Leavine Family Racing (LFR) saw the 2013 season bring changes to the No.95 team: new paint schemes, sponsors, as well as a few driver changes. Even amidst all the new elements, Leavine Family Racing did what they have continually done best... performed consistently.

Their 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season kicked off with restrictor plate racing at Daytona International Speedway. The Concord, N.C.-based team ran mid-pack most of the race and even led for two laps, got shuffled back to 23rd when the race ended, and finished on the lead lap without a single scratch on their Ford Fusion.  

A season highlight was at Talladega Superspeedway where the team started 36th and finished ninth. The finish was Leavine Family Racing's first Top-10 in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition; all they had to do was drive through the middle of two "Big One" multi-car crashes, wait through a 3-hour, 36-minute rain delay, lead a lap and drive through a green-white-checkered finish in darkness and light rain.

The previous best finish for the team was a 17th-place finish at Watkins Glen International in 2012.

Leavine Family Racing ran its third season under the direction of crew chief Wally Rogers. With eight races remaining in the team's limited schedule a driver change was made. Drivers behind the wheel on the red, white, and blue machine included Blake Koch, Scott Riggs, Reed Sorenson and Scott Speed.

Despite not having a top-five finish in 2013, the team worked tirelessly on being consistent week in and week out... a trait that the No. 95 team has established a reputation for. Leavine Family Racing finished out 2013 with one top-10 in 20 scheduled events, while leading three laps. In the final stretch of the season the team was able to gain the momentum they wanted to prepare for the 2014 season.

Additionally, Leavine Family Racing added a new dynamic when the team made its NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in October at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Sorenson.

"We were able to finish strong this season and that gives us confidence for next season," said team owner Bob Leavine. "We made significant progress throughout the season and with the competition level so high, forward progress of any kind is always encouraging. I think I can speak for the entire family by saying that we are all extremely excited to get to Daytona again in February."

Michael McDowell, who has worked with the team at this season's Sprint All-Star race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, signed a single-year deal to drive for Leavine Family Racing in 2014.

"I feel pretty good looking ahead to next season," McDowell said. "I'm looking forward to getting back to the shop and seeing what we have on tap for the winter in order to continue to get better."

Leavine Family Racing will also campaign in Fords again in 2014, getting engines from Roush Yates Engines and chassis support from Penske Racing.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will return to action in 2014 with the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway for the 56th annual DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 23, 2014.

LFR PR

Friday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards was jam-packed with presentations but only one was a surprise -- the presentation of the Third Annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award to Don Post of Kansas City, Mo.

The award showcases The NASCAR Foundation, which was created in 2006 with the mission to raise funds and increase volunteerism to support charitable causes throughout the nation … with special emphasis on positively impacting the lives of children.

In 2011, the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award was created. The award honors the longtime commitment to community service and charitable causes by the foundation’s founder, Betty Jane France, who presented the award to Post.

The award goes annually to a NASCAR fan who embodies those ideals.

By any measure, Post fits the mold. He was diagnosed with ALS, "Lou Gehrig's Disease," in 1980 and was told he had three to five years to live. Undaunted, he embarked on a 33-year mission of donating his time and talent to charities in the Kansas City area.

Post has rallied the Kansas City community through the March of Dimes. His leadership on the "Bikers for Babies" motorcycle ride has helped raise $6.8 million toward finding causes and cures for premature birth, infant mortality and neuromuscular diseases.

An online www.NASCAR.com vote to determine this year’s award winner resulted in nearly 200,000 votes being cast, a record number.

The charities supported by the finalists will each receive a 25 thousand dollar donation from The NASCAR Foundation.

Post will receive a new Chevrolet SS, courtesy of Chevrolet, and provide the March of Dimes with a $100,000 donation.

Ultimately, the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards were all about Jimmie Johnson and his sixth series championship, but there were some pointed jokes and some return barbs before the Friday night program at Wynn Las Vegas got there.

After team owner Rick Hendrick, sponsor Lowe's and crew chief Chad Knaus all received their due, Johnson took the podium to acknowledge those who had helped make his sixth title possible.

"Rick and (wife) Linda, you've created the winningest racing organization in NASCAR history by caring for the people you employ and treating us all like family," Johnson said after receiving his championship ring from NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.

