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. – At 51 years old, Top Fuel competitor Clay Millican is still searching for his first Wally, the trophy cherished by competitors that signify a NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series victory.
Oh, he’s come close with eight runner-up finishes, but the Tennessean who still refers to his parents […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – In hot and humid weather Friday at zMAX Dragway, John Force Racing dominated the first two sessions of Funny Car qualifying in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, claiming the top three positions.
Courtney Force moved into the No. 1 position with a track record elapsed time of 3.851 seconds, […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force said Friday he plans to field a second Top Fuel dragster team, but he can’t say when it will join daughter Brittany Force at the starting line.
“I just can’t get the money to get there, but I’ve got a deal […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
BRISTOL, Tenn. – A steady rain Sunday forced postponement of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway until Monday.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will be televised on FOX beginning at 12:30 p.m. PRN will begin its radio broadcast, also […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
BRISTOL, Tenn. – At least two NASCAR drivers believe competitors with dirt track experience may possess the upper hand in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway because of VHT, a traction compound, being applied to the track’s surface in the turns.
“This is a perfect style of track to […]
Ford Motor Co. executives readily admit their desire this season is to seize the manufacturer’s championship in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, a title they have not possessed since 2002.
Chevrolet dominated the competition for 13 years before Toyota dethroned the General Motors brand last year. Now Ford hungers to be the king of the […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Brad Keselowski said Wednesday he still believed NASCAR’s concussion protocol was lacking, but he had read an article that he felt bode well for the future.
“I think it was Northwestern University that has made some huge studies and potential breakthroughs with respect to coming up with a […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Statistics show Dale Earnhardt Jr. is entering his 19th season in NASCAR’s Cup Series, but for the third-generation driver it’s as if he’s beginning his career anew.
After missing 18 races last year due to concussion issues, Earnhardt returns a different person. He’s calm, comfortable with himself and […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch said Tuesday they enjoyed the international competition in the Race of Champions, but the European drivers’ ability to party at night and then race the next day left them scratching their heads.
“It’s a chaotic, frat house feel,” Kurt Busch said about the […]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson said Tuesday he feels more pressure to be the proper leader in the sport than to compete for an eighth title.
“I’ve felt like there hasn’t been a lot of pressure on me through six and seven (championships) because I
never even thought I’d […]
