5. Danica Knows How To Woo Sponsors When GoDaddy announced early in the 2015 season that it would not return as Danica Patrick’s primary sponsor in 2016, questions about the Stewart-Haas Racing driver’s future in NASCAR ratcheted up in a hurry. In the final year of a three-year contract with SHR and with no primary sponsor in place for beyond 2015, Patrick faced the real possibility of being out of a ride. But now with a new multi-year contract and three primary sponsors sharing the load, the Sprint Cup Series’ only female driver is secure not only for 2016 but for several…

By Aaron Burns Lady Luck shined on Chris Buescher in ways few NASCAR XFINITY drivers could image. Buescher didn’t overpower everyone as he drove to his first XFINITY championship. He was, however, remarkably consistent. Only twice in the 33-race season did Buescher finish outside the top 15 – and he never finished worse than 20th. After the season-ending Ford EcoBoost 400 on Nov. 22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Buescher was the last man standing and Roush Fenway Racing’s first champion since Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2012. The 23-year-old Texan won two races, both in May, and did enough to hold off Chase Elliott,…

By Ben White Since arriving in NASCAR’s premier series 23 years ago, four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon has made an indelible mark as one of the most notable drivers in the sport’s 65-year history. Here’s a look back at several key moments in the racing legend’s incredible career: After a very successful career in quarter-midgets, midgets and sprint cars, Gordon’s NASCAR career begins in what is now known as the XFINITY Series for team owner Hugh Connerty before winning races in that series for Bill Davis Racing in 1991 and 1992. Gordon joins Hendrick Motorsports and competes in his first Cup…