"And I'm honored to call myself a Hendrick employee."

Johnson thanked Knaus for pushing him to make him better and acknowledged the bond, both personal and professional, formed between driver and crew chief over the past 12 years.

Johnson's speech was the climax of the evening, but the humor that preceded it often brought the house down.

Comedian Jay Mohr, the master of ceremonies, revved up the crowd with some well-researched jokes that poked fun at Jeff Gordon, Danica Patrick and Clint Bowyer in particular.

Mohr highlighted Gordon's last-minute addition as a 13th driver to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, after manipulation of the outcome of the final regular-season race at Richmond by Michael Waltrip Racing changed the course of the 2013 season.

Mohr interrupted his own routine with "news" that Gordon had just been added to the BCS championship in college football, that the four-time champion had been added to the Best Picture category for the Academy Awards and, finally, that a 13th month had been added to the calendar, called "JeffGordonary."

Mohr surmised that Patrick, who was sitting close to the stage with her boyfriend, Sunoco Rookie of the Year Ricky Stenhouse Jr., might feel uncomfortable being so close to the front.

He congratulated Bowyer, whose late-race spin started the sequence of events at Richmond that led to a record $300,000 fine for the organization for being "so good at apologizing for things you may or may not have done."

The awards took a serious tone when the top-10 drivers began to review their accomplishments, thank their fans and congratulate Johnson on his milestone title.

Kurt Busch, 10th in the standings, recognized the collective effort of his single-car Furniture Row Racing team, which qualified for the Chase for the first time in the organization's history. Ninth-place finisher Greg Biffle gave a nod to sponsor 3M, which will mark its 10th season backing Biffle's efforts in 2014.

Eighth-place Joey Logano thanked team owner Roger Penske for "taking a chance on me." Logano rewarded that vote of confidence with a win at Michigan and a place in the Chase for the first time in his career.

Before seventh-place Bowyer took the stage, Mohr took a jab at Dale Earnhardt Jr., noting in a bogus tweet displayed on a screen above the stage that Earnhardt had asked the valet to park his car in Victory Lane, but that his GPS didn't know where to find it.

"Jay just learned with his last joke, that nobody laughed, at what everybody in NASCAR knows," Bowyer said. "Don't screw with Dale Jr."

Gordon also responded to Mohr when recognized for his sixth-place finish in the standings, noting that he had often considered opening his remarks with a joke, but found none of them funny.

"Then I realized that Jay Mohr has been doing that for years," Gordon said.

Turning serious, Gordon recognized the accomplishments of Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team.

"Jimmie and Chad, and the entire 48 team, congratulations on your sixth title in eight years," Gordon said. "Individually, you are both one of the best at what you do. Together, you're a dominant force. Congratulations on another impressive year and another championship."

Gordon also addressed his 11th-hour inclusion in the Chase.

"We may have been a late addition, but I know in my heart we belonged in this year's Chase," Gordon said. "And we proved it every weekend throughout. Thanks to my team for never giving up."

Earnhardt, the series' fifth-place finisher, delivered his speech with an eye to the future, buoyed by his strong run in the Chase.

"As for our 88 team, we have seen a steady improvement each season we've been together," Earnhardt said. "That type of initiative is hard to find. It's my opinion that I spend my weekends with the hardest-working group in the garage. That type of attitude has made me not just a better driver but a better person as well.

"I think we as a group are thankful for each other. I look forward to 2014 with you guys and another year of getting better."

Kyle Busch, who finished fourth, welcomed the crowd to Las Vegas, his hometown.

"I've missed being up on this stage and being able to talk for the last couple of years," Busch quipped. "Even though I was gone for a while, not much has changed. Jimmie and Chad win the championship. Dale Jr. wins most popular driver.

"And (NASCAR President) Mike Helton's moustache is still the same… I'm not in the familiar spot of 11th or 12th and already on my way home -- I didn't even know the [Awards] lasted this late."

In his last of 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons with Richard Childress Racing before moving to Stewart-Haas next year, third-place finisher Kevin Harvick took time to pay homage to his long-time car owner.

