Golf and tennis may have seniors’ events; in NASCAR-land it’s not so much.
Aside from investing in cars worth tens of thousands of dollars you have consider the age and reflexes of drivers. Then there’s Bristol Motor Speedway.
On March 20, a bunch of retired NASCAR professionals will try to prove they’re still competitive in a 35-lap sprint around the one-half mile high banked oval in Tennessee.
Dave Marcis, a veteran of 883 Cup Series races, and Tommy Houston, a mainstay of the NASCAR Nationwide Series , will make their debuts in the exciting event which was a huge fan favorite a year ago.
At 68-years old Marcis will be one of the oldest drivers.
Marcis, a five-time Cup Series winner, said “I hope to be competitive and want to win the race,” he said. “We all want to say that though. As long as we are in a good car, I think I’m capable of doing the rest.
Asked if he’ll bearing his trademarked winged-tip shoes Marcis replies “I’ll be wearing them,” he said proudly. “I wore a pair when I ran my last cup race in Daytona in February 2002 and I’ll have a pair on in Bristol.”
Houston is a legend in the Nationwide Series previously known as Late Model Sportsman and the Busch Series. He earned 24 victories and led the division in starts with 417 until Jason Keller broke the record in 2007.
“I know I can do it,” said the 64-year-old. “We quit racing in ’96 because we couldn’t afford it. No one is going to give a guy my age sponsorship. It was hard to do. But I’m looking forward to this deal. I think I can still get the job done with the right kind of equipment.”
Sprint Cup Champ Cale Yarborough, Charlie Glotzbach, Jack Ingram and L.D. Ottinger were announced in August as the first 2010 Scotts EZ Seed Showdown competitors.
The final four drivers will be announced at a later date. Phil Parsons, the broadcaster and brother of the late Benny Parsons and Jimmy Hensley have also accepted invitations to race.
photo: NASCAR
Aside from investing in cars worth tens of thousands of dollars you have consider the age and reflexes of drivers. Then there’s Bristol Motor Speedway.
On March 20, a bunch of retired NASCAR professionals will try to prove they’re still competitive in a 35-lap sprint around the one-half mile high banked oval in Tennessee.
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Dave Marcis, a veteran of 883 Cup Series races, and Tommy Houston, a mainstay of the NASCAR Nationwide Series , will make their debuts in the exciting event which was a huge fan favorite a year ago.
At 68-years old Marcis will be one of the oldest drivers.
Marcis, a five-time Cup Series winner, said “I hope to be competitive and want to win the race,” he said. “We all want to say that though. As long as we are in a good car, I think I’m capable of doing the rest.
Asked if he’ll bearing his trademarked winged-tip shoes Marcis replies “I’ll be wearing them,” he said proudly. “I wore a pair when I ran my last cup race in Daytona in February 2002 and I’ll have a pair on in Bristol.”
Houston is a legend in the Nationwide Series previously known as Late Model Sportsman and the Busch Series. He earned 24 victories and led the division in starts with 417 until Jason Keller broke the record in 2007.
“I know I can do it,” said the 64-year-old. “We quit racing in ’96 because we couldn’t afford it. No one is going to give a guy my age sponsorship. It was hard to do. But I’m looking forward to this deal. I think I can still get the job done with the right kind of equipment.”
Sprint Cup Champ Cale Yarborough, Charlie Glotzbach, Jack Ingram and L.D. Ottinger were announced in August as the first 2010 Scotts EZ Seed Showdown competitors.
The final four drivers will be announced at a later date. Phil Parsons, the broadcaster and brother of the late Benny Parsons and Jimmy Hensley have also accepted invitations to race.
photo: NASCAR