Start Your Engines! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Alan Jackson

NASCAR and country music have a close relationship. So do American motor vehicles. The video, set to Jackson's remake of "Who's Cheatin Who?", ties in all three, as Jackson had a sponsorship with Ford at the time. The five drivers in the video competed in Ford cars on the Winston Cup circuit at the time of the filming.

Answer: Midnight

His Miller Genuine Draft-sponsored machine was black and gold. Appropriately, Rusty chose the name "Midnight" for his short track ride, and she brought him much success.

Answer: Rodney Orr

Rodney was killed during a practice session for the 1994 Daytona 500. He was the reigning Goody's Dash Series champion, and is known for losing his life two days after popular veteran Neil Bonnett also died in practice at Daytona.
Grant Adcox's accident occurred at the 1989 Atlanta Journal 500.
JD McDuffie's fatal crash was during the 1992 Budweiser at the Glen. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed at the 2001 Daytona 500 as a result of a last lap crash.

Answer: Michael Waltrip

Ernie's full name is Virgil Ernest Irvan, and Neil's full name is Lawrence Neil Bonnett. Ward's full name is John Edward Burton III, and Michael's full name is Michael Curtis Waltrip.

Answer: Oldsmobile 88

The first two champions drove General Motors' Oldsmobile Rocket 88s. Later, the Oldsmobile Cutlass and Oldsmobile Delta 88 were featured in Cup races. Sadly, Oldsmobile was gradually phased out, and production ceased completely in 2004.

Answer: Curtis Turner

1956 saw the commencement of the annual "Most Popular Driver" award. Virginia native Curtis "Pops" Turner won that year. Sadly, he was killed in an airplance crash in Pennsylvania in 1970. This "Blond Blizzard of Virginia" was posthumously named one of NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers".
Roberts (1957), Weatherly (1961), and Isaac (1969) eventually were voted most popular as well.

Answer: First self-owned NASCAR champion

Born in Colorado but reared in the South, Red Byron won the NASCAR Modified title in its first year, 1948. The next year, the Strickly Stock series was formed, and he claimed that title as well. He retired from NASCAR in 1951 after only two stock car wins, but he is considered one of the founding fathers of NASCAR.

Herb Thomas was the first owner-driver to win the Strickly Stock Series.

Answer: Rob Moroso

Rob Moroso was killed in an alcohol-related traffic accident in North Carolina in 1990. He raced as a rookie in 1988 and finished second in the points, then won it all in 1989.

Answer: Mr. Excitement

North Carolina born Harry Phil Gant's chiseled good looks earned him the name "Handsome Harry." (Although he was called "The Bandit" because of his unusually long sponsor relationship with Skoal, not becase he stole hearts!) Harry won a total of six NASCAR races in September 1991 (all four Winston Cup races and two Busch Series races), hence the monikor "Mr. September."
"Mr. Excitement" refers to Jimmy Spencer.

Answer: Langhorne Speedway

Langhorne Speedway, located near Philadelphia, was the site of the September 11, 1949 "Strictly Stock" race. It was closed in 1971 and later demolished after 45 years and numerous unfortunate fatalities. Hamburg Speedway is in NY, and Heidelberg in western PA and Canfield in OH. All of these tracks saw early NASCAR action.