NASCAR Race Mom: Al Unser

Monday, May 22, 2023

Unser Racing Museum & Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed Announce Merger

The Unser Racing Museum and the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed announced their plans for a merger.

“The Unser family is one of the most storied families in automotive and racing history,” said Carson Smith, Director, Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed. “We’ve had racing partnerships with members of the Unser family for over 38 years and are honored to welcome the Unser collection to our museum.”

Unser Racing Museum

Located in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, N.M., the Unser Racing Museum was founded in 2003 by Al and Susan Unser and has operated these past 18 years as a public, non-profit, 501(c)3. Designed as a multi-dimensional museum experience utilizing modern technologies to educate and immerse the visitor in the exciting world of racing, the museum showcases Unser racing history and spans the early days of racing from Pikes Peak (Unser Mountain) and Indianapolis to the latest technology, with interactive kiosks for young and old to learn more about racing in a fun, educational environment. Displaying over 40 race, pace and Pikes Peak cars, original racing art, trophies and memorabilia the Museum was created to honor the legendary history of one family in American motorsports.

Johnny Lightning Special driven by Al Unser

The Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed is currently home to the Johnny Lightning Special and Viceroy VPJ Special driven by Al Unser, the 1971 Gurney Eagle driven by Bobby Unser, along with other vehicles and engines significant to Unser racing history. Recently named the #1 Attraction for Car Lovers in USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice awards, the museum, located in Lincoln, Neb., is home to over 240,000 square feet of display space over three levels, presenting a continuous chronology of automotive racing engines and speed equipment development.

1971 Gurney Eagle driven by Bobby Unser

“In motorsports, the Unser name is recognized worldwide, and we believe merging with the #1 nationally ranked Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed will provide not only a larger national, but also international, platform for this collection of the Unser’s iconic racing legacy,” said Susan Unser speaking on behalf of the Board of the Unser Racing Museum. “We look forward to collaborating with the Museum of American Speed to create exciting, historical, and educational exhibits to highlight the Unser Collection. From racing up Pikes Peak in 1916, USAC Stock Car, IROC and IndyCar championships, 9 Indianapolis 500 wins and this year a fourth generation racing again up Pikes Peak, the Unser Collection spans four generations and over 100 years of motorsports history.”

Museum of American Speed

Exciting news! We’re joining forces with the Unser Racing Museum! We’ve had racing partnerships with members of the Unser family for nearly 40 years and we are honored to welcome the Unser collection to our museum. For more info: https://t.co/WH3neDR69a pic.twitter.com/BSKsE2r5j0
— Museum of American Speed (@American_Speed) May 22, 2023

source: Speedway Motors Media

Friday, March 14, 2014

Drivers for 2014 Pro/Celebrity Race (#nascar)

Olympic Champion Carmelita Jeter, Academy Award Winner Adrien Brody and Turbocharged Personalities Including Phil Keoghan and Corbin Bleu Get Behind the Wheel for Charity

LONG BEACH, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 6, 2014) - Grand Prix Association of Long Beach officials announced today the 20 participants from film, television, music and sports who will compete in the 2014 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race. The 38th annual charity race will take place April 12 on the 1.97-mile street course in downtown Long Beach, Calif., as part of the 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend.

The field of racers will take to the streets in 210-horsepower Scion FR-S race-prepped cars navigating high speeds and demanding turns to benefit "Racing for Kids," a national fundraising program supporting children's hospitals throughout the United States. The announced field of intensely competitive individuals includes:

Sam Witwer (Aidan Waite from "Being Human") is just one of the fifteen
celebrity drivers for the 2014 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race.

•Eric Braeden (@EBraeden): Emmy award-winning daytime superstar most recognized as Victor Newman on the popular soap opera "The Young and the Restless."

•Adrien Brody: Academy award-winning actor for his role in "Pianist." Most recently seen in "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and Academy Award-winning "Midnight in Paris."

•Corbin Bleu (@CorbinBleu): Actor, model, dancer, producer and singer-songwriter who performed in the "High School Musical" film series and was the first runner-up in the 2013 Fall season of "Dancing with the Stars."

•Brett Davern (@BDavv): Actor who stars as Jake Rosati in MTV's hit series "Awkward." Other credits include the films "Movie 43" and "Born to Race: Fast Track."

•Colin Egglesfield (@CEgglesfield): Actor best known for his roles on "Rizzoli & Isles," "The Client List," and "Melrose Place," plus films such as "Open Road," and "Something Borrowed."

•Carmelita Jeter (@CarmelitaJeter): American sprinter and three-time Olympic Gold medalist, often dubbed "the fastest woman in the world."

•Cole Hauser (@ColeHauser): Television and film actor who stars with Johnny Depp in the soon to be released "Transcendence." "Olympus Has Fallen" and "A Good Day to Die Hard," are among his other action film credits.

•Tricia Helfer (@TrutriciaHelfer): Actress recently seen in the television show "Killer Women," she also starred in "Battlestar Galactica" and "Burn Notice."

•Phil Keoghan (@PhilKeoghan): Emmy award-winning New Zealand-born television personality best known for his role as host of the popular series "Amazing Race."

•Vanessa Marcil (@VanessaMarcilM): Actress best known for her roles in "General Hospital," "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Las Vegas."

•Brian McKnight (@ItsBMcKnight): Multiple Grammy nominated singer-songwriter, producer and R&B musician.

•Lisa Stanley (@LisaKearth): Entertainment reporter on K-EARTH 101 FM morning show with Gary Bryan. Also featured on TV's "Hard Copy" and radio's "Rick Dees Show."

•Max Thieriot (@MaxThieriot): Actor who currently stars as Dylan Massett on "Bates Motel." Other credits include the film "House at the End of the Street" and "Catch That Kid."

•Nick Wechsler (@Nick_Wechsler): Actor seen currently on ABC's "Revenge" as Jack Porter. He also starred in "Roswell" and had recurring roles on "Without a Trace" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

•Sam Witwer (@SamWitwer): Portrays vampire Aidan Waite on the North American remake of "Being Human." He was also seen on "Battlestar Galactica" and "Smallville."

Pro drivers competing against the stars include former NASCAR racer and FOX personality Kyle Petty, the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, two-time CART Series Champion and overall winner of the 1985 and 2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Al Unser Jr. and Rutledge Wood, 2013 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race celebrity winner, auto racing analyst on Fox Sports 1 and co-host of "Top Gear USA."

"This is an exciting and competitive group of stars, athletes, musicians and pro drivers that will put on a great show," said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association. "It's fitting that we will have such a great field for the Pro/Celebrity Race during our 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend. And thanks to Toyota, the Pro/Celebrity Race gives back to kids in our communities through donations to Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach and Children's Hospital of Orange County."

Rounding out the field are charity auction winner Doug Fregin, co-founder and former vice president of operations for Research in Motion (RIM) and Dr. William Pinsky, founder and president of "Racing for Kids."