Richard Petty
AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Nov. 11, 2020 10:00 AM EST
Nov. 12 1892 — William “Pudge” Heffelfinger becomes the first pro football player by getting $500 to play for the Allegheny Athletic...

Jimmie Johnson, center, stands with his family on pit road prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Johnson finishes 5th in final race of NASCAR career

By John Marshall Nov. 08, 2020 08:10 PM EST

Chase Elliott celebrates at the finish line after winning the season championship and a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Elliott drives from back of the field to first NASCAR title

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 08, 2020 03:36 PM EST

Jimmie Johnson drives past a banner on the wall at the entrance of turn three during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated more than $12 million to schools and programs since it launched. (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP)
Jimmie Johnson leaves indelible mark on and off race track

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 06, 2020 05:54 PM EST

FILE - Bubba Wallace walks away from his damaged car, next to a NASCAR Safety Team member, during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. Wallace has been named the Comcast Community Champion of the Year. The industry award honors NASCAR members for philanthropic efforts. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez, File)
Bubba Wallace, who urged Confederate flag ban, honored

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 06, 2020 11:05 AM EST

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Nov. 03, 2020 12:56 PM EST
Nov. 12 1892 — William “Pudge” Heffelfinger becomes the first pro football player by getting $500 to play for the Allegheny Athletic...

Chase Elliott (9) drives during final laps during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, Nov.1, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Luther Jr.)
Elliott races into NASCAR championship; Harvick eliminated

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 01, 2020 06:21 PM EST

Kyle Busch does doughnuts after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
AUTO RACING: Auto Racing Glance

By The Associated Press Oct. 28, 2020 01:42 PM EDT

Jimmie Johnson, left, speaks about joining the team of Chip Ganassi, right, for the IndyCar series at a press conference during the IndyCar race weekend Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Johnson jump-starts IndyCar move with online auto retailer

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 24, 2020 01:46 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2020, filer photo, Erik Jones waits to enter his car before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. Jones will drive NASCAR's iconic No. 43 next season for Richard Petty Motorsports, a pairing of a driver and a team both in need of fresh starts. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan

Oct. 21, 2020 11:57 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2020, file photo, Erik Jones celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Busch Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The pandemic only accelerated the inevitable: The driver market bubble, pushed to its limit with multi-million dollar salaries for nearly two decades, is about to burst. A major reset has arrived and team owners have all the power. They can pick and choose between drivers who bring sponsorship dollars (Bubba Wallace) or drivers who have won races (Erik Jones). (AP Photo/John Raoux, FIlre)
Jones lands iconic No. 43 with Richard Petty Motorsports

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 21, 2020 08:39 AM EDT

FILE - In this June 22, 2020, file photo, Driver Bubba Wallace is consoled by team owner Richard Petty prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. The Cup Series returns to Talladega on Sunday. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega

Oct. 03, 2020 02:59 PM EDT

Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, announces during a news conference, Wednesday, Spet. 30, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn., that the NASCAR Cup series auto race scheduled at the track for March 28, 2021 will be run on dirt. (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP)
NASCAR at long last adds schedule variety with 2021 changes

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 30, 2020 01:30 PM EDT

Alex Bowman, left, Chase Elliott, center, and Denny Hamlin listen to the national anthem before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Column: NASCAR's dizzying silly season will change landscape

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 21, 2020 09:34 PM EDT

FILE - Daniel Suarez talks to the media before practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Suarez, who landed his ride two weeks before the season-opening Daytona 500, will not return to Gaunt Brothers Racing next season. The team said Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, it was a mutual decision for the Mexican driver to leave the team. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Suarez on the move again after parting with Gaunt Brothers

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 15, 2020 10:25 AM EDT

Bubba Wallace (43) runs during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Wallace leaving Richard Petty Motorsports at season's end

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 10, 2020 01:42 PM EDT

FILE - Jimmy Johnson is at left in a 2019 file photo. Scott Dixon is at right in a 2020 file photo. Jimmie Johnson will transition from NASCAR to IndyCar with Chip Ganassi Racing in a partnership that could pair two of the most dominant drivers of this generation on one team. The seven-time NASCAR champion will work with the Ganassi organization to finalize sponsorship on a two-year program for Johnson to run the road and street course races on IndyCar's schedule. If funding is secured, Johnson would be teammates with five-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon. (AP Photo/File)
Jimmie Johnson teams with Ganassi on 2-year IndyCar program

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 09, 2020 10:45 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2019, file photo, Joey Logano is shown prior to the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. Logano was sitting in his motorhome watching television when a shell-shocked Erik Jones was interviewed about his firing from Joe Gibbs Racing. Logano knew exactly how Jones felt. Logano had been in that exact spot eight years earlier. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso, File)
Jones gets advice on life after Joe Gibbs Racing from Logano

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 27, 2020 01:55 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 12, 2020, file photo, Bubba Wallace takes part in an interview during NASCAR Daytona 500 auto racing media day at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Corporate interest in Bubba Wallace has picked up momentum and NASCAR’s only black full-time driver has signed a new sponsor that includes funding for his Richard Petty Motorports team. Columbia Sportswear signed a multiyear sponsorship with Wallace as a brand ambassador that will also put the company on the No. 43 at Dover later this month. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace adds another sponsorship deal

Aug. 14, 2020 12:22 PM EDT

Driver Bubba Wallace stands during the national anthem before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Bubba Wallace, Columbia Sportswear sign sponsorship deal

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 12, 2020 10:32 AM EDT