A visit to Lowe's Motor Speedway...
A visit to Lowe's Motor Speedway in October included an appearance on Speed Channel. Photo courtesy of NASCAR
Founded
The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series was founded in 1982 and celebrated its 25th season in 2006. The series was originally known as the NASCAR Winston Racing Series and included 43 racetracks in its inaugural season. R.J. Reynolds' Winston brand ended its 17-year sponsorship in 1999. Dodge became a presenting sponsor in 2002 and title sponsor the following year.
Today
The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series features 61 tracks, including dirt and asphalt racetracks, in the United States and Canada. Events are held at each track, each week, primarily on Friday or Saturday nights. Other race nights include Sunday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
First National Champion
Tom Hearst, Muscatine, Iowa
2005 National Champion
Peyton Sellers, Danville, Virginia
Most National Championships
Five-Larry Phillips (1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, and 1996)
Largest Point Fund Award
$213,500, won by '03 national champion Mark McFarland, of Winchester, Virginia
Show Me The Money
NASCAR, Dodge, and other sponsors will award nearly $1.7 million in postseason prize money to NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series competitors in 2006. Since the series was founded in 1982, more than $19.7 million in point fund and postseason prize money has been awarded to NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series competitors.
Biggest Racetrack
Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, Washington (0.646 mile)
Smallest Racetrack
Nine tracks in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series are 1/4 mile in length. They are: Bowman Gray Stadium, Edmonton International Raceway, Monadnock Speedway, Peoria Speedway, Raceway Park, Riverhead Raceway, Star Speedway, Stockton 99 Speedway, and Watsonville Speedway.
Oldest Track
Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Greenville, South Carolina (opened July 4, 1946)
Newest Track
Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania (opened June 15, 2001)
National Champions (1982-2004)
1982 - Tom Hearst, Muscatine, IA
1983 - Mike Alexander, Franklin, TN
1984 - David Into, Hardeeville, SC
1985 - Doug McCoun, Prunedale, CA
1986 - Joe Kosiski, Omaha, NE
1987 - Roger Dolan, Lisbon, IA
1988 - Robert Powell, Moncks Corner, SC
1989 - Larry Phillips, Springfield, MO
1990 - Max Prestwood Jr., Lenoir, NC
1991 - Larry Phillips, Springfield, MO
1992 - Larry Phillips, Springfield, MO
1993 - Barry Beggarly, Pelham, NC
1994 - David Rogers, Orlando, FL
1995 - Larry Phillips, Springfield, MO
1996 - Larry Phillips, Springfield, MO
1997 - Dexter Canipe, Claremont, NC
1998 - Ed Kosiski, Omaha, NE
1999 - Jeff Leka, Buffalo, IL
2000 - Gary Webb, Blue Grass, IA
2001 - Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT
2002 - Peter Daniels, Lebanon, NH
2003 - Mark McFarland, Winchester, VA
2004 - Greg Pursley, Santa Clarita, CA
2005 - Peyton Sellers, Danville, VA
Youngest Champion
Peyton Sellers was 21 when he won the title in 2005.
Oldest Champion
Larry Phillips, who passed away in 2004, was 54 years old when he won his fifth national title in 1996.