CAR:

NO. 88 AMP ENERGY/NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET

 

PERSONAL:

Full Name: Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Birthdate: Oct 10, 1974

Hometown: Kannapolis, N.C.

Resides: Mooresville, N.C.

Marital Status: Single

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a third-generation driver in a family forever connected to the sport of stock-car racing, and while his innate ability behind the wheel comes from Earnhardt DNA, his competitive driving style and keen business sense are all his own. His flair for originality and common-sense charisma has helped propel him to one of the most popular figures in sports. Race fans have selected him six times as the winner of NASCAR's Most Popular Driver award, joining Bill Elliott as the only drivers to win it six consecutive seasons since 1956. His appeal is not limited to race fans, as he has appeared numerously on Harris Interactive's annual polling of America's Top 10 Favorite Athletes, frequenting lists with such names as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Brett Favre, and Derek Jeter.

 

The 2009 season marks Earnhardt's 10th in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. Through 2008, the native of Kannapolis, N.C., has amassed more than $53 million in career winnings and 18 victories, including the 2004 Daytona 500. His 18 victories rank him tied for 36th on NASCAR's all-time race winners list. He also has six "non-points" or all-star wins, and eight pole positions.

 

Earnhardt is the only third-generation NASCAR champion, achieved when he won the 1998 and 1999 Nationwide Series titles. He follows his legendary father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., a seven-time Cup champion and winner of 76 races. His grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, was the 1956 NASCAR Sportsman champion, and in 2007 was inducted posthumously into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame. Both his father and grandfather were selected among NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers of all time in 1999. The three Earnhardts have combined for 10 NASCAR championships.

 

Until 2008, Earnhardt's career as a full-time driver was solely within the confines of the family-owned business, Dale Earnhardt Inc., in which he accumulated 39 victories in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series from 1998-2007. But the 2008 season marked one of significant change, as Earnhardt made the boldest decision of his young career by signing with renowned team owner Rick Hendrick to drive the No. 88 Chevrolets for Hendrick Motorsports. High-powered sponsorship deals soon followed, as Pepsi-Cola's AMP Energy brand and the Army National Guard agreed to a co-primary sponsorship with Hendrick Motorsports to partner with Earnhardt and the No. 88 team.

 

With a successful driving career in motion, Earnhardt's role as team owner and businessman has enjoyed its own ascent. In 2002, JR Motorsports consisted of only six employees and a street-stock Camaro raced at the local short tracks. Today it encompasses a full stable of cars that compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and local weekly late model divisions. In July 2007, Earnhardt announced a partnership deal with Hendrick Motorsports -- under the JRM banner with Hendrick Motorsports engines, chassis and vehicle engineering support -- to field two NASCAR Nationwide Series race teams. In 2009, the No. 88 Chevrolets will run a full schedule, and the No. 5 Chevrolet is schedule to compete in 10 events, with Earnhardt behind the wheel for two races.

 

Earnhardt's first turn at ownership began with Chance 2; a team started in 2002 and jointly operated with Dale Earnhardt Inc. With that team, Earnhardt was co-owner of the 2004 and 2005 Nationwide Series championship teams with driver Martin Truex Jr. Truex's accomplishments mirrored those of Earnhardt, who dominated the 1998 and 1999 Nationwide Series seasons, winning two championships, 13 races and more than $3 million. As a driver, he has an additional nine Nationwide Series victories in 34 starts since 1999, and his 22 total victories tie him for seventh on the all-time Nationwide Series win list. Fans and media selected him as one of the top-three Nationwide Series drivers of all-time in a 2006 NASCAR poll.

 

Earnhardt's business savvy extends beyond the track. In 2006, Earnhardt started Hammerhead Entertainment, a one-stop-shop production company that has produced shows for ESPN, SPEED Channel and other notable clients. Located in downtown Charlotte, N.C., Earnhardt opened a popular nightspot called Whisky River in April 2008.

 

From magazines to television, Earnhardt garners worldwide attention. He has appeared on more than 150 magazine covers and has been featured in high-profile publications such as "Rolling Stone," "GQ," "Men's Journal," "Sports Illustrated," "People" magazine and "TV Guide." He has been a guest on "60 Minutes," "The Late Show with David Letterman," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," "The Today Show," "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," "The Jimmy Kimmel Show," "Good Morning America," "Live with Regis and Kelly," and "Larry King Live."

 

In the October 2008 issue, BusinessWeek magazine named Earnhardt to their Top 100 most influential people in sports, ranking him 38th overall. The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer listed him among the top-10 most powerful people in NASCAR in 2007. In recent polls and surveys, he received a top-five "Q" rating among all athletes, and rated among the top-five athletes in corporate endorsements by "Forbes" magazine.

