http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/players/kirk_shelmerdine/25359 Recent articles about Kirk Shelmerdine en-us DAYTONA BEACH, FL (February 18, 1990) – The huge hand of fate swatted Dale Earnhardt out of the lead in the 499th mile of the Daytona 500 and dropped stock car racing’s biggest prize into the lap of unheralded Derrike Cope. Earnhardt had dominated the 32nd annual running of NASCAR’s premier event, leading 155 of the 200 laps around Daytona International Speedway. The Kannapolis, N.C. driver appeared to be well on his way to winning his first Daytona 500 when the right rear tire blew as he sped into the third turn. Earnhardt’s RCR Enterprises Chevrolet wobbled into the upper groove as Cope, Terry Labonte, bill Elliott, and Ricky Rudd hustled past. Cope, making his third Daytona 500 start, held off Labonte’s Oldsmobile by two car lengths to score his first Winston Cup triumph. Elliott was a close third with Rudd fourth. Earnhardt miraculously managed to keep his errant car out of the wall and limped home fifth. “I ran over something in the second turn,” lamented Earnhardt, who has won... Sun, 20 Jan 2013 12:20:56 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/cope_snares_daytona_500_in_final_lap_dale_suffers_hardt_breaker/12707827 http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/cope_snares_daytona_500_in_final_lap_dale_suffers_hardt_breaker/12707827 Cope Snares Daytona 500 in Final Lap; Dale Suffers ‘Hardt-breaker’ http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/articles/cope_snares_daytona_500_in_final_lap_dale_suffers_hardt_breaker/12707827 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/2/32292abf4e4117886ab0c8dba12fae1fd7f26143/mini/PicImg_NASCAR_FEB_27_b885.jpg Thinking back to where Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was at this time two years ago, it’s quite amazing what the driver from Mississippi has accomplished. By now, the story of him being benched by car owner Jack Roush midway through the 2010 season is well known. Yet, it still seems quite remarkable that he was able to turn a situation like that into a positive. Just last season, Stenhouse Jr. put together a consistent season to wrap up his first Nationwide Series championship before season ending race reached its halfway point. That rightfully made Stenhouse Jr. the favorite for the 2012 crown, competing with arguably on of the most competitive fields in the recent history of the Nationwide Series. But the first half of the season didn’t get off to the start Stenhouse Jr. would have hoped for. He was able to win three early races at Las Vegas, Texas and Iowa, but mechanical failures left him trailing Elliott Sadler, the very driver he raced for the title in 2011, in the series point standing... Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:59:19 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/championship_of_lasts_for_stenhouse_jr/12249766 http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/championship_of_lasts_for_stenhouse_jr/12249766 Championship of lasts for Stenhouse Jr. http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/articles/championship_of_lasts_for_stenhouse_jr/12249766 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png When Paul Wolfe decided to give NASCAR a try, he made sure he had a backup plan. ''I became a certified welder,'' Wolfe said. ''I never really thought driving would ever provide me a chance. The opportunity to work on cars was more realistic. I wasn't really thinking about driving when I got into it.'' It's good to be a realist. Since moving from baseball country in upstate New York - Wolfe grew up in Milford, a stone's throw from Cooperstown - to North Carolina in 1996 to give stock car racing a try, Wolfe has put in long hours working for Joe Gibbs, Tommy Baldwin, and Ray Evernham, among others, gaining valuable hands-on experience. Now, he's crew chief of the No. 2 Dodge driven by Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing in the Sprint Cup series, and a force in the NASCAR garage. ''I tried to learn from everybody,'' said Wolfe, who did drive in the Camping World East and Nationwide Series from 2000-05, notching eight top fives but no wins before Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:55:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/keselowski_wolfe_hitting_their_stride/11481730 http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/keselowski_wolfe_hitting_their_stride/11481730 Keselowski, Wolfe hitting their stride http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/articles/keselowski_wolfe_hitting_their_stride/11481730 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/7/77af538b1a0d9d63aa491a37ef24ba8cf454f25e/mini/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f99601888.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921A343B2C87A49D8F5303E9046849C8A4BD91438E858663A4C2FF9023BE3CF76B5.jpg (Eds: With AP Photos.) By JOHN KEKIS AP Sports Writer When Paul Wolfe decided to give NASCAR a try, he made sure he had a backup plan. ''I became a certified welder,'' Wolfe said. ''I never really thought driving would ever provide me a chance. The opportunity to work on cars was more realistic. I wasn't really thinking about driving when I got into it.'' It's good to be a realist. Since moving from baseball country in upstate New York - Wolfe grew up in Milford, a stone's throw from Cooperstown - to North Carolina in 1996 to give stock car racing a try, Wolfe has put in long hours working for Joe Gibbs, Tommy Baldwin, and Ray Evernham, among others, gaining valuable hands-on experience. Now, he's crew chief of the No. 2 Dodge driven by Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing in the Sprint Cup series, and a force in the NASCAR garage. ''I tried to learn from everybody,'' said Wolfe, who did drive in the Camping World East and Nationwide Series fro Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:23:52 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/dynamic_duo_keselowski_and_crew_chief_wolfe/11466721 http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/dynamic_duo_keselowski_and_crew_chief_wolfe/11466721 Dynamic duo: Keselowski and crew chief Wolfe http://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/articles/dynamic_duo_keselowski_and_crew_chief_wolfe/11466721 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/e/1e6ffc5ba311119aeb20d5d7615856c5736624bf/mini/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f101256040.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921A343B2C87A49D8F590EC015D9C278DB0A621DB826758F58276DDAD12616977F2.jpg