With NASCAR on a temporary hiatus, news is going to be slow in the coming weeks. To help fill the NASCAR void, we plan on taking you on a daily trip down memory lane spanning the years since the Jayski’s site inception. Using our news archives pages, here’s a look back at what’s happened on this date through the last 23 years in NASCAR:
This day in NASCAR history: April 13
Years we have pulled today’s main items from: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2005, 2004, 2002, 1998
Top see everything from this date over previous years: Main Page | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997
Note: Many links on older stories don’t work. There’s not a lot of the same websites around anymore.
To see previous articles covering “Today in History”, click here.
2014:
- Someday Darlington race could return to Labor Day weekend: NASCAR president Mike Helton was asked Saturday if Darlington would ever get the Labor Day weekend back. While Helton wouldn’t completely rule out a return, he didn’t really think it was a possibility at this time. The track hosted racing on Labor Day weekend from 1950-2003. Darlington eventually lost one of its races and its lone date was held on Mother’s Day starting in 2005. This year, the track’s date was moved to April. “You never know. There were a lot of stories that came from Labor Day races here at the Southern 500. The badge around here was based on Labor Day weekends,” Helton said. “So all I could tell you is you never know. I have seen a lot of things in this sport that I was surprised by … and that led me to believe that the future of the sport can have things happen that people say won’t happen again. So you never know.” Darlington president Chip Wile said he is happy with the track’s date but wouldn’t object to a move back to Labor Day. “With the date change, we’ve actually seen an increase in some segments that NASCAR has been focused on,” he said. “So we are committed to our race date, but we welcome any conversation.”(Morning News)(4-13-2014)
2013:
- Kyle Busch wins at Texas: #18-Kyle Busch won the NRA 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway for his 2nd win of 2013, 1st win at Texas and 26th career win. He took the lead on the final pitstop and pulled away over the final 16 laps to take the win by .508 seconds. #56-Truex, Jr. finished 2nd followed by #99-Edwards, #16-Biffle, #22-Logano, #48-Johnson, #43-Almirola, #11-Vickers, #2-Keselowski, and #39-Newman.
There were 18 lead changes among 7 drivers and 7 cautions for 36 yellow flag laps. The average speed was 144.751mph.(4-13-2013)
2012:
- Atwood back racing: Nashville’s Casey Atwood, once billed as NASCAR’s next Jeff Gordon, is back where he
started over a decade ago: running Saturday night fender-benders at Fairgrounds Speedway. “I haven’t been in a race car for about three years now, and I’ve missed it,” says Atwood, 31, who will buckle in for Saturday night’s season opener at the 54-year-old track. “I’ve always loved racing, and especially enjoyed it at the Fairgrounds. I’ve had a lot of success there, and it’ll be good to get back.” Atwood will drive a car provided by two-time Daytona 500 champion Sterling Marlin, who will also be in the lineup. Atwood is married and the father of two daughters, six and four. He spends his time “piddling around” and occasionally helping his father Terry with his electronics company. The last time he was in a race car was in 2009 when he helped set up Nationwide cars for some Cup double-dippers at now-closed Nashville Superspeedway.(RacinToday)(4-13-2012)
2011:
- Biffle signs contract extension: #16-Greg Biffle has agreed to a contract extension with Roush Fenway Racing. An official announcement of Biffle’s extension could come as early as this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway,
sources said. As recently as April 1, Biffle said he was “90 percent sure” he would re-sign with Roush and hoped to have a new deal completed by midseason. A team spokesperson on Wednesday said she could not confirm Biffle had agreed to an extension.(Charlotte Observer)(4-13-2011) - Vickers Unsure of 2012 Plans: With the health conditions seemingly behind him and Chase prospects, for now, looking dim, the most intriguing story surrounding Vickers and Red Bull Racing is whether they will remain together in 2012. “I haven’t made any decisions yet. I like Red Bull. I’ve enjoyed my time there as a Red Bull brand. I think I fit the brand and the brand fits me. There’s no doubt about that. It is a high energy, be yourself, love life, extreme athlete, extreme sport kind of brand. And they allow me to do the things that I love to do and that is great,” said Vickers in a phone interview with News/Talk WSB. “Most importantly, we’ve got to win races and I think that is what we both want. And hopefully we can both figure that out together and I can finish my career out at Red Bull. If we can’t, then there’s other options on the table and maybe we’ll look at those. For right now, I’m committed to Red Bull and to this season and that’s where my focus is as of right now.” A possible factor in Vickers’ decision may be who Red Bull Racing picks as his teammate next season. “Obviously, Kasey [Kahne] is going to be gone next season and we’re going to have to fill that car. It’s definitely going to be an interesting year for Red Bull Racing.”(WSB Atlanta)(4-13-2011)
2010:
- Kahne to Hendrick? [Stewart-Haas?] UPDATE: #9-Kasey Kahne, the hottest potential free agent in NASCAR entering the season, has signed a multiyear agreement to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2011, multiple sources close to negotiations confirmed to ESPN.com Tuesday. The details of the deal, such as which car Kahne will drive, are still being finalized, sources said. The prevailing thought is Kahne will occupy the #5 car currently driven by Mark Martin, sources said. Martin signed a contract extension last year through the 2011 season. There is room for Martin and Kahne in the Hendrick family. Stewart Haas Racing receives chassis, engines and technical support from HMS. So Kahne could be housed there until Martin’s contract was up, if necessary. In 2008 Dale Earnhardt Jr. signed a five-year deal with Hendrick. Jimmie Johnson last year signed an extension through 2015, and Jeff Gordon has a lifetime contract. Kahne is in the final year of his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, and plans to finish the season in the #9 Ford, sources said. It is unknown whether Kahne’s sponsor, Budweiser, will accompany him to HMS [which sponsored Hendrick’s #25 Chevy for years]. Hendrick Motorsports officials had no comment. Calls placed to Kahne, who turned 30 last weekend, and to his agent were not returned.(ESPN)
UPDATE: Richard Petty Motorsports announced that driver Kasey Kahne has informed the team he will not renew his contract at the conclusion of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Kahne, driver the #9 Budweiser Ford Fusion, has been with RPM since entering NASCAR’s premier series in 2004. “Kasey is a very talented driver and I have enjoyed watching him race. We all wish him nothing but the best and hope he succeeds in anything he chooses to do,” said team owner Richard Petty. “Drivers like Kasey Kahne are the very reason we got into this sport. Kasey has helped us get to where we are today,” George Gillett, owner of Richard Petty Motorsports said. “We wish him well in his future however we have the rest of this season to race together and we’re looking forward to a successful remainder of the year.”(RPM)(4-13-2010)
- Wheaties scheme for Bowyer at Indy: #33-Clint Bowyer is scheduled to run a Wheaties Fuel paint scheme at Indy in the Brickyard 400 on July 25th. General Mills [also makes Cheerios] launched Wheaties Fuel earlier this year, considered the next evolution of Wheaties. See an image of the scheme on my #33 Team Schemes page.(4-13-2010)
- Special scheme for Kenseth in two races: Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka is scheduled to be the primary aponaor for #17 Matt Kenseth in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July. See image of the scheme on my #17 Team Schemes page.(4-13-2010)
2005:
- 2nd Hendrick Car increases Busch Series schedule to 8 races, Busch to drive at Texas: Team Lowe’s Racing announced that several of its vendor partners on the #5 Busch Series car will also serve as the primary sponsor in four races this season on the Hendrick Motorsports #57 Busch car with drivers Kyle Busch and Boston
Reid. Spectracide, Shop Vac, Hitachi Power Tools and Sta Green are some of the vendor partners sponsoring the #5 Team Lowe’s Racing Chevrolet in the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series season. Each will rotate as the primary sponsor of the #57 in four Busch Series events beginning Saturday with Kyle Busch driving the Spectracide Fire Ant Killer Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway. Busch will also pilot the #57 on June 4 at Dover International Speedway and Oct. 14 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The #5 Lowe’s Chevrolet will continue with Blake Feese and Reid sharing a majority of the driving duties in 2005. Reid will drive the #57 when the Busch Series races in his home state of Indiana at Indianapolis Raceway Park in August. Brian Vickers will drive the #57 in four Busch Series races in 2005 with primary sponsorship from Ore-Ida. With the weather getting warmer, race fans will be spending a lot more time outside, working in and enjoying their yards. To help fans avoid the hassle of fire ants, the paint design for the #57 at Texas Motor Speedway will promote new Spectracide(r) Fire Ant Killer Once & Done.(Team Lowe’s Racing PR)(4-13-2005)
2004:
- Bodine Announcement this week? UPDATE 2: hearing Brett Bodine will be making some sort of an announcement this week concerning his NASCAR future.(4-12-2004)
UPDATE: Fox Sports Net’s Totally NASCAR show reports that Bodine will go to work for the NASCAR R^D Center in Concord, NC.
UPDATE 2: The newest member of NASCAR’s Research & Development team knows his sport well from behind the wheel. Now, he gets the opportunity to contribute behind the scenes. NASCAR president Mike Helton announced today that veteran driver Brett Bodine has joined NASCAR’s R&D staff as special project engineer. Bodine, who holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the State University of New York at Alfred, will tackle several assignments. One project with priority is the “Car of the Future,” where Bodine will work on cost-saving initiatives. Operating out of NASCAR’s Concord, N.C.-based R&D Center, Bodine will work with Gary Nelson, NASCAR’s managing director of research and development. A native of Chemung, N.Y., Bodine, 45, competed at NASCAR’s highest level for nearly 20 years. He has one win (1990 at North Wilkesboro) and five poles in 480 career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series starts. His career-high finish of 12th in the point standings also came in 1990. Bodine was a driver/owner from 1996-2003. He became an owner in 1996, buying the renowned #11 team from Junior Johnson prior to that season. His last on-track action came in June, 2003, when he qualified for the June 15 event at Michigan. Prior to 2003, Bodine had been a fulltime NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competitor for 15 consecutive seasons (1988-2003). During his career, he drove for some of NASCAR’s most successful owners, including Bud Moore (1988-89), Kenny Bernstein (1990-1994) and Junior Johnson (1995). Bodine’s first race in NASCAR’s premier series came in 1986 for owner Rick Hendrick (his only start that year). He drove 14 races for Hoss Ellington in 1987 before beginning his fulltime career in 1988. “We’re delighted to have Brett on board,” Helton said. “He’s been such a steadfast member of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series garage over the years, and he’s done it all – he’s built race cars, he’s worked on race cars and he’s driven race cars. He brings a new perspective that we’re glad to tap into.”
Bodine’s experience also extends back to the NASCAR Busch Series, where he was the series runner-up in 1986. Before that, he enjoyed success in northeastern modified circles, finishing second in the 1984 track championship at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway, and winning the 1985 Modified Race of Champions at Pocono Raceway. Overall, he has three career victories in the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series. In 1998, he was named one of the Top-50 Modified drivers of all time.(NASCAR PR)(4-13-2004)
2002:
- Shepherd still hopes to run Cup: Morgan Shepherd hasn’t totally shelved his Winston Cup dream, either. He has 481 Cup starts and four Cup wins under his belt, and his last Cup foray came in 1999, when he drove one race for Junie Donlavey. His last full-time season was a 23-race stint in 1997. His last Cup win came in 1993, in Atlanta. “Our plans were to be here at Martinsville,” Shepherd said of Sunday’s Virginia 500. “We had a guy who was supposed to help us with the engine up here and at the last minute he backed out. We’re ready to go Winston Cup racing. We’ve got the shop and facilities, but just don’t have the money to operate.” The fact a Cup engine costs approximately $40,000 doesn’t help. So Shepherd has cast his lot with NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck series, where he ran 16 races last season and finished 26th in the final points standings. His nine DNFs were a bit harder to swallow. Shepherd Racing was formed in 1998 with a $25-million-dollar sponsorship agreement to field a Cup team, but the insurance-company sponsor pulled out of the deal, leaving Shepherd on his own. Last year’s $3,000 donation from a fan group was his sole source of outside aid. “We’re still racing without money,” Shepherd said. “So there’s only so much we can do. Our goal is to build our Christian team that we set out to do, and do things to help change people’s lives. We’re just looking for a sponsor.”(CNN/SI, NASCAR.com)(4-13-2002)
- Big Cars in 2003? NASCAR is leaning toward OKing the new ‘big greenhouse’ model for the April 2003 race at Talladega and phasing in the new car, first at Talladega and Daytona, then at the intermediate tracks, and finally at the short tracks. Such a phase-in would keep car owners, who have nearly two dozen cars each, from taking such a big financial hit all at once. NASCAR is also testing what is being called ‘the two-by-four,’ a greenhouse that is two inches taller and four inches wider, to move the driver’s head away from the rollbars.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-13-2002)
Scott Riggs wins in his 7th start – ties record: #10-Scott Riggs led only once for the final 47 laps Saturday as he got his first BGN victory in just his seventh start on the circuit at the Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway, tying a record for the quickest victory by a rookie. Johnny Rumley also won in his seventh start, in 1993. #24-Jack Sprague took four tires in his final stop and finished second for a second consecutive week. He was followed by #25-Bobby Hamilton Jr. who came from a lap down for his best-ever BGN finish, #23-Scott Wimmer and #57-Jason Keller as Fords filled three of the top five positions. Sprague took over the points lead. See ThatsRacin.com for Saturday’s Grand National race results.(4-13-2002)
2001:
- Herzog in Cup: Herzog Motorsports, operated by Bill Herzog and sons Randy and Stan, has progressed from winning off-road championships in California and Nevada deserts and Colorado mountain trails to contending for a Busch Grand National victory. Their Busch driver, Jimmie Johnson, has four top-10 finishes and ranks fifth in the points standings going into Saturday’s Pepsi 300(at Nashville). The Herzogs plan to run a two-car Busch team and five to eight Winston Cup races in 2002 and field a full Winston Cup effort in 2003. The Herzogs’ future Busch and Winston Cup plans hit a speed bump this week when they released Toby Porter because of personal differences. Porter had posted third- and 10th-place finishes in three American Speed Association races. Billy Parker filled in for Porter during last week’s ASA race in South Boston and finished seventh. Porter’s departure comes at a critical time because Johnson’s association with the team ends after this season. Under the terms of his contract with Herzog, which expires at the end of 2001, Johnson was allowed to negotiate a new deal with Rick Hendrick, who signed him to a multiyear deal to become Jeff Gordon’s teammate, beginning in 2002(an run some Cup races in 2001 in the #48 Chevy). The Herzogs had planned to move Porter into Johnson’s ride next year, so now they’ll be trying out some drivers during the next few months. For their crew chief, the Herzogs this year hired respected Tony Liberati, who had experience with Winston Cup teams owned by Jack Roush and Hendrick(Kansas City Star)(4-13-2001)
1998:
- Brian France has been promoted to senior vice president for NASCAR. The son of NASCAR president Bill France Jr. previously served as the vice president of marketing and communications since 1993. He will continue to oversee all aspects of marketing, licensing, communications, special projects and business development.(SpeedNet)(4-13-98)
Click a link below for a full listing of news from each year:
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