Joe Gibbs inducted into Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 16, 2010) – Joe Gibbs joined yet another hall of fame as the three-time Super Bowl-winning coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer became the newest member of the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame during Friday evening’s gala at The Speedway Club at Texas Motor Speedway. Gibbs was honored along with Sprint Cup Series star Kyle Busch, four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, JTG Daugherty Racing’s Marcos Ambrose, legendary engine builder and car owner Robert Yates and veteran motorsports journalist John Sturbin.
Gibbs joins previous inductees A.J. Foyt (2003), Johnny Rutherford (2003), Terry Labonte (2004), Lee Shepherd (2004), Kenny Bernstein (2005), Jim Hall (2005), Eddie Hill (2006), Mark Martin (2007), Jim McElreath (2007), Bobby Labonte (2008) and Bruton Smith (2008) into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame.

“This is awesome,” Gibbs said of Texas Motor Speedway and the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame. “I think this is one of the greatest sports complexes in the world. And for us to get a chance to race here, I know how the drivers feel. It’s a thrill for me to be a part of it.”
Gibbs, a five-time winner as car owner at Texas Motor Speedway, has carried his success from the National Football League to NASCAR. Since Joe Gibbs Racing opened its doors in 1992 he has led the organization to two three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships (2000, ’02, ’05) and most recently won his first Nationwide Series championship last year with Kyle Busch.
Gibbs’ championship driver, Busch, was honored as Texas Motor Speedway’s Racer of the Year. Busch became the first Nationwide Series drivers to win fourconsecutive races at “The Great American Speedway!” last year after. The honor came on the strength of Busch’s performance during last November’s Dickies 500 weekend as he nearly became the first driver in NASCAR history to win three national series events on the same weekend. He captured his first career truck series victory at Texas Motor Speedway in the WinStar World Casino 350k and followed with a victory in the O’Reilly Challenge Nationwide Series race the following day. Busch came up two laps short in his bid for history as he ran out of fuel on Lap 332 of the 334-lap Dickies 500 Sprint Cup Series race, relinquishing his lead to older brother Kurt.
“It’s been great to come back to Texas,” Busch said. “This place has always been fun for me. I started racing here in 2004 in the Nationwide Series and I finished second and I was devastated. I wrecked six Cup cars here and I just could never figure it out. Finally something clicked in 2007. Wasn’t sure what it was but we have been pretty decent here since.”
A pair of NASCAR’s most respected drivers, Ambrose and Gordon, received the Texas Motor Speedway Sportsmanship Award. Ambrose has continued to climb up the NASCAR ranks since making the jump from V8 Supercars in Australia. He has proven to be the consummate professional both on and off the track.
“My father always told me that it’s good to win but it’s even more important to be a good loser,” Ambrose said. “He didn’t mean that by losing races, but you have to learn to be humble in defeat and take your licks when they come. No one likes to lose, but when I do I like to do it with integrity.”
Gordon, winner of 82 career Sprint Cup Series races, was honored for his accomplishments off the track. Gordon has continued to help the lives of ill children through the Jeff Gordon Foundation which he established in 1999. Since then he has gone on to help raise more than $10 million for children facing critical illness.
The award was just one of two on the evening for Gordon, as he received the 2009 Fan Choice Award presented by 1310 The Ticket. The award, award for to the top racing moment at Texas Motor Speedway, was voted on by the fans. The three moments included Gordon’s first career victory at Texas Motor Speedway during last April’s Samsung 500; Helio Castroneves’ third career victory at Texas Motor Speedway during the Bombardier Learjet 550k; and Jimmie Johnson’s early-lap wreck in the Dickies 500 that changed the complexion of the championship race.
More than 10,000 fans casted their vote at www.texasmotorspeedway.com and the overwhelming winner was Gordon. “I knew it was my greatest moment and favorite of last year, I didn’t know the fans were going to feel the same way,” Gordon said. “The fans here in Texas, the type of support we get here is unbelievable. It’s a real thrill to finally get that first Texas win.”
Yates was awarded this year’s Bruton Smith Legend Award. The legendary engine builder and owner of Yates Racing put together a championship-caliber organization from 1989 to 2009. During that span Yates earned a Sprint Cup Series championship in 1999 to go along with 57 career Sprint Cup Series victories, including a pair at Texas Motor Speedway. Yates’ son, Doug, accepted the award on his father’s behalf and said his father has provided him with some valuable lessons. “He feels like he’s the luckiest guy in the world to make a career out of something that he is passionate about,” Doug said of his father. “I think there is a
message in that. If we can do things that we love to do for a living you better consider yourself lucky and I do.”
Veteran motorsports journalist John Sturbin was recognized for his contributions to auto racing with the Excellence in Motorsports Journalism award. Sturbin, longtime motorsports reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, has covered racing for more than 35 years and continues to cover the sport as senior writer for racintoday.com.
The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame ceremony benefits Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter. Since the organization was established in 1997 it has raised more than $6.7 million in funding, including a record $1 million in grants the previous two years. The funds generated help non-profit organizations in the four North Texas counties it serves – Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant.