Rick Minter, Senior Writer
Rick Minter joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1991, where he covered motorsports as well as serving as a bureau chief. From 2000-2008 he focused on racing exclusively, traveling the NASCAR circuit as the paper’s motorsports writer and winning awards from several organizations including the Georgia20 Automobile Racing Hall of Fame Association and the City of Atlanta. Minter and his wife Joanne live on the family farm in Inman, Ga. In his spare time he collects and restores antique tractors and trucks.
Articles by Rick Minter
By Rick Minter | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Anyone who cares even a little bit about auto racing has to be saddened by the empty seats at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend and at other tracks on the circuit, as well as the sluggish ratings for broadcasts of races.
It can’t all be blamed on the economy. If people [...]
By Rick Minter | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Just watching a practice session at Bristol Motor Speedway or at Martinsville Speedway makes one wonder why there aren’t more half-mile tracks on the NASCAR circuit.
They seem to be a far better test of man and machine than some of the longer tracks that dominate the Sprint [...]
By Rick Minter | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
BRISTOL, Tenn. – A good argument can be made that the sport of NASCAR racing as we know it today was built on the backs of innovators.
The Sprint Cup Series started out as Strictly Stock, which meant that showroom cars were the vehicles of the day.
Now the Cup cars [...]
By Rick Minter | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
BRISTOL, Tenn. – There seems to be plenty of NASCAR news lately, but one still has to wonder just what it all means.
Take Hendrick Motorsports’ appeal of the penalties imposed on the No. 48 team, including the 25 points deducted from Jimmie Johnson’s drivers total and the six-week suspensions of [...]
By Rick Minter | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
As the NASCAR guys and gals get to work at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend, those of us who make our livings on the other side of the wall have lots of work to do in figuring out just where things stand in the sport.
What are all the implications of [...]
By Rick Minter | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The hot breaking news out of Daytona International Speedway on the Friday morning after the Gatorade Duels is that Danica Patrick did not cover her eyes just before she slammed into the wall off Turn 2 in her Duel.
Patrick did allow that she closed her eyes [...]
By Rick Minter | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In a NASCAR world dominated by multi-car teams that suck up the high-profile drivers, mechanics and sponsors, it’s refreshing to have at least one day when the lesser-knowns get a share of the spotlight.
Defending Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne was among those racing their way into [...]
By Rick Minter | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With NASCAR’s rules guaranteeing starting spots in the Daytona 500 to the top 35 teams in last year’s car owner points standings, there’s really not much reason for drivers to run hard in Thursday’s 150-mile Gatorade Duel qualifying races.
In fact, the way restrictor plate races of [...]
By Rick Minter | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The count-up has begun in earnest for three-time and defending Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, who is 0-for-13 in the sport’s biggest race, the Daytona 500.
Already the questioners in the media center at Daytona International Speedway are drawing comparisons to Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s streak of losses [...]
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The big experiment continued on Friday at Daytona International Speedway as drivers took to the track in a relatively big pack for the first time under the current rules package, which includes a larger restrictor plate as of Friday morning.
Speeds were considerably faster than before, with Kurt Busch setting the early [...]