"Richard, we've been through a lot together over the last 14 years," Harvick said. "It seems like just yesterday I was this punk-ass kid that didn't know much about anything.

"Even though we didn't always see eye-to-eye, I honestly appreciate you allowing me to be the person that I am. I wish you and RCR all the best in the years to come."

Before Johnson took the stage, series runner-up Matt Kenseth, who moved from Roush Fenway Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing this season, offered his congratulations with a pointed suggestion.

"I will start by congratulating Jimmie, Chad, Rick and the 48 team … but, honestly, I have to say, your dominance is getting old," Kenseth said. "If I were you Jimmie, I would seriously contemplate retirement. Winning that much has to be tiring.

"Go buy yourself an island somewhere, hang out with your family, find a new hobby, spend some of that money and enjoy yourself."

But as usual, Johnson had the last word, as he and the No. 48 team prepare for a run at a record-tying seventh championship next year.

Travel included, the time gap between standing on the stage at Wynn Las Vegas and sitting behind the wheel of a car at Charlotte Motor Speedway will amount to less than 60 hours.

With the crowning of six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson still looming large in the rear-view mirror, roughly 25 drivers will assemble Monday at CMS to validate potential changes to the Gen-6 race car for 2014, changes designed to make intermediate speedway racing closer and more competitive.

The test follows an initial gathering of data in October, also at Charlotte.

"We had the test in October, we had six cars, and we learned quite a bit," said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president of innovation and racing development. "We were generally looking at aerodynamic and chassis changes. I think we’ve got some very good insight, and now we’ve determined that we’ve got to bring a bigger pool of cars together.

"We think right now we’re going to have about 25 cars participate, so we’ll have a bigger field to validate some of the changes we’re anticipating for 2014."

As Stefanyshyn said, most of the changes will deal with aero packages, but NASCAR also will test tapered spacers on the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars to measure the effects of reduced horsepower. The NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series both use tapered spacers as part of their engine packages.

NASCAR has reviewed potential configurations and provided test plans to the teams, including detailed CAD drawings of parts that needed to be created or fabricated.

"Some of those we will provide," Stefanyshyn said. "Some they will fabricate."

During the eight-hour test, NASCAR plans to run four different configurations in an attempt to arrive at a 2014 package that will reduce the aerodynamic disadvantage of trailing cars.

"It’s interesting," Kyle Busch said after Thursday’s NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon at Wynn Las Vegas. "When you get out front, you haul the mail. But then, when you get back in eighth, 10th, 12th, 15th, you’re wrecking sideways, whatever it may be, but you’re stuck."

The NASCAR Foundation is proud to announce Don Post, event chairman of the March of Dimes Kansas City chapter’s “Bikers for Babies” motorcycle ride, as the winner of the third annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. The NASCAR Foundation Chairwoman Betty Jane France announced the winner during Friday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas – the official coronation of 2013 champion Jimmie Johnson.

“Don Post is a hero, pure and simple,” said The NASCAR Foundation Chairwoman Betty Jane France. “We have so much respect for his accomplishments in the face of personal adversity along with his commitment to helping children who face their own adversity. His story is inspiring, and truly personifies what our award is all about.

“Not only are we honored to present him the third annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, we are honored just to know him.”

In 1980, Post’s life was forever changed when he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” and was told he only had three to five years to live. He retired from his professional job, and despite the ALS diagnosis, he embarked on a 33-year mission of donating his time and talent to charities in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Post has served on boards of directors and executive committees for a number of non-profit organizations and mentored many young children diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. He has been a member on the March of Dimes “Bikers for Babies” motorcycle ride committee for 12 years, and has been the event’s chairman since 2010.

The $100,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation will be used to help grow and develop existing March of Dimes programs, including research on how to improve the health of newborns, funding for educational initiatives and community programs such as support groups that help parents cope with their baby’s hospitalization, transition home and even death. Post also receives a new 2014 Chevrolet SS from Chevrolet.

In only its third year, the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award has donated $525,000 to individuals who are improving children’s lives in their respective communities. With the annual presentation of the award, The NASCAR Foundation’s mission is to honor passionate volunteers and NASCAR fans making an impact with children in their local communities and reflecting the commitment Betty Jane France has demonstrated with her charitable works and community efforts.

