Check out Brad Keselowski's 2013 NASCAR ride

With Penske Racing's move to Ford next season, the ride of 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski will have a different look.

S.C. woman wins Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award

   During Friday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards at the Wynn Las Vegas, Lorri Shealy Unumb, creator of “Ryan’s Law”, was named the recipient of the second annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.

    As a mother of three, Unumb was deeply impacted when her oldest son, Ryan, was diagnosed with severe autism at a young age; she then learned that insurance would not cover the cost of treatment for children with autism. As a result, the 44-year-old drafted a bill – now known as “Ryan’s Law” that has been enacted in 31 other states – to require insurance companies to cover treatments for autism. Unumb also founded the Autism Academy of South Carolina, a non-profit organization that protects the interests of children with the disability and helps families affected by autism.

   The NASCAR Foundation’s donation of $100,000 will be used to create a scholarship fund to assist children who would otherwise not be able to attend the Autism Academy.

    Unumb, a 44-year-old native of Lexington, S.C., and former Miss Southern 500 Pageant winner, was chosen from a group of four finalists by a national fan vote on NASCAR.com. Through this award, The NASCAR Foundation honors passionate 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.

Tony Stewart's list of 2012 NASCAR award winners

   Winners of the sixth annual ‘Stewie Awards’ were announced Thursday night by three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart live on Sirius XM Radio and in front of a studio audience in Las Vegas.

   The ‘Stewie Award’ winners were decided by fans who voted for the best, boldest and funniest moments of the NASCAR season. 

   ‘The Stewies’ will be rebroadcast on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio several times over the coming weeks, including this Saturday, Dec. 1 (3 p.m. ET) and Sunday, Dec. 2 (7 p.m. ET).

   The 2012 winners of the 'Stewie Awards':

   Best Original Drama, For the year’s most dramatic moment or sequence -- The season-long “competitive drama” between Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson lasts to the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix (11/11), the penultimate race of the Chase, when Jimmie Johnson loses a tire and hits the wall with less than 80 laps to go. Johnson was running seventh at the time and was only 3 points behind Brad Keselowski in the standings but the accident and Johnson’s 32nd place finish put him 20 back heading into season finale.

    Bonehead Move of the Year Award -- During the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas (10/21) Danica Patrick, in an attempt to spin Landon Cassill as payback for what she felt was overly aggressive driving, ends up putting herself into the wall.

    “Feels Like The First Time” Award, For the most notable “first” of the NASCAR season --  Dale Earnhardt Jr. ends a 144 race winless streak by taking the checkered flag at Michigan (6/17).

    Best Vocal Performance, For the year’s most memorable quote -- After the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega (5/6), Tony Stewart meets with the media and shares his thoughts on the wrecks during the race. Audio here: www.siriusxm.com/stewieawards

    Best “Driver2Crew Chatter” -- Carl Edwards plays an April Fool’s joke on then crew chief Bob Osborne during the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville (4/1).   Audio here: www.siriusxm.com/stewieawards

    Best Original Comedy, For the year’s most entertaining “incident” -- After the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (5/27) when no moderator shows for Matt Kenseth’s media availability, Kenseth takes it upon himself to host the proceedings.

    Hal Needham Award (Best Stunt Sequence), For the year’s most remarkable crash -- On lap 161 of the Daytona 500 (2/27), Juan Pablo Montoya loses control and hits a jet dryer in Turn 3. The fiery crash ignites a fuel spill that burns the track, causing a two hour race delay.

    ‘Boys, Have At It” Award -- Jeff Gordon vs. Clint Bowyer in the final laps of the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix (11/11).

    The Social Stewie Award, For the year’s best tweet -- @MattKenseth: “Talked to #DaleJr yesterday, told him I was glad he was coming back…being the most popular driver was really hard work. #imkidding” (10/23)

    Golden Stewie Award honoring a legendary figure from the Golden Era of racing -- Presented to journalist and broadcaster Dr. Dick Berggren.

    “Stewie” Lifetime Achievement Award -- Presented to longtime broadcaster Bob Jenkins.

Check out the 2013 NASCAR Chevrolet SS

Paul Wolfe earns crew chief of the year honors

   Coming off of a 2012 season that featured five wins, 13 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes and culminated with a Sprint Cup Series Championship, Paul Wolfe, crew chief for the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, has been named the Kimberly-Clark Professional Crew Chief of the Year.

    During the 10-race Chase for the Cup, Wolfe and driver Brad Keselowski notched exceptional results including eight top-10 finishes, a win in the opening race of the Chase and another two-weeks later at Dover.

    In the hunt for the top crew chief honor for 2012, Wolfe topped Chad Knaus, crew chief for the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet and Darian Grubb, crew chief for the No. 11 FedEx Toyota.

    "The No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge and Penske Racing team put in a lot of hard work and countless hours in pursuit of this achievement and I'd like to accept this award on behalf of the entire Penske Racing organization," Wolfe said.

2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule

2013 NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

Date Site

2/22 Daytona International Speedway

4/6 Martinsville Speedway

4/14 Rockingham Speedway

4/20 Kansas Speedway

5/17 Charlotte Motor Speedway

5/31 Dover International Speedway

6/7 Texas Motor Speedway

6/27 Kentucky Speedway

7/13 Iowa Speedway

7/24 Eldora Speedway

8/3 Pocono Raceway

8/17 Michigan International Speedway

8/21 Bristol Motor Speedway

9/1 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

9/8 Iowa Speedway

9/13 Chicagoland Speedway

9/28 Las Vegas Motor Speedway

10/19 Talladega Superspeedway

10/26 Martinsville Speedway

11/1 Texas Motor Speedway

11/8 Phoenix International Raceway

11/15 Homestead-Miami Speedway

Revving up for 2013 NASCAR season

   Tickets are now available for the 2013 NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, Feb. 8-10 in Charlotte which will celebrate NASCAR's past, present and future.

 

   Kicking off the weekend is the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2013 Induction Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 8 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Crown Ballroom. Legends Buck Baker, Cotton Owens, Herb Thomas, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood will encompass the fourth class enshrined in the sport’s Hall.

 

   Acceleration Weekend revs up Saturday, Feb. 9 at NASCAR Preview 2013 where fans get a behind-the-scenes pass into NASCAR with autograph and on-stage Q&A sessions at the Charlotte Convention Center with drivers from all three national series. The new 2013 Sprint Cup cars will be on display, along with interactive displays, giveaways and .

 

   Tickets start at $20 for the 2013 NASCAR Preview and includes same-day access to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Tickets to both events are on sale now at www.NASCARAcceleration.com.