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sports Friday 6 May 2022
Kenseth, McGriff and Shelmerdine join NASCAR Hall of Fame

By STEVE REED the ARCA Menards Series
AP Sports Writer West. Competing in parts
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — of 35 seasons, McGriff won
Matt Kenseth was doing 37 races — third on the all-
yardwork when wife Ka- time on the West Series wins
tie came outside with her list. His signature year came
phone in hand, letting him in 1986 when he won the
know he’d just been se- series title.
lected to the NASCAR Hall McGriff beat out the
of Fame. 87-year-old A.J. Foyt, who
A short while later Kens- made 128 Cup Series starts
eth “celebrated” the night over 30 years, winning sev-
by cooking dinner for his en races and finishing in the
daughters. top 10 36 times.
“I never really thought The 64-year-old Shelmer-
about it,” the even-keeled dine worked as a crew
Kenseth said on a confer- chief from 1977-92 and
ence call about his chanc- won 46 races with 15 poles
es of making the Hall of and helped Dale Earnhardt
Fame. captured four Cup Series
Fellow driver Hershel Mc- championships (1986, ‘87,
Griff and crew chief Kirk ‘90, ‘91). Over his 16-year
Shelmerdine were also se- crew chief career with
lected to the NASCAR Hall Earnhardt, Ricky Rudd,
of Fame on Wednesday. Matt Kenseth, center, stands next to the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint James Hylton and Richard
Mike Helton was named Unlimited auto race at Daytona International Speedway, on Feb. 14, 2015, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Childress, he won 46 races
the Landmark Award win- was Kenseth was elected to NASCAR’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday, May 4 2022. Associated Press and posted top-10 finishes
ner for outstanding contri- in more than half his starts.
butions to the sport. “I never looked forward (to and the All-Star race. He NASCAR Cup Series’ sec- Shelmerdine said he was
They will officially be induct- the Hall of Fame) when I also captured the 2003 ond season at the age of “in shock” that he got in,
ed into the Hall of Fame in was racing and I never re- Cup Series championship 22. His final NASCAR race saying he thought “it would
a ceremony on Jan. 20. ally looked back at some of capping a dominating was at Tucson Speedway in be a few more years be-
Kenseth was a first-ballot the wins that I had,” Kens- season in which he led the the Pro Series West in 2018 fore it happened.”
selection, Shelmerdine was eth said. “It was always the points standings for the final — at the age of 90. Shelmerdine said being re-
voted in on his third try on next race and what can I 32 weeks of the season. He He had the longest driving united with Earnhardt and
the modern day ballot. Mc- do better the next race?” made the NASCAR playoffs career ever in NASCAR. car owner Richard Chil-
Griff made the pioneer bal- He called the selection an in 13 of 14 seasons and fin- “Racing has always been dress in the NASCAR Hall of
lot on his seventh try. honor, saying “I am really ished runner-up twice. in me,” McGriff said. “It was Fame is special.
The 50-year-old Kenseth, grateful for everything this Kenseth made an impact always been about the “It’s always been a surreal
who recently ran the Bos- spot has done for me and from the beginning, win- sport.” McGriff started 85 thing for me being in the
ton Marathon, drove 18 full my family.” ning Cup Series rookie of races in parts of 28 NASCAR middle of all these leg-
seasons on the NASCAR cir- Kenseth reached almost the year in 2000. He also Cup Series seasons, captur- ends,” Shelmerdine said.
cuit before retiring in 2020 every major milestone in won 29 Xfinity Series races. ing four wins – all of those “As the years go by the
with 39 Cup victories and NASCAR. The 94-year-old McGriff coming in 1954. stats pile up and and you
20 poles. He’s 21st on the He won the Daytona 500 won this first race at the He was one of the best driv- start to be in the sentence
career victory list with 39. twice, the Coca-Cola 600 1950 Southern 500, in the ers in what is now known as with it all.”q

Ben Simmons has successful back

surgery, Nets announce

By TIM REYNOLDS sure on the spinal column. another key piece of a
AP Basketball Writer Training camp will start in title-contending group led
Ben Simmons underwent late September. by Kevin Durant and Kyrie
what was determined to Simmons last played a Irving that Brooklyn envi-
be a successful back sur- game on June 20, 2021. He sions. Working through the
gery in Los Angeles on missed this entire season mental issues that Simmons
Thursday. The Brooklyn Nets — some with Philadelphia is dealing with, Nets coach
are hoping that he is fully before being traded to the Steve Nash said toward the
recovered before the start Nets in the move that sent end of Brooklyn’s season,
of training camp this fall. James Harden to the 76ers will remain a top priority
Simmons will need about — for a variety of reasons, for the team as well going
three weeks for an “initial including mental health forward. “There is a men- speak about. But as far as He was picked No. 1 in the
recovery period,” the Nets concerns before the trade tal component with every- an organization, we’re re- 2016 NBA draft but didn’t
said, before he can start his and then what were origi- thing,” Nash said late last ally pushing to support Ben debut that season because
rehabilitation program. The nally called back spasms month. “I think Ben has ad- in any way we can to help of foot issues. He was rookie
procedure Simmons had after the trade. dressed that there is a men- him improve physically and of the year in the following
was called a microdiscec- The hope is the surgery tal component with what get back on the court.” season, 2017-18, and was
tomy, in which a small frag- will allow Simmons to get he’s going through. But This was the second full picked for the NBA All-Star
ment of a herniated disc back on the court, play how much and where he’s season that Simmons has games in 2019, 2020 and
is removed to relieve pres- without pain and become at with that is not for me to missed in the past six years. 2021.q