Polls Open for NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Fan Vote

If you want your voice heard, now is the time to weigh in on the NASCAR HALL of FAME 2018 Inductees:

via press release

Polls are now open for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Fan Vote. Fans are asked to cast votes for up to five nominees for inclusion into the Class of 2018, and can vote up to 50 times per day. The five nominees who receive the most votes will count as one of the 54 votes cast by the Voting Panel on NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day on May 24.

WHERE:

NASCAR.com/halloffame

WHO:

The following 20 nominees will be voted upon for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame:

Davey Allison,
won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup) series, including the 1992 Daytona 500

Buddy Baker,
won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500

Red Byron,
first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949

Ray Evernham,
three-time NASCAR premier series championship crew chief

Red Farmer,
three-time Late Model Sportsman champion; 1956 Modified champion

Ray Fox,
legendary engine builder, crew chief and car owner

Joe Gibbs,
combined for nine car owner championships in premier and XFINITY series

Ron Hornaday Jr.,
four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion

Harry Hyde,
1970 NASCAR premier series championship crew chief

Alan Kulwicki,
1992 NASCAR premier series champion

Bobby Labonte,
won a championship in both the premier series and XFINITY Series

Hershel McGriff,
1986 NASCAR west series champion

Roger Penske,
combined for four car owner championships in premier and XFINITY series

Larry Phillips,
only five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion

Jack Roush,
five-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series

Ricky Rudd,
won 23 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400

Ken Squier,
legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner/namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence

Mike Stefanik,
winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championships

Waddell Wilson,
won three NASCAR premier series championships as an engine builder

Robert Yates,
won NASCAR premier series championship as both an engine builder and owner

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NASCAR's Announces New Stage Lengths for All Three Series

NASCAR Unveils Enhanced Format Stage Lengths for All Three National Series

Fuel Mileage, Tire Wear Among Determining Factors for Lap Counts

via press release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2017) – NASCAR today announced the 2017 stage lengths for each race in all three of its national series. A number of factors went into determining the lap count for Stage 1, Stage 2 and the Final Stage of each race, with a singular goal in mind – the best racing for NASCAR fans.

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“Every track is unique for its characteristics in length, surface and overall racing conditions,” said Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition. “We worked closely with race teams on expected fuel and tire runs over the entirety of an event when considering stage lengths. And in the end, stage lengths were decided based upon what would provide the best race for fans.”

Last week, NASCAR announced the stage lengths for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season-opening DAYTONA 500 (Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). For the Great American Race, the stages are scheduled to end on lap 60, lap 120 and lap 200.

For the full list of stages for the remainder of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, as well as the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series seasons, see below.

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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Track		Stage 1	Stage 2	Final Stage
		(ends on lap)	(ends on lap)	(ends on lap)
Daytona International Speedway		60	120	200
Atlanta Motor Speedway		85	170	325
Las Vegas Motor Speedway		80	160	267
Phoenix International Raceway		75	150	312
Auto Club Speedway		60	120	200
Martinsville Speedway		130	260	500
Texas Motor Speedway		85	170	334
Bristol Motor Speedway		125	250	500
Richmond International Raceway		100	200	400
Talladega Superspeedway		55	110	188
Kansas Speedway		80	160	267
Charlotte Motor Speedway		115	230	400
Dover International Speedway		120	240	400
Pocono Raceway		50	100	160
Michigan International Raceway		60	120	200
Sonoma Raceway		25	50	110
Daytona International Speedway		40	80	160
Kentucky Speedway		80	160	267
New Hampshire Motor Speedway		75	150	301
Indianapolis Motor Speedway		50	100	160
Pocono Raceway		50	100	160
Watkins Glen International		20	40	90
Michigan International Raceway		60	120	200
Bristol Motor Speedway		125	250	500
Darlington Raceway		100	200	367
Richmond International Raceway		100	200	400
Chicagoland Speedway		80	160	267
New Hampshire Motor Speedway		75	150	300
Dover International Speedway		120	240	400
Charlotte Motor Speedway		90	180	334
Talladega Superspeedway		55	110	188
Kansas Speedway		80	160	267
Martinsville Speedway		130	260	500
Texas Motor Speedway		85	170	334
Phoenix International Raceway		75	150	312
Homestead-Miami Speedway		80	160	267
Please note the Final Stage may be extended as outlined in Section 10.11 Official Completion.

CARL EDWARDS Retires From NASCAR

In a quick and sudden announcement that took everyone by surprise, Carl Edwards has "retired" from NASCAR, stepping out of the car immediately.

In his announcement, Edwards said that,

"I'm stepping away from full-time driving in the Cup Series. ... This is the most scared I've been about anything. The time is right for me to move on to new adventures in life.

This has been a very difficult decision for me but I'm confident that it is the right one. I could not have a better situation in racing than the one I currently have, so stepping away from that certainly took a lot of consideration.

I have a lot of interests in life outside of sports that deserve my attention and I feel strongly that the time to do that is now. I've been racing for more than 20 years. It's amazing the opportunities that racing, and NASCAR in particular, have provided me. The people I've met and the things I've been able to do. I'm very grateful for all of that.

I'm satisfied with my career and my accomplishments. Racing for me has never really been about trophies. Of course I love winning, but there is a thrill to going into a corner at nearly 200 mph competing against the best in the world. I absolutely love that. Obviously there are risks involved in racing that I never take for granted, either, and I'm happy to be able to walk away from the sport fully healthy. I just believe that it's hard to start the next chapter in your life until I close this one. It is an awesome sport, but very demanding with year-round commitments and a lot of time on the road."

There's a lot of speculation about what is really happening behind the scenes in his home, as to why he may really be leaving. And maybe it's just that. It's time to move on.

Or maybe his wife had a good example for his stepping down, when you look at things like Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s concussion scenario and how it's impacted his life outside of racing while it sidelined him for months while he recovers from his brain injuries.

Considering his sentence about "I'm happy to be able to walk away from the sport fully healthy." could be the clue.

Who knows, though some folks did point out in his statement about how he loves going into corners at 200 mph and it's never really been about trophies.  (Um, then why was he wrecking everyone in those first few years of his time on the Cup scene?)

Here's NASCAR's statement in Carl Edwards retiring...

“Carl Edwards has made an indelible mark on NASCAR. His hard-charging driving style has led to memorable moments that will live forever in the history of our sport. Carl’s passion and personality will greatly be missed – as will the signature backflips that NASCAR fans have come to expect following his victories. We wish Carl nothing but the best as he enters this next phase in life.”

Now that's a succinct goodbye!

I've never been a fan of his, considering what a raging, angry asshole he seemed to be with his many on-track tiffs with multiple drivers, both on the track and garage and pit road. It's like he had an angry side of him just waiting to get out. And when he toned it down, it seemed like there was still something inside, wanting out, that he had to temper constantly, as he spun his image into something friendlier with the fans.

But I never recovered from his angry days.

OK, so we're taking bets...  when do you think he'll end up in the broadcast booth? (And threatening co-anchors for the camera spot? LOL)

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