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Andretti, Busch, Gordon And Schrader To Be Honored At Union 76-Darlington Record Club Dinner
DARLINGTON, SC (August 28, 2002)
The annual Southern 500 weekend at Darlington Raceway is more than just another stop on NASCAR's Winston Cup schedule. While the Southern 500 is the main attraction for drivers and fans alike, the Union 76-Darlington Record Club dinner on Friday is an added attraction for those drivers fortunate enough to have sped their way into the club.
For more than 40 years, the annual dinner has represented a time for former and current drivers to gather and share stories about the "Lady In Black" while inducting new members into the Club. Established in 1960, the Union 76-Darlington Record Club rewards the highest qualifying driver for each manufacturer, with a special award to those setting a new track record. Drivers let their achievements on the track do the talking, as membership into the club must be earned.
This year's class contains three past Club presidents and one new inductee. Dodge makes its return to the Club for the first time since 1968, with John Andretti being honored for the second time. Andretti, a recipient of the white blazer in 1995, is also a former president of the Club.
"I have made it into the club in two different makes now (Ford and Dodge) and that's special," Andretti said. "It's pretty interesting to see the people that have been in the club or even the ones that haven't been in it. For a long time, Jeff Gordon wasn't even a member of the Record Club."
Also being honored once again is Ken Schrader for the Pontiac brand. Schrader was first inducted to the Club in 1989 and has served as the club's president on two separate occasions.
"I remember going to the dinner as a rookie and there was Elmo (Langley) -- who had been in the club forever -- standing there in his white jacket and I remember thinking to myself, 'Wow, this is a really big deal,' " Schrader said. "I got two poles in the spring and kept thinking I was going to be in the Club until I realized you had to be the quickest in the fall.
"It is a really neat program and I've been president twice, including just recently in 2000," Schrader said. "There are veteran guys in the Club that only come to one race a year, and they come to Darlington just for this dinner."
Defending Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon is a part of the 2001 class as well. Gordon, also a past president, will be honored for the second time in a Chevrolet. Despite winning the Southern 500 on four separate occasions, he is the only member of this year's class not to win a pole for the fall race at Darlington.
"Darlington is a track where we've had a lot of success," said Gordon. "You have to respect the track and race the track, not just the competitors.
"I think qualifying well is a key ingredient to success at Darlington. It's a lot harder to race to the front because it's a tough place to pass if you start deep in the field. Qualifying has become much tougher because the young guys are brave and they are driving much deeper into the corners hoping the car will stick."
Roush Racing's Kurt Busch rounds out the class for 2001 driving a Ford and is the only first-time inductee into the Club. Busch earned his membership into the Union 76-Darlington Record Club by capturing the pole in his Southern 500 debut last season.
"Being inducted into the Union 76-Darlington Record Club is an incredible honor," Busch said. "Capturing the pole last year at the Southern 500 was a true highlight in my 2001 rookie Winston Cup season and receiving this accolade makes it even more special."
Race weekend at Darlington includes Bud Pole Qualifying for both the NASCAR Busch and Winston Cup Series on Friday, August 30, followed by the South Carolina 200 NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday, August 31. Scheduled start time is 1 p.m.
Sunday, September will feature the 53rd running of the historic Mountain Dew Southern 500. Ward Burton is the defending champion of that event. The green flag is scheduled to fall at 1 p.m.
DARLINGTON, SC (August 28, 2002)
The annual Southern 500 weekend at Darlington Raceway is more than just another stop on NASCAR's Winston Cup schedule. While the Southern 500 is the main attraction for drivers and fans alike, the Union 76-Darlington Record Club dinner on Friday is an added attraction for those drivers fortunate enough to have sped their way into the club.
For more than 40 years, the annual dinner has represented a time for former and current drivers to gather and share stories about the "Lady In Black" while inducting new members into the Club. Established in 1960, the Union 76-Darlington Record Club rewards the highest qualifying driver for each manufacturer, with a special award to those setting a new track record. Drivers let their achievements on the track do the talking, as membership into the club must be earned.
This year's class contains three past Club presidents and one new inductee. Dodge makes its return to the Club for the first time since 1968, with John Andretti being honored for the second time. Andretti, a recipient of the white blazer in 1995, is also a former president of the Club.
"I have made it into the club in two different makes now (Ford and Dodge) and that's special," Andretti said. "It's pretty interesting to see the people that have been in the club or even the ones that haven't been in it. For a long time, Jeff Gordon wasn't even a member of the Record Club."
Also being honored once again is Ken Schrader for the Pontiac brand. Schrader was first inducted to the Club in 1989 and has served as the club's president on two separate occasions.
"I remember going to the dinner as a rookie and there was Elmo (Langley) -- who had been in the club forever -- standing there in his white jacket and I remember thinking to myself, 'Wow, this is a really big deal,' " Schrader said. "I got two poles in the spring and kept thinking I was going to be in the Club until I realized you had to be the quickest in the fall.
"It is a really neat program and I've been president twice, including just recently in 2000," Schrader said. "There are veteran guys in the Club that only come to one race a year, and they come to Darlington just for this dinner."
Defending Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon is a part of the 2001 class as well. Gordon, also a past president, will be honored for the second time in a Chevrolet. Despite winning the Southern 500 on four separate occasions, he is the only member of this year's class not to win a pole for the fall race at Darlington.
"Darlington is a track where we've had a lot of success," said Gordon. "You have to respect the track and race the track, not just the competitors.
"I think qualifying well is a key ingredient to success at Darlington. It's a lot harder to race to the front because it's a tough place to pass if you start deep in the field. Qualifying has become much tougher because the young guys are brave and they are driving much deeper into the corners hoping the car will stick."
Roush Racing's Kurt Busch rounds out the class for 2001 driving a Ford and is the only first-time inductee into the Club. Busch earned his membership into the Union 76-Darlington Record Club by capturing the pole in his Southern 500 debut last season.
"Being inducted into the Union 76-Darlington Record Club is an incredible honor," Busch said. "Capturing the pole last year at the Southern 500 was a true highlight in my 2001 rookie Winston Cup season and receiving this accolade makes it even more special."
Race weekend at Darlington includes Bud Pole Qualifying for both the NASCAR Busch and Winston Cup Series on Friday, August 30, followed by the South Carolina 200 NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday, August 31. Scheduled start time is 1 p.m.
Sunday, September will feature the 53rd running of the historic Mountain Dew Southern 500. Ward Burton is the defending champion of that event. The green flag is scheduled to fall at 1 p.m.
