Former speedway exec Humpy Wheeler to be honored

   The North Carolina Motorsports Association will honor legendary racing promoter H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler with its Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award at the seventh annual North Carolina Motorsports Industry Awards Ceremony presented by Fifth Third Bank. The ceremony will take place Jan. 28 at the Embassy Suites Concord.

   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 and O. Bruton Smith. In addition, NCMA presents industry awards to various North Carolina entities that have positively affected the motorsports community within the state.

   Often referred to as the P.T. Barnum of motorsports, Wheeler is best known for serving as president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway for 33 years, ending in 2008. During his tenure at CMS, his extravagant pre-race ceremonies and dedication to the fan experience were second to none.

   Under his leadership, the speedway became the first modern superspeedway to host night racing with the NASCAR All-Star race while making the Coca-Cola 600 one of NASCAR's premier events. He also served as president of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the parent company of CMS. SMI became the first publicly traded motorsports company when it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1995.

Jimmie Johnson Foundation awards grants to four Charlotte area schools

   Nearly $600,000 in grants - including four grants to schools in the Charlotte area - were awarded on Tuesday as part of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation's Champions Grant program. The foundation awards the grants to schools in Chandra and Jimmie Johnson’s respective hometowns of Muskogee, Okla., and El Cajon, Calif., and where they currently reside in Charlotte. This brings the contributions of the Champions Grant program to more than $2.6 million.   

   “Chandra and I are excited by the opportunity to impact thousands of children each year through the Champions Grant program,” said Jimmie Johnson, co-founder of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. “It was amazing to see how the schools had such different needs, and they were all compelling. We are very proud to partner with our friends at Lowe’s to play a part in assisting K-12 public education through this program.” 

   Funded projects ranged from a digital fabrication lab to fitness labs to a complete performing arts stage restoration. Several schools also received technology grants to purchase new computers.

    The 2012 Champions Grants were awarded to the following schools:

    California
    -Construction Tech Academy (San Diego, Calif.)
    -Flying Hills Elementary School (El Cajon, Calif.)
    -Santana High School (Santee, Calif.)

    North Carolina
    -A.T. Allen Elementary School (Concord)
    -Billingsville Elementary School (Charlotte)
    -KIPP: Charlotte (Charlotte)
    -Piedmont I.B. Middle School (Charlotte)

    Oklahoma
    -Alice Robertson Junior High (Muskogee, Okla.)
    -Creek Elementary School (Muskogee, Okla.)
    -Irving Elementary School and Pershing Elementary School (Muskogee, Okla.)

Nothing is gained by Tony Stewart doing the double

   Tony Stewart has unsuccessfully attempted the Coca-Cola 600-Indy 500 double twice and has run the 500 five times total in his career. His last venture into a competitive IndyCar race was 2001.

    Yet Roger Penske's sort of serious offer to field an entry for him in 2013 has sparked much interest. Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials would love to see Stewart in the race and even an ESPN executive has suggested the network would be willing to alter the race's planned start time to help.

    What, really, though is there for Stewart to gain? There is no physically possible way he can put in everything necessary - time and preparation - to run the 500 like the rest of IndyCar's regular competitors. The Indy 500 is the crown jewel of open-wheel racing and as such participants spend weeks at the track leading up to the race. The Coke 600 is one of 36 points-paying races in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series, meaning there are other races prior and immediately after that also require the same attention.

    Would Stewart have a shot at the one trophy that has eluded him? Perhaps. But at what cost? And what does his participation do for either IndyCar or NASCAR? He's already attempted this feat twice previously - so the newness factor is muted.

    For those who believe the attempt would help IndyCar, attention on the Indy 500 is not the series' biggest problem. It's getting eyes on the rest of the year that needs help. Stewart running the 500 does not add a single viewer for the season finale in Fontana, Calif.

    Nice offer from Penske. But when it comes to doing the double, Stewart should simply say, "Been there, done that."

Check out Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s 2013 NASCAR ride

Here's a look at the main paint scheme for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in 2013.

Erik Jones bests Kyle Busch to win Snowball Derby

   Erik Jones, a 16-year-old who spent the last two Snowball Derbys watching from the grandstands, won the prestigious late model race in part by besting NASCAR star Kyle Busch at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla.

   Earlier in the race, Busch wrecked leader T.J. Reaid and was penalized and sent to the rear of the field. He battled back to do battle with Jones before fading to third at the finish.

   Race Results
1.Erik Jones
2.Jeff Choquette
3.Kyle Busch
4.Jeff Fultz
5.Chase Elliott
6.Grant Enfinger
7.Kyle Benjamin
8.David Ragan
9.Chris Davidson
10.John Hunter Nemechek
11.Ross Kenseth
12.Dwayne Buggay
13.D.J. Vanderley
14.Johanna Long
15.Donnie Wilson
16.Hunter Robbins
17.Chuck Barnes Jr
18.Clay Alexander
19.Kyle Jones
20.Austin Theriault
21.Casey Smith
22.Steven Wallace
23.David Rogers
24.Ben Kennedy
25.Brad Rogers
26.T.J. Reaid
27.Bubba Pollard
28.Nelson Piquet Jr
29.Daniel Hemric
30.Logan Boyett
31.Mike Garvey
32.Stephen Nasse
33.Jeremy Pate
34.Brian Campbell
35.Paul Kelley
36.Augie Grill
37.Steve Dorer

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.