 

With crossover appeal unmatched by any other athlete, his eclectic taste in music is reflected in the diverse list of artists who have featured him in their music videos, including Jay-Z, Staind, Sheryl Crow, Three Doors Down, Trace Adkins, O.A.R., the Matthew Good Band and Nickelback. He has played cameo roles in major motion pictures "Talladega Nights" and "Cars," and was the subject of an episode of MTV's "Diary" and VH-1's "Driven." In 2001 he added best-selling author to his résumé with "Driver 8," a documentation of his rookie season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The book landed on The New York Times Best Seller list for 17 weeks, and online retailer Amazon.com named "Driver 8" the top-selling sports book of the year.

 

With fellow NASCAR driver Ken Schrader, Earnhardt is part-owner of a dirt track in Paducah, Ky., and a new multi-purpose motor sports complex being developed near Mobile, Ala.

 

He enjoys hanging out at home and working on his ever-growing collection of street cars and race cars. His hobbies include music, computers and computer gaming.

CAR:

No. 24 DuPont Chevy Impala SS

 

PERSONAL:

Date of birth: 8/4/1971

Place of birth: Vallejo, Calif.

Hometown: Pittsboro, Ind.

Current residence: Charlotte, N.C.

Spouse: Ingrid

Children: Daughter (Ella Sofia)

Career Highlights:

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion

Career Sprint Cup Wins: 81

Career Sprint Cup Top-10s: 337

Career Sprint Cup Poles: 68

 

In 2008, Gordon finished seventh in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He earned four poles, which extended his streak to 16 consecutive seasons with a pole, along with 14 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes.

 

In 2007 Jeff Gordon finished second in the final point standings with six victories, seven poles, 21 top-fives and 30 top-10s — a single season record for most top-10s in the modern era (1972- present). Scored first career victory at Phoenix International Raceway and set all-time record for most career restrictor plate victories (12) after sweeping both events at Talladega Superspeedway. Moved to sixth all-time in career wins (81) and fourth all-time in career poles (63). In 2006 Gordon finished sixth in the final point standings with two victories, two poles, 14 top-five finishes and 18 top-10s. Scored first career victory at Chicagoland Speedway and broke own record for most road course victories (nine) with fifth career win at Infineon Raceway. Extended streak to 14th consecutive season with a pole and 13th consecutive season with a victory — longest current streak among active drivers.

CAR:

No. 48 Lowe's Chevy Impala SS

 

PERSONAL:

Hometown: El Cajon, Calif.

Current residence: Charlotte, N.C.

Spouse: Chandra

 

Career Highlights:

Career Sprint Cup Top-10s: 157

Career Sprint Cup Poles: 24

 

Jimmie Johnson rapidly is writing his name all over the NASCAR record books. And with just six seasons and more than 220 races under his belt, the El Cajon, Calif., native is just getting started.

 

Last year he made a place in the record books by joining Cale Yarborough as the sport's only two drivers to win three consecutive Sprint Cup titles in a row, the first to do it in 30 years of competition.

 

Going in to the 2009 season, Johnson owned 40 career victories, tying him with "Fireball" Roberts for 18th place on the all-time win list. He's won a quarter of the "Chase" races since its inception in 2004, and he is the only driver to win at least three races in his first six seasons.

 

In just six years in Sprint Cup racing, Johnson has joined the names of NASCAR's elite like Petty, Earnhardt, Gordon, Yarborough and others. But Johnson wasn't an overnight sensation. Years of hard work, dedication and help from a variety of people were key ingredients in his championship rise.

 

In 2006, the Californian clinched his first championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway finishing 56 points ahead of second-place finisher Matt Kenseth. He followed up that finish in dramatic fashion in 2007 with a 77-point win over teammate Jeff Gordon.

CAR:

DRIVER, NO. 5 KELLOGG'S/CARQUEST CHEVROLET

 

PERSONAL:

Birthdate: Jan 9, 1959

Resides: Daytona Beach, Fla.

Hometown: Batesville, Ark.

Family: Wife Arlene; son Matt

 

One of NASCAR's most decorated drivers, Mark Martin brings an impressive resume to his new team.

 

In his first year with Hendrick Motorsports, Martin will drive the No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet in pursuit of his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. He will join forces with crew chief Alan Gustafson and the No. 5 team, which qualified for the "Chase for the Sprint Cup" in 2006 and 2007.

 

With Hendrick Motorsports and the Kellogg's/CARQUEST team, and Martin a newfound desire and enthusiasm to return to the Chase and battle for the title.

 

CAREER HISTORY

 

DIRT TO PAVEMENT TO ASA

 

Martin began his racing career at the age of 15 in his home state of Arkansas. Competing on dirt tracks, he won in only his third start and that same year – 1974 – won the Arkansas State Championship. In 1976, Martin left his dirt days behind and moved to pavement racetracks.

 

In 1977, Martin started competing in the American Speed Association (ASA). He earned rookie of the year honors that year and went on to win the championship the following three seasons.

