Race: Sunday, March 28, 2010 in Martinsville, VA

Title Sponsor: Goody's

Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 1:13pm/et

NASCAR Pre-race: FOX - 12:00pm/et

Television Race Coverage: FOX, 1:00pm/et

In the Booth: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds

Pit Reporters: Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Matt Yocum, Krista Voda

Hollywood Hotel: Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond

SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 10:00am/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
Wednesday, March 31 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

TV Listings, Links and Info:
Jayski's TV Listings Page
NASCAR on TV
Race Fan TV

This Week - Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite Radio

• motorracingnetwork.com

• sirius.com

• Practices:
  Friday, March 26, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm/et, TV-SPEED
  Saturday, March 27, 10:30 - 11:00 pm, TV-SPEED

• Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Saturday, March 27, 11:50 am - 12:50pm/et, TV-SPEED

• Qualifying Draw: Friday, March 26, 10:30am/et

• Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Friday, March 26 at 3:10pm/et, TV-SPEED, re-air at 9:30pm/et;
  AND live via radio at MRN Radio only on NASCAR.com.

• Hamlin wins at Martinsville: #11-Denny Hamlin won the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway in a wild end with a green-white-checkered finish. #24-Gordon led at the start of the GWC and Hamlin was 4th. #17-Kenseth, who was 2nd at the start of the GWC got by Gordon for the lead, but they made contact, sending the #17 into the wall and allowing Hamlin to shoot by for the win. Hamlin, who started 19th, led the most laps with 172 and got his first win of 2010, third at Martinsville and 9th of his career. It is the 5th year in a row that Hamlin has scored at least one win in a season. Joe Gibbs racing has won at least a race a year for 18 straight years. #20-Logano finished second followed by #24-Gordon, #39-Newman, #56-Truex, Jr., #83-Vickers, #33-Bowyer, #99-Edwards, #48-Johnson and #16-Biffle. #29-Harvick, who entered the race with the points lead, had brake problems and finished 35th. #48-Johnson takes over the points lead by 14 over #16-Biffle. #31-Burton who 140 of the 508 laps, had a tire go down late in the race and ended up 20th. Twenty cars finished on the lead lap. There were 13 cautions for 79 laps and 24 lead changes among 8 drivers.
  See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Martinsville Race Results/Awards page.(3-29-2010)

• Sprint Cup Series Facts and Notes:
  * Denny Hamlin won the postponed 2010 Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Monday at Martinsville Speedway. It was Hamlin's ninth Cup series victory in his 157th career start. His last win came at Homestead in November 2009.
  * Hamlin has scored a victory in each of the last five years.
  * It was Hamlin's first top-10 finish in six races in 2010. It was his third Cup win at Martinsville in 10 races, and third in his last five Martinsville starts. It was his ninth top-10 finish in 10 races at Martinsville.
  * Hamlin scored his fourth victory in 27 races on short tracks.
  * Hamlin climbed from 19th to 15th in the point standings.
  * Joe Gibbs Racing scored its 78th Cup victory overall and sixth at Martinsville. It was JGR's first win in six races in 2010.
  * Only one driver has scored top-10 finishes in the first six races in 2010: Greg Biffle (10th).
  * Kurt Busch leads all drivers with 30 lap-leader bonus points. He has led in five of the six races this season.
  * Joey Logano (second) posted his third finish of sixth or better in six races this season.
  * Jeff Gordon (third) posted his 11th straight top-5 finish at Martinsville and 15th straight top-10 at the Virginia short track. Gordon has been running at the finish in his 35 Martinsville races, the longest current streak.
  * Ryan Newman (fourth) posted his first top-10 finish in 2010.
  * Martin Truex Jr. (fifth) posted his second top-10 finish in 2010, his best finish at Martinsville.
  * Jimmie Johnson (ninth) posted his 16th straight top-10 finish at Martinsville, the longest current streak.
  * Harvick (35th) has been running at the finish in all 18 of his races at Martinsville.
  * Biffle has been running at the finish in all 15 of his races at Martinsville.
  * Carl Edwards (eighth) has been running at the finish in all 12 of his races at Martinsville.
  (ESPN)(3-30-2010)