“I am truly blessed to be receiving this award from The NASCAR Foundation and I’m even more thrilled to be able to provide $100,000 to the March of Dimes, an organization that is dear to me,” said Post. “The funds will be used to continue the mission of ensuring healthy babies are brought into this world, especially locally in Wyandotte County where premature births and infant mortality rates are above the norm. My love and thanks goes out to all who supported me in this vote.”

Post was chosen as the winner from a group of four finalists by a national fan vote on www.NASCAR.com. The finalists have collectively dedicated 87 years for their charities and impacted nearly 20,000. The volunteers who each received a $25,000 donation to their supporting charities, in recognition of being named as a finalist for the award, are: Duncan Dobie of Marietta, Ga., representing Camp Sunshine; Lisa Hall of Bedford, N.H., supporting CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children); and Richard Johnson of St. Johns, Fla., backing The Alpha-1 Foundation. The four finalists were selected by The NASCAR Foundation board of directors from applicants who have made a significant impact on the lives of children through volunteerism or charitable work. The announcement culminated an eight-week period during which the four finalists promoted their causes and asked fans to vote for them to receive the top award.

NASCAR PR

Jimmie Johnson wraps up his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ championship celebration Friday night in Las Vegas.

For Johnson, Champion’s Week™ has been an enjoyable one – and perhaps his best since he captured his first championship in 2006 to begin an unprecedented run of five consecutive titles.

“The streak, when it was alive, I didn’t realize how much pressure we were carrying on our shoulders. We almost didn’t get to enjoy the moment,” he said. “We were looking ahead to see what the next year would be.

“This (year) is almost a starting over. We’re just enjoying it for what it is.”

Johnson and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Lowe’s Chevrolet team’s streak of five titles ended in 2011 and they missed the title a year ago, but the now-38-year-old Californian smiled and applauded the achievements of Tony Stewart and Brad Keselowski from the audience.

The two seasons away from the head table provided some of the impetus for what Johnson calls “a kick-butt year” in which he won six races. Two victories during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ were keys to Johnson emerging victorious from a dramatic and tension-filled battle with 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth.

“There’s nothing more motivating than sitting down on the floor and watching the head table receive all the things through the course of the night,” Johnson said. “We worked hard and came back and got it done this year.”

One championship away from matching the seven NASCAR Sprint Cup titles won by NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Johnson had hoped to reference some of the legends’ thoughts in making Friday night’s speech. He had no luck retrieving any of Petty’s remarks following his sixth title. The late Earnhardt’s speech in 1994 likewise wasn’t helpful.

“I expected to see some life-changing thing in there I could attach to my speech; some meaningful moment or whatever,” Johnson said of Earnhardt’s banquet performance. “He was just as nervous as the rest of us. He was rattled, got off the stage and walked away.

“I do recognize I’m in a very unique position (that) only two other men have been in. If I can find a way to mention that tonight, that’s my goal.”

The week’s highlights included the champion’s media tour, participation by all 13 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifiers in Wednesday’s Fanfest Presented by Las Vegas Motor Speedway held at the Fremont Street Experience and Thursday’s annual NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon during which Johnson received the Goodyear Tires Award and Sunoco Diamond Performance Award.

Thursday’s traditional Victory Lap during which NASCAR Sprint Cup stock cars performed burnouts on the famed Las Vegas Boulevard and NASCAR After the Lap^TM sponsored by Ford and Coca-Cola wrapped the lead-up to Friday night’s 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards™ hosted by comedian, actor and radio personality Jay Mohr at Wynn Las Vegas. FOX Sports 2 and www.NASCAR.com provide coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET. The show will also re-air on FOX Sports 1 at noon ET on Dec. 8.

NASCAR PR

NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech) will once again serve as host to one of the community's biggest annual fundraisers to help children. On Tuesday, December 10, NASCAR Tech will welcome more than 1,000 guests to its Mooresville campus for the 2013 Stocks-For-Tots event, which raises money annually to support Stop Child Abuse Now(SCAN), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children, supporting parents and improving the community.

Stocks-For-Tots was created 25 years ago by the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame as a way to bring together stock car racing and its fans, while assisting SCAN in its mission to raise awareness, prevent and treat child abuse and neglect. Specifically, it will help to provide parenting classes and a parent support group, as well as enabling SCAN to work in the homes of families who need more intensive help. Since 1989, the event has raised more than $1 million and collected more than 50,000 toys to aide raising awareness for child abuse in North Carolina.

Purchasing a ticket for the 2013 holiday fundraiser allows NASCAR fans to give back to their local community while having the opportunity to meet and receive autographs from many of the most-well known drivers and personalities in the motorsports industry, including the legendary Dale Earnhardt Jr., "The King" Richard Petty, NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood.  Current drivers like Ryan Newman, Mike Wallace, David Regan, David Gilliland and Mike Bliss and NHRA Drag Racers Doug Herbert, Greg Anderson and Jason Line will also be available at the event to take pictures and sign autographs. Beginning at 5 p.m., this year's fundraiser will include several celebrity autograph sessions, a silent auction and a chance to visit with Santa Claus.

Due to the overwhelming response that the organization has received regarding this year's event, there are several ticketing options available for attendees. There will be a limited number of wristbands (300) sold that will allow attendees entry to the autograph line. A guaranteed "Fast Pass" wristband will be sold to the first 75 fans who wish to purchase the premium band for $50.  This band will guarantee a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. autograph and allow the purchaser access to the other motorsport celebrity autograph sessions as well.

There will be an additional 225 regular entry wristbands available for purchase at the cost of $10 plus a new unwrapped toy with a value of $10, which will be given to a child of one of the 100 or so families served by SCAN. Any extra toys will go to the Department of Social Services and distributed among other families seeking assistance.

In addition to autograph signing, fans will have the opportunity to purchase items from the Stocks-For-Tots memorabilia store, including autographed sheet metal, wheels, and crew shirts donated by several NASCAR teams.

"Stocks-For-Tots is the perfect family-friendly event, bringing together race enthusiasts eager to support a good cause and NASCAR Tech is honored to once again be a part of this special holiday tradition," said John Dodson, NASCAR Tech's Vice President of  Community and NASCAR Relations. "On behalf of NASCAR Tech students and staff, we are proud to serve as the venue for an event that continually helps to improve the lives of so many young individuals in our community."

All bands will go on sale beginning December 10 ^th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, 119 Knob Hill Road, in Mooresville, N.C. If the allotted number of wristbands is not sold out in that time, the remaining bands will be sold at NASCAR Technical Institute beginning at 4 p.m. that day. For those unable to attend, NASCAR Live with Eli Gold will be broadcasting live from the event to a nationwide audience from 7-8 p.m. EST on all Motor Racing Network affiliates.

For more information on this event, visit www.stocksfortots.com.

UTI PR

The Sprint Cup celebration will be shown on FOX Sports 2 at 9 p.m. ET Friday, with a replay on Sunday at 12 p.m. on FOX Sports 1. MRN.com will have a live audio stream of the ceremony beginning at 8 p.m. Friday.

"This is pretty neat and we appreciate NASCAR including us as a representative of the Camping World Truck Series," said Crafton, who traveled to Las Vegas from a holiday break running his custom sand rail in the dunes of Glamis, Calif.

"This coming year is going to be interesting, with all the events we'll have a chance to participate in as the champion of our series, and it's just another reason to appreciate all that (ThorSport Racing team owners) Duke and Rhonda Thorson enable us to do."

Crafton's participation at the Sprint Cup awards celebration is an apt kickoff to the coming holiday season. As he closed his remarks at the recent Truck Series championship celebration of his No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra team, Crafton shed tears -- and prompted many in the full Americana Ballroom to do the same -- when he said words to the effect, "who would believe a 37-year-old man could celebrate this championship with a trophy as perfect as the daughter, Elladee, that Ashley and I have?"

With ThorSport's company Christmas and holiday party and a special public open house at the ThorSport Racing shop from 4-7 p.m. ET on Monday, Dec. 16, Crafton and his family will have plenty of reasons to celebrate as the month moves ahead.

Thorsport PR

Two of the most popular drivers in NASCAR’s history, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be appearing at the 25^th annual Stocks For Totsholiday event and fundraiser on Tuesday, December 10 at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C.