 

INTRODUCTION TO NASCAR

 

The 1981 racing season saw Martin move into NASCAR's elite series, and make five Sprint Cup Series starts in which he earned two pole positions and two top-10 finishes. The following year, in his first full-time schedule, he recorded eight top-10 finishes. Unable to continue funding his own team, Martin was forced to auction off his equipment and race for a variety of owners before returning to ASA competition from 1984-1986. He won his fourth ASA championship in 1986.

 

The thrill of NASCAR called again in 1987, and Martin agreed to drive a full Nationwide Series schedule. He earned three victories that season, which piqued the interest of car owner Jack Roush. In 1988, Martin and Roush joined forces, forging a working relationship that lasted 19 years.

 

During his time with Roush, Martin recorded 35 victories and won at all but six tracks on the Sprint Cup circuit. He earned 230 top-five finishes and 560 top-10s, earning a top-10 finish in nearly 50 percent of his starts. He also started from the pole 39 times.

 

Martin finished second in the Sprint Cup Series standings four times, missing his first championship in 1990 by a mere 26 points. He has finished 12th or better in 17 of 20 full Cup seasons.

 

While making a name for himself in Cup competition, Martin was setting records in the Nationwide Series. Though he's recorded just one full season of Nationwide competition – 1987 – Martin holds the record for most wins (48) and most poles (30). In 2006, motorsports media acknowledged his accomplishments by naming him the greatest Nationwide Series driver of all-time.

 

CUTTING BACK

Following the 2006 season, Martin committed only to a part-time Sprint Cup schedule. He was ready to spend more time at home in Daytona Beach, Fla., with his wife Arlene and son Matt.

In the two years that followed, Martin competed in 48 Sprint Cup Series races, earning seven top-five finishes and 19 top-10s. He also became a mentor for rookie drivers.

 

In 2007, Martin made his first Nationwide start for Hendrick Motorsports, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet led by crew chief Alan Gustafson. Martin finished second in that race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, further impressing Rick Hendrick. Martin went on to earn his first win for Hendrick, driving the No. 5 JR Motorsports Nationwide entry at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2008.

 

AN OFFER HE COULDN'T REFUSE

 

Hendrick's admiration grew for Martin's on-track skills as well as the NASCAR veteran's ability to motivate and inspire his crew members. Martin's talent was one that Hendrick Motorsports was not ready to let pass by.

 

In July 2008, Martin announced that he would return to full-time Sprint Cup competition and drive the No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet. He joins Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the Hendrick Motorsports stable.

 

OFF THE TRACK

 

A healthy lifestyle advocate, Martin spends much of his free time on his extensive physical fitness regimen. He is a licensed pilot, flying to and from racetracks around the country, and a successful businessman. In addition to other interests, he owns a pair of Arkansas automobile dealerships, located in Melbourne and his hometown of Batesville.

PERSONAL:

Birthdate: May 20, 1971

Birthplace: Columbus, Ind.

Hometown: Columbus, Ind.

Residence: Columbus, Ind., and Mooresville, N.C.

Marital Status: Single

Children: None

 

 

The driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has scored 11 championships since he first wheeled a go-kart in 1978 at a Westport, Ind., racetrack. He is the first and only driver to have won championships in stock cars, Indy cars and open-wheel Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown cars. And his two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships made him one of just 15 drivers who have scored multiple Sprint Cup titles.

 

His most widely known titles are the two he scored in NASCAR’s pinnacle series. The two-time Sprint Cup Series champion earned his first crown in 2002 by beating veteran racer Mark Martin by 38 points and a second in 2005 when he bested Greg Biffle by 35 points.

 

Championships begat championships for Stewart, as the Columbus, Ind.-native came to NASCAR in 1999 by way of the IRL IndyCar Series, where he was the series champion in 1997. Before that he won four United States Auto Club (USAC) championships, including what at the time was an unprecedented win of USAC’s “Triple Crown.”

 

Throw in a title from the 30-year-old International Race of Champions (IROC) during that series’ final year of operation in 2006, and it’s clear that Stewart is in a league of his own.

 

Along the way, Stewart has won some of the biggest races in motorsports. He is a two-time winner of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (2005 and 2007), a four-time winner of the season-opening NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009) and a two-time winner of the famed Chili Bowl, an all-star Midget race at the Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway (2002 and 2007).

 

Stewart’s racing career began at age seven behind the wheel of a go-kart, with his father, Nelson, serving as car owner and crew chief.

 

“He never pressured me to be the best racecar driver in the world, but he did pressure me to be the best racecar driver that I could be. He never compared me to anybody else. He expected that what I could do was what I could do. He never said that because this guy over here could do something that I should be able to do it, too. He pushed me hard, but he was fair about it. That’s probably why you see so much fire in me today, because he always wanted me to be the best that I could be.”

