Celebrity deaths
Michael McDowell crosses the finish line ahead of Austin Dillon to win the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The Latest: Keselowski has no regrets about Daytona 500 end

By The Associated Press Feb. 14, 2021 02:28 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2001, file photo, Dale Earnhardt waves to fans during race introduction before the start of the Daytona 500 auto race at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt, the greatest stock car star of his era, was killed in a crash on the last turn of the last lap of the race that day as he tried to protect Michael Waltrip's victory (AP Photo/Russell Williams, File)
AP Was There: Earnhardt killed in 2001 Daytona 500 crash

By The Associated Press Feb. 11, 2021 04:31 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2006, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr., puts on his helmet and protective HANS device during preparations the day before the Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR mandated the use of head-and-neck restraints in late 2001. Drivers had resisted using the U-shaped neck restraint made of carbon fiber because they found it cumbersome and restrictive. They became required equipment after 25-year-old Blaise Alexander was killed in a crash at Charlotte Motor Speedway some eight months after Earnhardt's death.(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Lasting legacy: Earnhardt's death saved lives, forced change

By Jenna Fryer, Dan Gelston And Mark Long Feb. 11, 2021 04:06 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2016 file photo, Chadwick Boseman arrives at the Oscars in Los Angeles. Boseman, who played Black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown before finding fame as the regal Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe, has died of cancer. His representative says Boseman died Friday, Aug. 28, 2020 in Los Angeles after a four-year battle with colon cancer. He was 43. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)
Hamilton dedicates F1 pole position to Chadwick Boseman

By Jerome Pugmire Aug. 29, 2020 07:29 AM EDT

Kevin Harvick celebrates in the winners circle after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 27, 2020, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Column: NASCAR rolls on, through crisis and controversy

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 29, 2020 02:47 PM EDT

AP-Sportlight

The Associated Press Apr. 02, 2020 11:54 AM EDT
Spokane (AP) — April 4 1937 — Byron Nelson shoots a 283 to win the Masters by two strokes over Ralph Guldahl. 1938 —...

Ryan Newman (6) goes airborne after crashing into Corey LaJoie (32) during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Sunday's running of the race was postponed by rain. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Ryan Newman Daytona 500 crash shows racing never truly safe

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 18, 2020 06:49 PM EST

FILE - In this July 13, 2007, file photo, John Andretti smiles as he climbs from his car after qualifying for the NASCAR auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. Andretti, a member of one of racing's most families, has died following a battle with colon cancer, according to a Twitter post from Andretti Autosports on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2020. He was 56. (AP Photo/Warren Wimmer< File)
Versatile race-car driver John Andretti dies at 56

By Michael Marot Jan. 30, 2020 06:09 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2019, file photo, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., speaks during a luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington. Cummings died from complications of longtime health challenges, his office said in a statement on Oct. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2019

By Bernard Mcghee Dec. 23, 2019 10:13 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2009, file photo, former NASCAR driver and owner Junior Johnson smiles as he speaks to media about being named to the NASCAR Hall of Fame during a news conference at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Johnson, who won 50 NASCAR Cup Series races as a driver and 132 as an owner and was part of the inaugural class inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010, has died at 88. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan, File)
Junior Johnson, "The Last American Hero," dies at 88

Jenna Fryer Dec. 20, 2019 07:04 PM EST

Junior Johnson, the North Carolina moonshine runner who went on to a NASCAR Hall of Fame racing career, has died at 88

Dec. 20, 2019 06:51 PM EST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Junior Johnson, the North Carolina moonshine runner who went on to a NASCAR Hall of Fame racing career, has died at 88. ...

FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2019, file photo, Josef Newgarden waves before an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill. Newgarden can win his second IndyCar championship in three years in the season finale at historic Laguna Seca on Sunday. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Newgarden seeks 2nd title in 3 years in battle of Americans

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 19, 2019 04:32 PM EDT

FILE - This May 24, 2019 file photo shows BWT Arden's Anthoine Hubert. French driver Anthoine Hubert has died in a Formula Two accident at the Belgian Grand Prix following an estimated 160 mph (257 kph) collision on Lap 2 at the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps track, which earlier Saturday Aug. 31, 2019, saw qualifying for Sunday's Formula One race. (David Davies/PA via AP, File)
Motorsport in mourning after F2 driver Anthoine Hubert dies

By Jerome Pugmire Aug. 31, 2019 01:39 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 26, 2006, file photo, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., right, and his mother Brenda Jackson, front left, arrive for the premiere of the Disney/Pixar animated film "Cars" at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Jackson, a longtime employee at JR Motorsports, has died following a battle with cancer. She was 65. The team announced her death Monday, April 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s mother dies after battle with cancer

Apr. 22, 2019 03:17 PM EDT