• Race Fast Facts - Martinsville Speedway:
  Denny Hamlin won the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 (61st Running), his ninth victory in 157 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. (Note: He will have surgery on his left knee -- originally scheduled for Monday -- later this week).
  This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2010.
  This is his third victory and ninth top-10 finish in ten races at Martinsville Speedway.
  Joey Logano (second) posted his first top-10 finish in three races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his third top-10 finish in 2010.
  Jeff Gordon (third) posted his 29th top-10 finish in 35 races at Martinsville Speedway.
  Kevin Conway (31st) was the highest finishing rookie.
  Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 14 points over Greg Biffle.(NASCAR Statistics)(3-29-2010)
  

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings:
  [after Martinsville, race 6 of 36]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #48 Jimmie Johnson [3 wins] 898
  2) #16 Greg Biffle 884 -14
  3) #17 Matt Kenseth 882, -16
  4) #29 Kevin Harvick 837, -61
  5) #31 Jeff Burton 785, -113
  6) #2 Kurt Busch [1 win] 776, -122
  7) #24 Jeff Gordon 773, -125
  8) #14 Tony Stewart 770, -128
  9) #33 Clint Bowyer 747, -151
  10) #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 739, -159
  11) #98 Paul Menard 735, -163
  12) #83 Brian Vickers 734, -164
  Chase for the Sprint Cup - Contenders:
  13) #20 Joey Logano 728, 6 points out of chase
  14) #99 Carl Edwards 727, -7
  15) #11 Denny Hamlin [1 win] 710, -24
  2009 Chaser Drivers not in top 15
  17) #5-Mark Martin, 684, -50
  20) #9-Kasey Kahne 620, -114
  22) #39- Ryan Newman 612, -122
  25) #42-Juan Montoya 563, -171
  See standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page. (3-29-2010)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Phoenix: There were no changes in the top-35 after Martinsville. #7-Robby Gordon lost ground and is now 54 points out of 35th.
  30) #77-Hornish/Penske 516 +109
  31) #71-Labonte/Buckler 504 +97
  32) #78-Smith/Furniture Row 495 +88
  33) #38-Gilliland/Front Row 482 +75
  34) #37-Conway/Front Row 466 +59
  35) #34-Kvapil/Front Row 461 54 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
  36) #7-Gordon/RGM/BAM: 407, 54 points out of 35th
  37) #36-Bliss/Baldwin: 395 -66
  38) #26-Said/Stremme/Latitude43: 395 -66
  39) #13-Papis/Germain: 318 -143
  40) #87-Nemechek/NEMCO: 251 -210
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(3-29-2010)

• Penalty Report - Martinsville:
  Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty
  #7 Pre-Race to the rear engine change, tail end
  #12 130, Lug nut(s) not installed, pit
  #7 130, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  #7 130, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, tail end
  #43 172, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  #71 173, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  #7 173, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  #78 235, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  #7 235, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  #16 236, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, tail end
  #5 366, Removing equipment from assigned pit area, stop and go
  #1 481, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, pass thru
  #18 500, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  (NASCAR Statistics)(3-29-2010)

• Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Martinsville: (and their finish)
  Caution 1: #26-Stremme, finished 37th
  Caution 1: wave around cars: #38-Conway
  Caution 2: none awarded
  Caution 2: wave around cars: none reported
  Caution 3: #82-Speed, 33rd
  Caution 3: wave around cars: none reported
  Caution 4: #37-Gilliland, 19th
  Caution 4: wave around cars: none reported
  Caution 5: #34-Kvapil, 27th
  Caution 5: wave around cars: none reported
  Caution 6: #00-Reutimann, 28th
  Caution 6: wave around cars: none reported
  Caution 7: #77-Hornish Jr., 13th
  Caution 7: wave around cars: #42-Montoya, #6-Ragan, #26-Stremme
  Caution 8: #77-Hornish Jr.(2), 13th
  Caution 8: wave around cars: none reported
  Caution 9: #34-Kvapil (2), 27th
  Caution 9: wave around cars: none reported
  Caution 10: #37-Gilliland (2), 19th
  Caution 10: wave around cars: none reported
  Caution 11: #37-Gilliland (3), 19th
  Caution 11: wave around cars: none reported
  Caution 12: #77-Hornish Jr.(3), 13th
  Caution 12: wave around cars: none reported
  Caution 13: #5-Martin, 21st
  Caution 14: wave around cars: none reported
  NOTE: wave around cars are not always reported and not scored on results pages
  (3-29-2010)

• Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Martinsville (or seemed to)?
  43rd: #55-McDowell, 19 laps run
  42nd: #66-Blaney, 24 laps
  41st: #09-Almirola, 43 laps
  40th: #13-Papis, 52 laps
  with NASCAR's new rule of the first non-crashed car out of the race to be inspected, it would be the #55 this week
  (only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(3-29-2010)

• Some Notes: Weather looks great for the rest of the day at Martinsville Speedway with a chance of late afternoon rain. Green flag scheduled for around 12:10pm/et. NASCAR has scheduled a competition caution around lap 50, no fueling of cars before that.
  Sam Hornish Jr. os feeling ill and Aric Almirola will get in the #77 Mobil 1 Dodge once the #09 Phoenix Racing Chevy parks the car early in the race.(FOX TV Coverage)
  The rainout at Martinsville Speedway is the first time a Sprint Cup race has been run on Monday since the Watkins Glen race last August. The last time a Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway waqs postponed was in October 2001, when Ricky Craven won and only once has the sprint race been postponed, in 1998 when Bobby Hamilton won the race.(3-29-2010)

• Some Martinsville schemes added: to the paint scheme gallery, including #19 Stanley - Petty Blue; #43 Charter Communications, #5-Carquest, #34 A&W, #37 Gander Mountain, #88 AMP Sugar Free and #90 Keyed Up Motorsports.(3-29-2010)

• Race at Martinsville postponed until Monday: the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway has been postponed to Monday due to rain on Sunday. The race is scheduled for Monday, March 29, 2010 at 12:00pm/et and will be televised on FOX and covered via radio on MRN.
  The National Weather Service forecast for Monday: Showers likely, mainly before 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. North wind between 3 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
  For more weather info, see my Martinsville Weather links on my Martinsville Race Info page.

• Pit Stall Selections - Martinsville: The selections of pit stalls for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway have been made. #29-Harvick, who starts 1st due to the rain out qualifying, chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
  Outside pole sitter #17-Kenseth took pit stall 11, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].
  #48-Johnson, who starts 3rd took the 34th pit stall, the next stall with an opening in front of it.
  The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #82-Speed, who starts 18th.
  To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Martinsville Pit Stall Selection chart.(3-27-2010)

• Race Coverage of the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, March 28, 2010.
  Television (TV): FOX at 1:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 12:00 pm/et; green flag approx 1:13pm/et
  Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128
  Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
  SPEED, Wednesday, March 31 at 12:00pm/et