 

A hint of Stewart’s future success could be seen in 1980 when, at age eight, Stewart won his first championship – a 4-cycle rookie junior class championship at the Columbus Fairgrounds. Two more karting championships followed, but this time on a national level–the 1983 International Karting Federation Grand National championship and the 1987 World Karting Association National championship.

 

And before he was a race winner and a championship contender, Stewart was a rookie on the rise. The Hoosier won rookie of the year honors in Sprint Cup (1999), the Indianapolis 500 (1996) and USAC (1991).

 

Eyebrows were raised on July 10, 2008, when Stewart announced that after spending his entire NASCAR career with Joe Gibbs Racing, he was leaving to become a driver/owner in the Sprint Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing. The last driver/owner to win a Sprint Cup race was Ricky Rudd on Sept. 27, 1998, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, so many pundits saw Stewart’s new undertaking as a massive, if not impossible, challenge.

 

But often overlooked was Stewart’s long and successful history as a team owner. Well before Stewart-Haas Racing was even a remote possibility, Stewart was already setting himself apart from other talented drivers as an equally talented team owner.

 

In November 2000, Stewart formed Tony Stewart Racing (TSR). And what began as a single World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Series team is now a powerful four-team entry with strong footholds in the WoO and USAC. Operating out of a state-of-the-art 25,000-square-foot facility in Brownsburg, Ind., TSR fields two USAC teams and two WoO teams. Since its formation, TSR has earned nine owner championships, the most recent of which was the 2008 WoO title and the 2007 Sprint Car crown, which marked the first USAC title for Chevrolet.

 

In addition to TSR, Stewart also owns the legendary Eldora Speedway. The half-mile dirt oval is where Stewart frequently raced as an up-and-coming USAC driver, and it hosts several of the year’s largest dirt racing events, including the hugely popular Prelude To The Dream, featuring many of NASCAR’s top stars.

 

As much as Stewart is devoted to racing, he is also devoted to philanthropy, so much so that he formed his own charitable foundation in 2003. Known simply as the Tony Stewart Foundation, the 501(c)(3) organization’s goal is to raise funds that will be primarily distributed to three specific groups – chronically ill children, drivers injured in motorsports activities and organizations dedicated to the protection of various animal species. To date, the Foundation has awarded almost $4 million to assist charitable initiatives for more than 130 organizations throughout the United States. One of the prime beneficiaries of the Foundation is the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which serves as a year-round camp for children ages seven to 15 with an assortment of life-threatening illnesses.

 

Stewart, single, still calls Columbus home, where he lives in the house he grew up in. He has a sister, Natalie, who assists with Tony Stewart Fan Club initiatives along with their mom, Pam Boas, who also is involved with his Foundation.

 

Personal:

Birthdate: December 8, 1977

Birthplace: South Bend, Ind.

Hometown: South Bend, Ind.

Residence: Statesville, N.C.

Spouse: Krissie

Children: None

Education: Purdue University – Class of 2001 (A.B. – Vehicle Structure Engineering)

 

Ryan Newman is not your ordinary NASCAR driver. A graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., Newman not only has immense talent behind the wheel, but he also has an in-depth understanding of what a car is designed and built to do on the racetrack. It is that combination that has made Newman one of the most successful and respected figures in modern motorsports.

 

After graduating from Purdue in 2001 with a degree in vehicle structure engineering, Newman followed his heart and his talent to the racetrack and NASCAR’s premiere division–the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It’s a choice that has paid dividends for the driver dubbed “Rocketman,” winner of over a dozen Cup events including the 50th Daytona 500.

 

“After the race, I said I could hear my dad’s teardrops over the radio while he spotted for me as I came to the start-finish line to win, and I think that shows the importance of this race to me and my entire family,” Newman said. “I always said that just competing at Daytona was an honor.”

 

 Since 2000, when he made his Sprint Cup Series debut at Phoenix International Raceway, Newman has been known as a qualifying standout. In just his third-ever Cup start in May 2001 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C., Newman earned the No. 1 starting spot for the Coca-Cola 600, tying the record for the earliest career Sprint Cup pole. Newman has led the series in pole wins four times (2002-6; 2003-11; 2004-9: 2005-8). 

 

Even as a youngster Newman wasted no time making his presence known on the racetrack. He was tallying race wins at just five years of age. By 1986, a nine-year-old Newman had amassed more than 20 wins, won the Kokomo (Ind.) Track Championship and captured the title of Eastern Grand National Quarter Midget Champion (Junior Stock Division).

 

Throughout the next few years, Newman scored more than 100 feature wins, earned six regional Quarter Midget championships and won another Grand National Quarter Midget Championship (Heavy Mod Division in 1988).  Newman’s impressive Quarter Midget stats led to his induction into the Quarter Midget Hall of Fame in 1993.

 

In May 1993, Newman made his move to the full-size Midget car and the All-American Midget Series. He scored one feature win and became the first driver to win both rookie of the year honors and the series championship in the same season. 

