Guthrie's barrier-breaking career celebrated in ESPN film

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Janet Guthrie did not receive a warm reception when she arrived at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 43 years ago. The former aerospace engineer had become a race car driver — unheard of during her era — and Guthrie wanted a spot in the Indianapolis 500, the biggest race in the...

Roger Penske celebrates 50 years at Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — His hair was jet black and his shirt starched white when Roger Penske rolled into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time as a team owner with Mark Donohue behind the wheel. He was young and ambitious and ready to conquer the racing world. Much has changed in the ensuing 50...

Most drivers want NASCAR's longest race to remain 600 miles

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — With a furrowed brow NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip scoffed at the notion that the Coca-Cola 600 race is too long and should be shortened by, say, maybe a hundred miles or so. "Is that what some thirty-something said?" the 72-year-old Waltrip said to The Associated Press. Well, as a...

Byron hopes strong qualifying runs translate to first win

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — William Byron knows how to qualify. Now, he is looking to prove he can win at NASCAR's highest level. The Charlotte native would love nothing more than to win his first Cup Series race at his home track of Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600. He has put himself in a...

Byron becomes youngest ever to capture Coca-Cola 600 pole

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — The hometown kid is starting out front in NASCAR's longest race. Charlotte native William Byron became the youngest driver ever to capture the pole for the Coca-Cola 600. The 21-year-old Byron, who grew up a short drive from Charlotte Motor Speedway, turned a lap of 183.424 mph in his...

Joe Gibbs says success all about finding the right people

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — When Joe Gibbs decided to venture off from the NFL and form a race team in 1992 he was scared. Petrified, in fact. Gibbs had won three Super Bowls as coach of the Washington Redskins, but he was an outsider starting from scratch when it came to stock car racing. And when his team...

Stewart, Gibbs, Labonte elected to NASCAR Hall of Fame

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tony Stewart and friends are heading to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The three-time Cup Series champion will be inducted alongside his former car owner Joe Gibbs and teammate Bobby Labonte. Driver Buddy Baker and mechanic Waddell Wilson rounded out the Class of 2020. "It totally changed...

NASCAR strikes $2B deal with ISC, will gain a dozen tracks

NASCAR announced the $2 billion purchase of International Speedway Corp. on Wednesday, an aggressive move to gain control of key racetracks and set itself up for sweeping changes that could save America's most popular racing series. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. ISC owns 12 tracks that...

The Latest: NASCAR 'pleased' with $2B deal with ISC

The Latest on NASCAR's $2 billion deal to acquire International Speedway Corp. (all times Eastern): 12:30 p.m. NASCAR is calling its $2 billion deal with International Speedway Corp. a merger. The stock car series says it is "pleased with the progress" the "merger agreement" represents. NASCAR pledged to grow the...

NASCAR is buying International Speedway for $2 billion