HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Christopher Bell will rejoice Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway by honoring his racing mentor, Rick Ferkel, with a pair of throwback schemes designed to copy The Ohio Traveler’s most recognizable automobile designs.
Bell will pilot the No. 19 Sport Clips Toyota GR Supra in Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Assist A Hero 200 NASCAR Xfinity Sequence race earlier than sporting a classic Ferkel dash automobile look on his No. 20 DEWALT Toyota Camry XSE for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Sequence race on the Monitor Too Powerful to Tame.
Bell credit Ferkel with giving him his introduction and break into the dash automobile racing world. As Bell continued his climb up the ranks, he continued to depend on Ferkel’s steerage alongside the best way.
Ferkel was additionally an authentic member of the World of Outlaws. Ferkel handed away on January 1, 2024, on the age of 84. Bell honors Ferkel frequently with a particular decal on the sprint of his No. 20 automobile each weekend.
“Rick actually helped put me on the nationwide scene by giving me my first alternative in a full-blown dash automobile,” mentioned Bell. “He employed me to drive a dash automobile once I was a 16-year-old child. I moved in with him and his household for some time. After I left Rick Ferkel Racing, he grew to become a life mentor, a driver coach, and somebody that I’d lean on each week for recommendation, and he’d examine in to see how I used to be doing. Rick all the time preached to me to ensure I drove as onerous as I may always, and I’m honored to get to pay tribute to Rick at Darlington.”
Each of Bell’s Darlington automobile designs will function a silver greenhouse space to imitate the feel and appear of a dash automobile wing. Rick’s identify will trip above the identify rail and every automobile will emphasize the quantity “0” in honor of the person who made it legendary in dash automobile racing.
Cathy Ferkel, Rick’s spouse of over 49 years, will probably be in attendance Darlington race weekend together with a number of of Rick’s youngsters and grandchildren.