 

Newman moved up to the United States Auto Club (USAC) National Midget division in 1995 and scored nine top-10 finishes in 18 starts en route to rookie of the year honors. He followed that with a rookie of the year title in the USAC Silver Crown division in 1996, where Newman scored four top-10s in 10 starts.

 

His first major USAC win came in May 1997 when he drove the No. 39 midget car to victory in the 52nd “Night Before the 500” race at O’Reilly Raceway Park near Indianapolis on the Saturday night prior to the famous Indianapolis 500. 

 

In 1999, Newman tackled all three of USAC’s national series – Midget, Silver Crown and Sprint Car. In his Midget car, Newman captured seven wins, nine top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in just 14 starts en route to a second-place points finish. He scored one other win in the Silver Crown car and two runner-up finishes to claim the 1999 Silver Crown championship. Newman also earned one win and seven top-10 finishes in 15 races in the Sprint Car division where he was named rookie of the year. With that honor, Newman became the only driver to have ever won all three USAC National rookie of the year honors.

 

Newman’s successes in the USAC ranks caught the eye of Roger Penske and led him to join forces with Penske Racing in 2000. That year, he scored wins in the USAC National Midget Series and the USAC Sprint Car Series and in July, in just his second ARCA Series start, he won his first stock car race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. Newman followed that up with two more ARCA wins at Charlotte and Kentucky Speedway in Sparta before he made his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut in November at Phoenix.

 

By 2002, NASCAR observers were expecting big things from Newman and he did not disappoint. He set rookie records for the most top-10 finishes (22) and the most poles (six) in one season. He also became only the second rookie to win the series’ non-points All-Star race at Charlotte. In September of that year, Newman scored his first Sprint Cup Series win in a rain-shortened race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The win, along with his other impressive rookie stats, led Newman to a sixth-place point finish and resulted in his being named the 2002 rookie of the year over Jimmie Johnson.

 

Newman’s sophomore campaign was just as impressive. He once again led the series in poles (11) and he also led the series in victories (eight). Newman again finished sixth in the points standings.

 

In 2004, Newman made the inaugural Chase for the Championship and ended up finishing seventh in the point standings. He had two wins and once again led the series in poles (nine). The following season in 2005, Newman earned his second. Chase berth and led the series in poles (eight) for the fourth consecutive time, and scored one win.

 

In 2008, Newman returned to the winner’s circle after an 81-race absence with his win in the 50th Daytona 500. In October of that year at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Newman won his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in his first ever start in the series. The Truck victory made Newman one of only 19 drivers to have recorded at least one win in each of NASCAR’s top three Series – Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck.

 

But the fierce competitor wanted more. Contending for race wins every week and challenging for the Sprint Cup championship was what Newman desired, so in August 2008 he announced his move to Stewart-Haas Racing.

 

“For me, coming to Stewart-Haas Racing is a great opportunity,” Newman said. “I had seen the shop and the backbone, the foundation that Haas had laid with their efforts. When I talked to Tony and his people, I knew immediately that it was the best place for me for the right reasons.

 

When not racing, Newman enjoys fishing and restoring his classic cars. The avid outdoorsman, along with his wife Krissie, play an active role in the Ryan Newman Foundation 501(c)(3), which they founded in 2005. The mission of the Ryan Newman Foundation is three-fold: to educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program, of which Newman himself was a recipient, to students interested in auto racing careers.

 

Newman, 31, and Krissie reside in Statesville, N.C., with their five rescue dogs: Digger, Mopar, Harley, Socks and Fred.

 

Car:

No 98, 2009 Menards Ford Fusion

 

PERSONAL:

Hometown: Eau Claire, WI

Residence: Cornelius, NC

Birthdate: 8/21/80

Hobbies: Riding Dirt Bikes, Sudoku, Working Out and Playing Video Games

Favorite moment in racing: Winning the ARCA Race at Road America in 2001

 

Paul Menard will make a change in 2009 making a jump from Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to Yates Racing.  The 2009 season will mark Menard's third full season of NASCAR Sprint Cup competition.

 

In 2008, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin, native claimed his first career pole in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July while piloting the No. 15 Menards Chevrolet for DEI.

 

During 2008 he continued his representation of Johns Manville, Turtle Wax, Moen, Sylvania, Quaker State®, Pittsburgh Paints, Splash, Peak, Energizer and Akona. Menards remains the primary sponsor for the No. 15 Chevrolet carrying the neon yellow paint scheme around the track and across the country.

 

Menard's sanctioned racing career began to take shape at just eight years old when he won the Briggs Junior Class Championship in his hometown of Eau Claire, Wisc. He later won the Briggs Medium Class Championship before working his way up the proverbial racing steps. Menard began ice racing when he was 15 years old and went on to win 10 International Ice Racing Association events in his career. To date, Menard continues to compete in IIRA events during the NASCAR off-season.

