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. – Historical moments and upsets defined Sunday’s NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway as three of the four pro classes point leaders changed in the first round of the Countdown to the Championship.
Top Fuel winner Antron Brown, Funny Car victor Del Worsham and Pro Stock Motorcycle winner Andrew […]
CONCORD, N.C. – Tommy Johnson Jr.’s NHRA career looked pretty grim about three years ago, but the Indiana resident revitalized it and this weekend entered the Countdown to the Championship at zMAX Dragway with one of the most consistent Funny Cars this season.
“We’re not running the record numbers,” Johnson Jr. said. “We’re racing what […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – Erica Enders opens the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship at zMAX Dragway in a very enviable position – atop the point standings and as Pro Stock’s defending champion.
With six victories on the season, she and her Elite Motorsports team are brimming with confidence. They enter the NHRA Carolina […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
RICHMOND, Va. – Joe Gibbs Racing enters the Chase having won eight of the last 11 races, the favorite to walk off with the 2015 title, but when the season began it was a bleak time for the organization.
Kyle Bush was sidelined in February with a broken right leg […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
RICHMOND, Va. – Seizing every opportunity is critical to one’s success in NASCAR’s Chase for the Championship, but before the 16-driver field is set one more obstacle must be cleared – Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
Eleven drivers already are guaranteed berths in the field via one […]
RICHMOND, Va. – Denny Hamlin said Friday the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee wasn’t painful when he was in his race car and his only limitation was being able to walk without crutches.
“I think I’m probably about a day or maybe two away from maybe ditching the extra crutch to walk around, […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
DARLINGTON, S.C. – Carl Edwards overcame a two-lap deficit to record his first-ever Bojangles Southern 500 victory in a Darlington Raceway event that the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said placed NASCAR at a bigger crossroads than most people realize.
“I think this is the opportunity for the sport to […]
DARLINGTON, S.C. – NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers are facing a tough, slippery Darlington Raceway this Labor Day weekend with less downforce on their cars and most believe it’s the right way to go to improve the racing.
“Losing grip is usually a good thing for our racing,” Brad Keselowski said Saturday after winning the pole […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
DARLINGTON, S.C. – For more than two decades Jeff Gordon has had an annual date with the Lady in Black – aka Darlington Raceway – and most of the time the treacherous ol’ gal and her young suitor have enjoyed their dance.
In 34 races, Gordon has collected seven victories on […]
DARLINGTON, S.C. – With the Southern 500 returning to its traditional Labor Day weekend date at Darlington Raceway and the track promoting a “throwback” theme, of the 28 teams using throwback paint schemes on their cars, perhaps Richard Petty Motorsports has taken the biggest step back in time.
Aric Almirola has adopted a Fu Manchu […]