Bill Lester News

Checkers/Rally’s Joins Drive For Diversity Program:

Checkers/Rally’s Joins Drive For Diversity Program:

April 15, 2006
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. announced that the Company will have an active role in the 2006 Drive for Diversity program with Checkers supporting Brianne Cronrath as a primary sponsor in nine NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series races. Cronrath, a 21-year-old dean's list

Lester has new son:

Lester has new son:

March 29, 2006
Truck series regular Bill Lester, and fresh off his first Nextel Cup start, added more excitement to his life with the birth of his second son, Austin Richard Lester, on Tuesday. Lester and family are all doing well. (Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-29-2006)

Lester Welcomes a New Son:

Lester Welcomes a New Son:

March 29, 2006
Barely a week after the excitement of racing in his first Nextel Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bill Lester and his wife Cheryl had another major event to celebrate ... the birth of their second son, Austin Richard Lester, who arrived on the starting grid at 1

BDRs Lester to qualify for Cup race:

BDRs Lester to qualify for Cup race:

March 20, 2006
Bill Lester will pilot the #23 Nextel Cup entry for Bill Davis Racing at Atlanta. He'll be the first black driver to attempt to qualify for a Cup Series race in 20 years. Before this week, the last black to start a Cup event was Willy T. Ribbs at Michigan on June 15

Kahne wins at Atlanta:

Kahne wins at Atlanta:

March 20, 2006
#9-Kasey Kahne won the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Las Vegas Motor Speedway, dominating the final 80 laps for his 2nd win of his career [other was Richmond last May] and 1st of the year. It is the first Dodge to win at Atlanta since Richard Petty won there in March

Lester easily makes the race at Atlanta:

Lester easily makes the race at Atlanta:

March 18, 2006
Bill Lester became the first African-American driver to qualify for a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race in 20 years, while Kasey Kahne took the pole for Sunday’s Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Lester’s #23 Waste Management Dodge was the fastest among the

BDR/Lester plan full 2007 season:

BDR/Lester plan full 2007 season:

March 17, 2006
Bill Lester’s #23 Waste Management Team is scheduled to compete at Atlanta Motor Speedway, at Michigan Speedway in June and at California Speedway in September. More races are expected to be added to the 2006 schedule as additional sponsorship and Lester’s commitments

Kahne wins pole at Atlanta:

Kahne wins pole at Atlanta:

March 17, 2006
#9-Kasey Kahne won the Budweiser Pole for the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a lap of 192.553mph for his first pole of 2006 and 7th of his career. #12-Ryan Newman just missed the pole by .002 seconds/.013mph, and missed his 7th straight pole at Atlanta

Lester gets assoc sponsor for 3 races:

Lester gets assoc sponsor for 3 races:

March 17, 2006
Valvoline, with its 110-year history of firsts in motorsports, is seeking a new first – a historic partnership in NASCAR Nextel Cup competition with driver Bill Lester. Valvoline will be an associate sponsor on Lester’s #23 Dodge Charger for three races – Atlanta (

Stock Car Fans – Ramblings – Atlanta:

Stock Car Fans – Ramblings – Atlanta:

March 17, 2006
Well, whatcha know! Somebody other than #12-Ryan Newman can take a Bud Pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway. #9-Kasey Kahne grabbed the top-spot tonight at AMS for Sunday's Golden Corral 500 by all of .002 over the aforementioned Mr. Newman for his first pole since Richmond

Lester to make Cup debut at Atlanta UPDATE 2:

Lester to make Cup debut at Atlanta UPDATE 2:

March 15, 2006
Bill Lester is expected to announce at a Tuesday news conference that he'll attempt to make the Cup race next weekend at Atlanta in a Bill Davis Racing car [#23?]. If Lester makes the race, he would become the first African-American to compete in a Cup race since Willy

Truck Series News & Notes:

Truck Series News & Notes:

March 6, 2006
John Deere 200 marks series' 100th race with at least one female starter. Terry Cook to become second series driver to log 200 consecutive starts Veteran Kelly Sutton (# 02 Team Copaxone Chevrolet) and Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender Erin Crocker (# 98 Cheerios

Final Thursday Practice:

Final Thursday Practice:

February 23, 2006
for the RaceTickets.com 200; Top five were: #22-Bill Lester 177.331 #20-Jon Wood 177.091 #60-Jack Sprague 176.965 #6-Mark Martin 176.298 #47-Kraig Kinser (1st Rookie) #1st Dodge, #18 Bobby Hamilton(19th) Slowest; #07-Eric Norris 168.784 Chad Chaffin brushed the wall

GM Flex Fuel 250 Qualifying is over:

GM Flex Fuel 250 Qualifying is over:

February 16, 2006
Top five were: #6-Mark Martin 178.628 (16th driver to win a pole in all three series) #22-Bill Lester 178.017 #21-Stacy Compton 177.715 #20-Jon Wood 177.480 #5-Mike Skinner 177.473 Starting 11th: #47-Kraig Kinser (first Chevrolet) 176.291 Starting 16th: #59-Mike Wallace

Lester gets a sponsor for 3 races:

Lester gets a sponsor for 3 races:

February 15, 2006
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants announced that it will sponsor Bill Davis Racing's Driver Bill Lester for a second year at select races including the GM Flex Fuel 250 Truck Series race at Daytona on Friday. Lester's #22 Toyota will feature a Checkers Loaded Fries primary