 

Menard made his foray into NASCAR competition in 2003 and has since proved to be a rising star. Menard posted his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series top-10 finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the spring of 2006. Still a full-time NASCAR Busch Series driver, Menard continued to show strength by earning great finishes including his first NASCAR Busch Series victory at the Milwaukee Mile in June 2006. Overall, Menard earned one win, 10 top-fives and 16 top-10s and a sixth place finish in the 2006 championship standings.

 

The 2007 season faced several significant challenges for the driver of the No. 15 team. Not only was Menard required to qualify on speed for the first 19 races of the season, but with as many as 55 cars showing up to each race, qualifying was nearly as notable as winning in '07. In addition, many consider the competition among the Raybestos Rookie class to have been at an all-time high last year and Menard was awarded Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors at four events throughout the season.

 

Despite these and other challenges, Menard remained focus on finding track success and returns in 2008 with a more veteran outlook on competition.

 

"I guess I'm a 'veteran' now," Menard reasoned. "Having been to all of the tracks before, if you look at it that way. Really, though, everyone at this level has so much experience in so many different types of vehicles that everyone is a veteran in their own regard. I'm just happy to have the rookie stripe off the back of my car."

 

Career Highlights:

 

2008

Menard scored his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole at Daytona International Speedway in July.

 

2007

Menard scores Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in four NASCAR Sprint Cup events

 

Menard records six top-20 finishes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

 

Menard records five top-10 finishes in his 11 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts

 

2006

Sixth in NASCAR Nationwide Series points. One win, seven top-five, 16 top-10 finishes

 

Recorded first NASCAR Nationwide Series win at Milwaukee

 

Recorded first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top-10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

 

2005

Sixth in NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings. Five top-five, 13 top-10 finishes

 

Earned second career NASCAR Nationwide Series Pole Award at Talladega Superspeedway

 

2004

Captured first NASCAR Nationwide Series Pole Award at Kansas Speedway

 

2003

Scored first ARCA win at Talladega Superspeedway

 

Recorded first NASCAR Nationwide Series Top-10 finish (9th) at Indianapolis Raceway Park

 

Finished 12th in NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Nashville Superspeedway

 

2002

Winner of Phoenix NASCAR Southwest Tour event

 

2001

Scored first NASCAR ReMax Challenge Series event win at Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

Sprint Car:

No. 11 Q Oil Maxim

 

Personal:

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 200

Date of Birth: June 3, 1954

Hometown: Bloomington, IN

Current Residence: Bloomington, IN

Marital Status: Married

Spouse: Dana

Children: Kraig, Stevie, Kurt

 

Career Highlights:

World of Outlaws A- Feature Wins:550

World of Outlaws Championships: 20 (6 as owner/driver)

• Voted sprint car racing's greatest driver by a panel assembled by the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum in 2000
• Has won a record 20 World of Outlaws Championships
• Has won a record 12 Knoxville Nationals championships (1980-1982, 1986-1988, 1991-1995, 2002)
• Has won 12 Gold Cup Race of Champions titles (Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, CA) (1978-1979, 1983-1984, 1986-1988, 1990, 1992, 2002, 2003, 2005)
• Set the national short-track record with 56 feature victories, including 46 in 69 World of Outlaws main events, in 1987
• Has been voted to the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters (AARWBA) All-America team a record 19 times (14 on the Short Track First Team)
• Finished 14th in the 1997 Indianapolis 500 (crashed while running ninth with 12 laps remaining)
• Won an IROC event at Talladega Superspeedway on April 30, 1994, in only his third IROC race
• Kinser has won four races on March 27th
• "The King of the Outlaws" claimed his 100th World of Outlaws Sprint Series victory at Houston's Big H Speedway on April 20, 1983. He has won 18 main events at Houston-area facilities: 10 at Big H Speedway, five at Houston Raceway Park and three at Battleground Speedway.  In addition he earned his 500th win at Houston Raceway Park on March 27, 2004
• Kinser claimed victory #200 at Memphis Motorsports Park on August 22, 1987, victory #300 at San Jose Speedway on September 7, 1991, and victory #400 at Santa Maria Speedway and September 23, 1995
• Kinser has won more "A" Features at Knoxville Raceway (34, including 12 Knoxville Nationals championships) than any other racing facility 
• "The King of the Outlaws" has won 34 main events at Eldora Speedway, including the first of his career there on May 21, 1978. Ironically, Kinser failed to comply with the World of Outlaws weight rule at "The World's Fastest Half-Mile" last April 19th, and was disqualified despite crossing the finish line first
• Kinser has won 24 main events at Williams Grove Speedway and 22 at Tri-City Speedway
• "The King of the Outlaws" has claimed 12 Gold Cup Race of Champions titles at Silver Dollar Speedway and West Capital Speedway (1978, 1979)
• "The King of the Outlaws" has won a single race at 44 different tracks and at 121 different facilities overall
• Kinser won 46 of the 69 "A" Features the World of Outlaws Sprint Series ran in 1987. Only eight drivers have won as many as 46 main events in their careers.
• Of the 1,663 World of Outlaws Sprint Series has run in its 30-year history, Kinser has won 30% of them
• Despite finishing last in the first World of Outlaws Sprint Series main event at Devil's Bowl Speedway on March 18, 1978, Kinser won the series' inaugural championship
• Kinser has made a habit of winning when the World of Outlaws Sprint Series visits a racetrack for the first time. He has turned the trick 55 times in his career

Additional Stats:

• 10-Time Eagle Nationals Winner
• 6-Time Kings Royal Winner
• 4-Time Williams Grove National Open Winner
• 2-Time Historical Big One Winner
• Inducted into the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2005
• Won his 1st career win at Bloomington Speedway in his hometown of Bloomington, IN on June 11, 1976. He won a total of 6 races at Bloomington that year and won the track championship

Previous Racing History:

• 1994- International Race of Champions (IROC)- 6th in points- Won race at Talladega Superspeedway 
• 1995- IROC- 5th in points 
• 1996- IROC- 12th in points 
• 1997- Indy Racing League- 14th in Indianapolis 500
• 2003- IROC- 11th in points 
• 2004- IROC- 11th in points
• 2005- IROC- 11th in points 
• 2006- National Sprint Tour- 2nd in points- 5 wins, IROC- 12th in points

Interesting Facts:

• Steve's son, Kraig, was the 2004 World of Outlaws Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year. They are the only father and son combination to win the Knoxville Nationals to date

car:

Advance Auto Parts / Toyota Solara

 

Personal:

Height: 6' 0"

Weight: 180

Date of Birth: September 19, 1963

Hometown: Chino Hills, CA

Current Residence: Brownsburg, IN

Marital Status: Single

career highlights:

2008:

Funny Car Champion (2nd in Career); Qualified for 23 of 24 events; Advanced to 5 final rounds, 3 Race Wins, Best reaction time overall in Funny Car Driver group; Earned No. 1 Qualifier 3 times; Won US Smokeless Showdown in Indy

 

2007:

Had a better than .500 record on Sunday with 18 wins, 16 losses; Earned No. 1 Qualifier at Houston, his first since 2005; Advanced to 3 final rounds for second straight season; Advanced to quarters, semis, and final found at three of last four races

 

2006:

Earned his first win in six years dating back to Englishtown 2000; Qualified for 21 of 23 events; advanced to 3 final rounds, most since 2004 season

 

Career Wins: 27

Career Best Elapsed Time: 4.680 seconds

Career Best Speed: 330.80 mph

 

2005:

Earned a pair of No. 1 qualifiers (Englishtown and Chicago 2); Set the low E.T. at two events (Englishtown and Chicago 2); Set career bests for both time and speed; Won at least two rounds at five consecutive events and six of the first eight events to open the 2005 season; Won $25,000 bonus for having closest margin of victory in Motel 6 Who Got the Light award

 

2004:

Earned first No. 1 qualifying position (Columbus) since 1998; was the runner-up at consecutive events twice (Denver and Seattle, Indianapolis and Dallas); Established career-best performance numbers; Qualified No. 11 in the quickest Funny Car field in NHRA history (Pomona 2)

 

2003:

Highest finish in the Funny Car standings since 1998; was the runner-up at Denver and Reading; established career-best time and speed

 

2002:

After taking a year off from racing, Pedregon assembled a team that qualified for 18 national events; Advanced to the semifinals at Indianapolis

 

2001:

Served as color analyst for ESPN's drag racing coverage

 

2000:

Raced part-time as an owner/driver, collecting one win (Englishtown)

 

1999:

Raced part-time as an owner/driver in the Funny Car category

 

1998:

Earned the No. 1 qualifying spot a career-best 12 times; Won NHRA all-star race; Set national elapsed-time record three times; Runner-up in Funny Car bonus race

 

1997:

The first Motorsports athlete to receive the "Premio De Oro," the only national award for Hispanic athletes

 

1996:

Competing in a limited amount of races, Pedregon won one race en route to a third-place finish in the NHRA championship point standings; Finished in the top three for the fifth consecutive season

 

1995:

Won at Indianapolis for the third time in four years (1992, '94-95); Recorded first career four-second run, a 4.991 at Dallas; broke the 300-mph mark for the first time with a 300.90-mph pass at Indianapolis

 

1994:

Was the only Funny Car driver to defeat John Force in a final round the entire season; qualified in the top half at 15 of the 18 national events

 

1992:

Won the NHRA Funny Car championship — the only Funny Car driver other than John Force to win a title in the 1990s

 

1990:

Won a career-best six races

 

1991:

Raced part-time in Top Fuel competition

 

1990:

Moved to Alcohol Funny Car competition

 

1987:

Started his NHRA career in Alcohol Dragster

 

Notable: Won first drag race in 1980 behind wheel of a 1953 Kenworth truck; Raced go-karts in 1986 and was track champion at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway; Brothers Tony and Frank also compete in NHRA Funny Car category

 

Father, Frank, raced Top Fuel dragsters in 1960s

 

Fluent in Spanish, Cruz enjoys working with Hispanic media

 

Enjoys doing charitable work with children

 

Avid NFL fan, especially of Oakland Raiders. Also enjoys listening to sports talk radio

Car:

Quaker State® Funny Car

 

Personal:

Height: 5' 8"

Weight: 165

Date of Birth: March 8, 1965

Hometown: Chino Hills, CA

Current Residence:  Indianapolis, IN

Marital Status: Married

Spouse: Andrea

Children: 4

Career Highlights:

Career Wins: 40

Career Best Elapsed Time: 4.659 seconds (National Record Holder at 1320 ft.)

Career Best Speed: 331.28 mph

2008:

Won Gainesville; Won Chicago; Won Norwalk; Won Brainerd; Runner-up at Dallas; No. 1 Qualifier at two events; Finished 5th in POWERade points standings

 

2007:

NHRA World Funny Car Champion; Won Las Vegas; Won Dallas; Won Reading; Runner-up at Englishtown; Won Phoenix where he set the national record and career-best elapsed time of 4.659 seconds

 

2006:

Picked up three wins in a stretch of six events to move from 12th to 4th in the POWERade points standings; Moved all the way up to 3rd in standings as late as the 17th event of the season; Qualified in the Top 10 at 19 of 23 events; Qualified for 22 of 23 events; Extended streak of successfully qualifying for an event to 114 events; Finished 5th in POWERade points standings

 

2005:

Set career best for time when he and his brother (Cruz) each ran 4.680s at Chicago 2; Finished the season on a roll with two wins and a runner-up finish at the final five events; Earned his first victory since Las Vegas 2 in his Championship season of 2003; Qualified for all 23 events, increasing his streak of successfully qualifying at national events to 110; Earned three No. 1 qualifiers and had the low E.T. at three events

 

2004:

In his first season as a team owner, finished No. 8 in the final POWERade points standings, his 9th consecutive season finishing in the Top 10; Established career-bests for both E.T. and speed; Career-best E.T. is the 7th quickest Funny Car pass in NHRA history; Recorded two of the 10 fastest Funny Car speeds in NHRA history (331.28 mph at Chicago 1; 329.83 mph at Atlanta); His career won-lost record in elimination rounds of 319-189 is 13th best among all active pro drivers with 50 or more decisions; Qualified #1 at three events - Las Vegas 1, Atlanta and Chicago 1; Qualified for all 23 events, upping his national event qualifying streak to 87 consecutive races dating back to Bristol 2001, 5th  best among all active pro drivers

 

2003:

Nominated for ESPY Driver Award; Became the first driver other than John Force to win the Funny Car championship since 1992; established career-bests for wins, No. 1 qualifying awards, elapsed time and speed; a career-best 8 wins on the season places him 4th on the all-time Funny Car win list with 24 career victories; one of four Funny Car drivers to qualify for all 23 events

 

2002:

Earned six victories in eight final-round appearances. Was contending for the POWERade championship until the semi-final of the last event of the season; Finished No. 2 in the standings for the fourth time in his career; Finished in the top five of the standings for the sixth time in eight professional seasons; Won three consecutive races for the first time in his career

 

2001:

Won a race as the No. 1 qualifier (Englishtown) for the first time in his career, beating team owner John Force; Won back-to-back races (Englishtown and Topeka) for the first time in his career

 

2000:

Went to the finals six times, collecting two victories

 

1999:

Was the No. 1 Qualifier at four events; Posted the quickest time in history when he clocked a 4.779 second run at Gainesville; Runner-up in the Funny Car Shootout at Indianapolis

 

1998:

Earned two wins in two final-round appearances

 

1997:

No. 1 Qualifier at three events and raced in five finals; Beat brother Cruz Pedregon at Houston in the first final-round meeting involving brothers; Runner-up in Funny Car bonus race

 

1996:

Made seven final-round appearances in first season with John Force Racing; Named the inaugural winner of the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, which identified the sport's budding stars; Finished second in driver points in first full season on the tour; Earned first career victory (Atlanta)

 

1995:

Ran limited Funny Car schedule for car owner Larry Minor

 

1993:

Qualified for first NHRA event at the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster

 

Father, Frank, raced Top Fuel dragsters in the 1960s

 

Brothers Cruz and Frank Pedregon also compete in the Funny Car class

 

Pedregon is an accomplished painter whose work adorns the helmets of fellow drivers John Force, Cory McClenathan, Cruz Pedregon, and others.