robert Yates Racing to drive the No. 38 M&M’s Ford. That year would bring him two pole positions at Darlington and Talladega, along with one wild ride.

After near contact with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and a touch of Kurt Busch’s right front fender, Sadler’s car became airborne in Talladega, flipping twice before landing on its roof, then skidded towards the banking before flipping five more times. Miraculously he emerged from the car uninjured.

2004 proved to be Sadler’s best year to date, winning races at Texas Motor Speedway and at California Speedway. He ended the year by making the Chase and finishing ninth in the points standings.

Sadler left Yates Racing in mid-2006 for greener pastures at Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Despite reports that A.J. Allmendinger would be replacing Sadler in the No. 19 Best Buy Dodge in 2009 and a threatened lawsuit for breach of contract by Sadler, the driver and race team remained partners, thanks in part to a merger by GEM and Petty Enterprises.

On a personal level, Sadler's life is flourishing. Last week before heading to Richmond for the race, he and wife Amanda announced that they are expecting their first child in March.

Ward and Jeff Burton

Centrally located on Virginia’s southern border; the historic town of South Boston is where the Brothers Burton call home.

Ward, with his sugary slow, southern drawl is often asked why his accent differs so from his brother’s. With a shrug of his shoulders he makes no excuses for his Virginian heritage as he has answered time and time again, “It’s just the way I talk.”

Younger brother Jeff jokes, “Well, all I can figure is I was born in the northernmost point of the house and Ward was born in the southernmost part.”

In 1990 Ward began his NASCAR career in the Nationwide Series. He would go on to compete in four full-time seasons, where he captured four wins, 50 top-tens and seven pole positions.

He moved into the Sprint Cup Series in 1994 driving 26 races behind the wheel of the No. 31 Hardees Chevrolet. In mid 1995 Burton landed a ride in the No. 22 Bill Davis Racing MBNA Pontiac after being released by Alan Dillard Jr. and won his first Cup race at Rockingham’s AC-Delco 400.

Burton gained respectable success over the years with Bill Davis, with a handful of wins, several top-ten finishes and a solid place in both 1999 and 2000’s Chase for the Sprint Cup.

His biggest win came in 2002 as he took his Caterpillar Dodge to Victory Lane at the Daytona 500. Later that same year he won the New England 300 at Loudon, NH but slipped to 25th in the points standings.

In 2003, with just four top-10 finishes, Burton left Bill Davis Racing with five races left in the season to drive the No.0 NetZero Chevrolet for Haas CNC Racing. He drove his final race in 2007 at Martinsville’s Subway 500.

On Nov. 1, 2005 Burton was appointed to the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries by Virgina Govener Mark Warner and assumed the seat on the board for Virginia's fifth Congressional District in Halifax County, VA.

Burton, an avid sportsman and conservationist, is also the founder and president of The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, and he has been a spokesperson for Virginia's 34 state parks since 2003.

Ward’s younger brother Jeff entered the Nationwide Series full time in 1989 driving the Burton Autosports Pontiac, but his first career win would not come until 1990 behind the wheel of the No. 12 Armour Lower Salt Bacon Buick.

The budding Burton played Nationwide musical seats, jumping from ride to ride for the next three years before entering the Sprint Cup Series full time in 1994 driving the No. 8 Raybestos Ford.

Burton was one of a record ten rookies that year who were eligible for the coveted Rookie of the Year award. He took the trophy at the end of the season, beating future Cup stars, Jeremy Mayfield, Joe Nemecheck, John Andretti and his brother Ward.

The relationship between Burton and Roush Racing began in 1996 driving the No. 99 Exide Batteries Ford. It was a partnership that found Jeff at the peak of his success between the years of 1997-2000, as he never finished lower than fifth in the points standings.

Burton severed his eight and a half union with Roush in mid-2004 after signing a three year contract with Richard Childress Racing driving the No. 30 AOL Chevrolet for the remainder of the season before replacing Robby Gordon the following year in the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet.

He remains with RCR to this day behind the wheel of the No. 31 Chevrolet with his brother’s former backer Caterpillar on board as the primary sponsor and frequently double dips in the Nationwide Series piloting the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet.

Other noteworthy NASCAR drivers from Virginia include,

Stacy Compton, Hurt, VA.

Rick Mast, Rockbridge County, VA.

Eric McClure, Chilhowie, VA.

Danny O’Quinn, Jr., Coeburn, VA.

Jason White, Richmond, VA.

Jon Wood, Stuart, VA.