“The King” Richard Petty will be signing autographs from 5:00pm until 6:30 with the Legends group. Petty the all time winningest NASCAR Cup driver with 200 wins and 7 Winston Cup championships will be also bring his famous 1972 Dodge Charger to the fundraiser.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., the driver of the Rick Hendrick #88 Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet who has 19 career wins and has been voted by the fans as the Most Popular NASCAR Cup driver for 10 consecutive seasons will be in the celebrity group. He will be signing autographs from 7:00 pm until 9:00.  Joining him will be his sister Kelly Earnhardt-Miller Co-owner of JR Motorsports and his brother Kerry Earnhardt.

A complete list of drivers can be found at www.stocksfortots.com.

The money raised will support the Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) nonprofit organization which is dedicated to helping children, supporting parents and improving the community.

The Stocks For Tots fundraiser at the NASCAR Institute will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 and will end at 9 p.m. A cash donation of $10 and a new unwrapped toy with a $10 value will be required for admission. In addition to the celebrity autograph session there will be a silent auction and a chance to visit with Santa Claus. The NASCAR Institute is located at 220 Byers Creek Road in Mooresville, NC 28117. Their phone number is (704) 658-1950

Stocks For Tots was created as a way to bring together stock car racing and its fans while raising awareness of the child abuse problem in North Carolina. The idea was to collect toys and raise money during a festive, family-oriented holiday event. For a full list of driver appearances and more information on the event visit: www.stocksfortots.com.

NCMA/Stocks for Tots PR

The North Carolina Motorsports Association will honor one of North Carolina’s first racing families — the Jarretts — with its Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award at the eighth annual North Carolina Motorsports Industry Awards Ceremony presented by Fifth Third Bank. The ceremony will take place Jan. 20, 2014 at the Embassy Suites in Concord, N.C.

The NCMA Motorsports Industry Awards Ceremony presented by Fifth Third Bank pays tribute to North Carolina’s $6 billion motorsports industry. Each year, the Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award recognizes a person whose contributions to racing have made an immeasurable impact on motorsports in North Carolina. Previous recipients were Benny Parsons, Richard Petty, Richard Childress, Dale Earnhardt, Junior Johnson, O. Bruton Smith and H.A. Humpy Wheeler. In addition, NCMA presents industry awards to various North Carolina entities that have positively affected the motorsports community within the state.

Ned and Martha Jarrett, along with their children Glenn, Dale, Patti and grandson Jason will be honored for their lifelong contributions to motorsports in North Carolina. Ned, Glenn, Dale and Jason Jarrett each spent time behind the wheel with Ned and Dale being named to NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers” list in 1998. They will become only the second father-son drivers to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame when Dale Jarrett is honored in January. Ned, Glenn and Dale Jarrett have each worked in broadcasting, covering NASCAR’s major series. Ned Jarrett, working for CBS Sports in the broadcast booth, calling his son, Dale, to victory in the 1993 Daytona 500 is remembered as one of the greatest moments in stock car racing history.

“That isn’t just a great racing moment, it was an amazing family moment in a sport where family is the cornerstone of everything we do,” said Greg Fornelli, NCMA Chairman of the Board. “The Jarrett family epitomizes everything that is good about our sport, and while their individual accomplishments are immense, their impact as a whole is immeasurable. From their home, to the race track, the broadcasting booth and everywhere in between, the Jarrett family is the heart of racing in North Carolina. And we honor that legacy.”

In addition to honoring the Jarrett family, NCMA will also pay tribute to Jim Hunter with its media recognition award. Hunter, who passed away in 2010, spent more than 40 years working in motorsports, first as a journalist with the Columbia (S.C.) Record and Atlanta Journal-Constitution before moving to public relations positions with Darlington Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and NASCAR. He served as president of Darlington, vice-president of International Speedway Corp. from 1993 to 2001 when he became NASCAR’s vice-president of corporate communication, a position he held until his death at age 71.

In 2014, NCMA will honor the following companies with industry awards  – DCE, Inc., Motorsports Authentics, Carolina Speedway, The Dirt Track @ Charlotte’s World Finals, Rev Racing and Stocks for Tots.

NCMA PR