Mark Traina

NASCAR producer. Love my job. Most passionate about the history of NASCAR racing.

[Ryan McGee @ESPNMcGee]

Happy 89th Birthday to His Royal Fastness, @therichardpetty. I wrote this when he turned 80. Annual repost: 80 Reasons to Love The King. Next year I think I'll have to update for his 90th! https://t.co/yhrqN3mMuH

[The Scene Vault Podcast @TheSceneVault]

Why is today not a national holiday?!?

[Dirty Mo Media @DirtyMoMedia]

We have to say, “My dog takes his own ass for a walk.” might be one of Dale’s funniest one-liners 😂🐶

[Mark Traina @TrainaMark]

@beckistar1 @mattvanswol Does it matter if it’s called a “teen takeover” or a “chaotic scene”… you are missing the point

[nascarman @nascarman_rr]

June 27, 1990: Days of Thunder was released

[Jeff Gluck @jeff_gluck]

My entire history of covering NASCAR, I've remembered a decision at the 2004 Martinsville race when the track came apart and Jeff Gordon's car was damaged by the concrete.

It was only my third race and I got up the nerve to ask a question in the postrace press conference regarding whether Gordon should get his spot back. I was told by a driver that was a stupid question.

Here we are all these years later and Corey Day is magically getting his four laps back after his car was damaged by the track. I know I'm an old fart and there's no such thing as precedent from 22 years ago, but this is breaking my brain. 😂 Maybe it wasn't a stupid question after all.

[Clayton Caldwell @CGCaldwell89]

@bobpockrass Reminded me a lot of this gem from the Great AJ

[The Scene Vault Podcast @TheSceneVault]

It is finished.

@stevewaid, one of the most most accomplished print journalists to ever step foot in a NASCAR media, died this afternoon after a long fight with the after effects of cancer.

He was 77.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to @VictoryJunction or @LeavineCancer.

[The Scene Vault Podcast @TheSceneVault]

Tim Brewer's mechanical ingenuity: a hydraulic clutch system that pumped up the car for inspection and dropped it for speed. A clever hack for race track dominance. #RacingTech #Innovation

[Kurt Busch @KurtBusch]

Thank you, everyone, for the well wishes, support, & love for my brother and our family. I reflect back on the days Kyle and I raced anything we could get our hands on.
I will forever be grateful for the memories we made, the lessons you taught me, and the brotherhood we shared.

[🏁Jamie45🏁 @FortyFiveJamie]

They should’ve listened

[Mark Martin @markmartin]

We turned it over and got back in the race 🙌🏼

[The Dale Earnhardt Archive @ArchivesDe]

Just stole this info graphic from @GeoffBodine1

Has it really been that long since the 7 has been in Victory Lane at the Cup level? 😳

[nascarman @nascarman_rr]

In 2001, Bill Elliott removed his name from voting for most popular driver to clear the way for Dale Earnhardt to win it. In gratitude, the NMPA said they would someday name the award after Elliott

25 years later, Chase Elliott appears willing to make a similar gesture for Busch

[RCR @RCRracing]

Richard Childress Racing has elected to suspend use of the No. 8 and will run the No. 33 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and beyond. Kyle Busch was instrumental in the design of RCR’s stylized No. 8 and it has become synonymous with Kyle and an important symbol for his fans and the NASCAR industry. No one can carry it forward to the level that he did. The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing.

[Matt Wallace @MattWallace888]

Kyle Busch dancing with his daughter for the last time ❤️

Never take a single moment for granted!

[Jeff Gordon @JeffGordonWeb]

This is a devastating loss and one that is hard for the NASCAR community to process. Kyle was a fierce competitor who demanded the very best from himself each time he put on the helmet. As teammates, I saw firsthand the passion and intensity he brought to the sport every single day. He was a champion and prolific racer who made a tremendous impact on NASCAR and was a lifelong advocate for all forms of motor sports. But beyond the track, he loved his family deeply and was incredibly proud of Samantha, Brexton and Lennix. My thoughts are with the entire Busch family during this extremely difficult time.

[Winston Kelley @WinstonKelley]

👇🏻😔 Like so many, I do not have the words to express the sadness I feel, the magnitude of this loss and gaping hole it leaves. Foremost, thinking of Samantha, Brexton, Lennix and the entire family. A true generational talent whose legacy will always be remembered and celebrated.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr. @DaleJr]

Kyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years. But we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams. I was super eager for us to get on better terms. But it was he who made the effort for that to be possible. We did some media together also to laugh through some of the things we put each other through many years ago. Most recently we had even been discussing him running my Late Model at Wilkesboro this summer. He seemed extremely happy and we had planned to meet up next Thursday to get his seat to the shop. He laughed over the idea of his fans and JRM fans having to cheer in unison during that race.

Kyle was one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. No one can deny that. But he was also a father, a husband, brother, son, and a friend to many. My heart is broken for the Busch family. I will never be able to make sense of this loss but I am thankful that we had found a way to become friends.