Skip to main content

NASCAR champion honored with hall vote

By WTOP Staff

PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Reigning NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson was just a little bit anxious about voting for the NASCAR Hall of Fame this week.

For the first time in NASCAR — and perhaps in any major U.S. sport — a current competitor was allowed to help select the five inductees for a Hall of Fame class. Johnson was part of a 54-member panel that picked Bill Elliott, Wendell Scott, Rex White, Joe Weatherly and Fred Lorenzen for induction into the hall next January.

“That was a huge honor and to be an amazing day to be a part of,” Johnson said. “To sit in a room with so many people that care for our sport, know about our sport and discuss what took place in these eras of time.”

Johnson and the Sprint Cup Series are at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend for NASCAR’s longest race, the Coca Cola 600. Qualifying takes place Thursday with the race scheduled for Sunday night. Johnson, 38, did not take his Hall of Fame responsibilities lightly — even reading through the extensive briefing book on the 20 hall nominees twice.

“Those that know me know how much I despise reading,” he said.

Johnson spoke up for his team owner Rick Hendrick and another longtime Sprint Cup owner Richard Childress, saying the two stood should-to-shoulder among those who’ve built the sport. Johnson said he voted for Hendrick, who has owned the driver’s team since he began Sprint Cup racing in 2001. Johnson’s won 66 races in 446 starts and six series championships, including this past season.

Johnson caught up with Hendrick earlier Thursday on the way to the track. Johnson said the owner with 11 Sprint Cup championships and 220 race wins was grateful for calls, emails and texts from friends and those in racing after the vote.

“He appreciates the concern from others, but I don’t think he feels like it’s time” for his enshrinement, Johnson said.

NASCAR modified its voting process to give a vote to that year’s champion. Johnson acknowledged there were nominees he didn’t know well.

“Some I wasn’t even (alive) for, others I was on the West Coast and didn’t know NASCAR,” he said.

With Johnson’s accomplishments, there’s no doubt that when the time comes he’ll be a can’t-miss, first-ballot Hall of Famer. Until then, he’s happy with his chance to add to the hall and knows others will cherish the honor as much as he has.

“I think of (21-year-old) Kyle Larson and other younger drivers coming along, how good it would be for them to witness all of that,” Johnson said. “An awesome day. The champion gets that honor and it is a huge honor. I know the champions behind me will have as great an experience as I did.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related Stories

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote