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
CONCORD, N.C. – With the exit of Clint Bowyer at the end of the season, NASCAR team owner Richard Childress said Thursday he expected his organization to field three, not four, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams full time next year.
“I’ve had offers to race people and race drivers and had another full sponsorship with a driver; [...]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – A record-breaking weekend at zMAX Dragway quickly transformed the self-described Bellagio of drag strips into the NHRA’s fastest facility as the NHRA began its six-race Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship with numerous upsets and a change in two of the top four categories point standings Sunday.
Three [...]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – Tony Schumacher, Matt Hagan, Jason Line and Eddie Krawiec emerged as the top qualifiers in their respective categories Saturday as six track records were established during two days of qualifying for Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
The second NHRA event this season at zMAX [...]
CONCORD, N.C. – Four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson enters the Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship seeking his third consecutive victory at zMAX Dragway, but it’s the obstacles the Minnesota native has overcome in recent years that make the pressures of a fifth title run appear miniscule.
During the last two years, Anderson has [...]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – Funny Car driver Matt Hagan became the first competitor in that category’s history to break the 3-second barrier Friday, leading a record-setting evening in qualifying for this weekend’s O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Two more qualifying sessions are scheduled for Saturday in the NHRA’s opening [...]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Don’t be surprised if Jeff Gordon snaps Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson’s five straight championship streak to claim his fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title this year.
By collecting his 85th career victory at Atlanta two weeks ago in an intense battle with Johnson, Gordon sparked his solid, consistent team, providing [...]
RICHMOND, Va. – A decade ago on Sunday the terrorist attack known today simply as 9/11 broke America’s heart while unifying a nation and ripping away its innocence.
During that horrifying morning, time stood still for everyone and everything, including NASCAR. The New Hampshire race was postponed until Thanksgiving weekend, private aircraft was grounded and various [...]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
RICHMOND, Va. – Nine months ago Kevin Harvick predicted his Richard Childress Racing team would unseat five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson from his throne, but after Saturday night’s Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway there was no clear-cut favorite in the title Chase.
Harvick’s 0.139-second victory over Carl [...]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
RICHMOND, Va. – Danica Patrick, who is moving to NASCAR’s Nationwide Series full time in 2012, said Friday her limited Sprint Cup schedule wouldn’t be determined until NASCAR released next year’s schedule in its entirety.
“Go Daddy’s input is important (in determining the schedule) and they’ll play a part, but they’re [...]
By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
RICHMOND, Va. – Kevin Harvick’s decision to no longer field teams in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series surprised some of his fellow drivers Friday while others said they were concerned about the signal it sends about the 17-year-old circuit.
“I think we’ve all seen it for the past few years that [...]