Deb Williams, Senior Writer
An award winning motorsports journalist, Deb Williams has covered auto racing for more than 30 years. She began her career covering weekly short-track races in Asheville, N.C., while a student at East Tennessee State University and continued after becoming the sports editor at the newspaper in Waynesville, N.C. Upon joining United Press International in Raleigh, N.C., as a general assignment reporter, she began covering NASCAR's top two series and continued to do so after being named UPI's Charlotte, N.C., bureau manager. After leaving UPI, she spent 18 years with the publication NASCAR Winston Cup Scene, serving as its editor for 10 years. Her numerous honors include the Henry T. McLemore Award, the Russ Catlin Award and the George Cunningham National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year award. She has received NMPA awards for columns, news, features and magazine stories. She has written three books. Her most recent, “The Evolution of NASCAR, A Historical Collection, was released in November 2010. Williams has taught the Evolution of Southern Motorsports at Appalachian State University, and has been interviewed for historical motorsports shows that have aired on ESPN and SPEED. She resides in Concord, N.C.
Articles by Deb Williams
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – “Interesting”, “challenging”, “intimidating” and “tricky” are just a few of the words used Wednesday by NASCAR drivers to describe Charlotte Motor Speedway’s road course that will be used next year for the Bank of America 500.
“(We’re) still trying to figure it all out,” said Martin Truex Jr., […]
Midway through the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship, Steve Torrence possesses a 42-point lead in Top Fuel, but the Texas native believes it’s the length of time his team has worked together that eventually will make the difference in the title battle.
“Some of those guys have been with me six years,” the 34-year-old Torrence said. […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – Four years ago Martin Truex Jr. didn’t know if he would ever have the opportunity to race competitively in NASCAR’s premier series again.
In 2013 Truex found himself without a sponsor and without a ride due to fallout from a team orders scandal at Michael Waltrip Racing. Following […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – NASCAR driver Erik Jones escaped injury Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway when the NBC track car hit aluminum steps that were on the speedway.
The aluminum steps were at the frontstretch gate located at the flagstand. They are used for those walking from the grandstand to the infield […]
CONCORD, N.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway he would be having more fun and he thought the fans would, too, if he was in the thick of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup championship battle.
“I think it’s a little bittersweet for me and the fans and our supporters with the […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s experience with concussions in the waning years of his career has led Charlotte Motor Speedway and Speedway Children’s Charities to create a concussion research fund in his name, it was announced Friday.
A $100,000 gift, the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concussion Research Fund at Carolinas Healthcare […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
In the 1960s, a Mars Hill College professor saw Robert Yates working on a farmer’s tractor one Sunday afternoon instead of in his dorm room studying. The professor told Yates he would never amount to anything because of his actions.
Time-and-time again Yates proved that professor wrong, establishing a NASCAR […]
CONCORD, N.C. – Numerous upsets Sunday in the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway created a dramatic change in the Mello Yello Drag Racing point standings after just the first of six rounds in the Countdown to the Championship.
Heading into the Countdown, the standings leaders were: Steve Torrence, Top Fuel; Ron Capps, Funny Car; […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – Wind tunnels have been used for decades to perfect the aerodynamics of race cars, but NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle competitor Andrew Hines noted that in his class his body provides the aero package.
“We’re going down the track and we’re trying to do everything we can to stay […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – Three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Antron Brown is known for his lightning fast performances at the dragstrip, but this year the track has actually been the place where he could slow his lifestyle and relax.
“It’s been crazy. I never appreciated my bed so much when I go […]