• Some Chassis selections for Martinsville:
  #2-Kurt Busch and his Steve Addington-led “Blue Deuce” team will debut their “PRS-722” Penske Racing Charger during the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. It will mark the third consecutive race where the team has unveiled a new racing machine. “The guys in the shop have done just a remarkable job of getting great new weapons for us to use at the tracks and that is particularly true during the last two races,” said Busch. “With the strong runs we’ve had recently with these new cars right out of the box, that just really adds to our confidence level coming into Martinsville this time around.”
  #5-Mark Martin: Gustafson has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-561 for the race in Martinsville this weekend. Martin drove this chassis to an eighth-place finish at Martinsville last fall.
  #6-David Ragan: Chassis: Primary: RK-635 which ran at Loudon in June of 2009 as the #26 – finished 33rd The backup chassis is RK-633 which was last ran Michigan in the fall of 2009 – finished 30th The UPS Freight Harrisburg, PA Service Center (HRS) was selected as the Maximum Center for the March 28, Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 as part of the UPS Center Recognition Program. The center was selected for its improvements in safety. The hub is one of the busiest centers in UPS Freight’s nationwide network.
  #11-Denny Hamlin: and the FedEx team will unload Chassis JGR 267 this weekend in Martinsville. This is a new car from Joe Gibbs Racing. Chassis JGR 246 sat on the pole at Auto Club in the fall of 2009 and will serve as the backup this weekend. FedEx Freight Center GBO Along for the Ride in Martinsville: The #11 FedEx Office Toyota will carry the letters GBO on the B-posts for Sunday’s race in recognition of the Greensboro FedEx Freight service center. GBO was named service center of the year in the South East division and continues to lead the Charlotte region in overall daily performance measurements – including costumer feedback, efficiency, and performance metrics.
  #12-Brad Keselowski: The #12 Penske Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-723 during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. PRS-723 is a brand-new chassis to the #12 team.
  #14-Tony Stewart: is running Chassis No. 14-587 which is is a brand new racecar that has never turned a wheel on the track.
  #17-Matt Kenseth: primary chassis for the #17 Valvoline Ford will be RK-644, with the backup being RK-569, no details
  #18-Kyle Busch: Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 will be the fourth-ever start for chassis #249. This chassis made its debut last August at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, where Kyle Busch started 36th and finished 23rd. Its next start came last September at Richmond, where Busch qualified eighth and finished a solid fifth. In its most recent start, in the October event at Charlotte, Busch qualified 12th and finished a solid eighth.
  #19-Elliott Sadler: Crew chief Wally Rogers and the #19 Stanley team have prepared Chassis No. 270 for this Sunday’s event at Martinsville Speedway. This is a brand new Ford Fusion specifically prepared for this weekend’s event.
  #29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No. 212 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This Shell-Pennzoil Chevy was used last year by Harvick at the May event at Richmond, where Harvick ran in the top 10 for a majority of the evening before getting caught up in an accident. This chassis secured two wins, both by fellow RCR teammate Clint Bowyer, at Loudon (Sept. 2007) and Richmond (May 2008).
  #31-Jeff Burton: will race chassis No. 283 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for the 2009 season, this is the same Caterpillar Chevy Burton drove to a 25th-place finish at Indianapolis in July. Burton also piloted this #31 chassis to an 18th-place finish at Michigan in August and to a 34th-place result at Atlanta in September due to a vibration and a speeding penalty. Burton also drove this chassis at Dover to a 16th-place effort in September and to a 14th-place result at Charlotte in October. Since then, this black and yellow machine has been converted from its original downforce configuration into a short-track car.
  #33-Clint Bowyer: will pilot Chassis No. 267 from Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Bowyer drove this Chevy three times last season. So far in 2010, the #33 team has used this Impala in two test sessions at Darlington and Rockingham Speedway’s Little Rock.
  #35 Johnny Sauter: the #35 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevy team will run TBR – 93 as their primary chassis this weekend at Martinsville.
  #36 Mike Bliss: the #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevy team will run TBR – 100 as their primary chassis this weekend at Martinsville.
  #39-Ryan Newman Goody’s Fast Pain Relief Car – Chassis #39-492: This is the same chassis that Newman and the #39 team used for both races at Martinsville last season, and it was a car that recorded good results. Newman finished sixth with the chassis in the spring race at Martinsville last year, and the car didn’t run again during the course of the season until the October race at the Virginia short track. The team shined up the racecar, loaded it up and traveled to Martinsville where Newman captured his third career pole at the track and led 23 laps en route to a seventh-place finish. Over the winter, Tony Gibson & Company gave the chassis a new body for the 2010 season. The car has been to the wind tunnel to test the new spoiler that will be on board for this weekend’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500.
  #43-A.J. Allmendinger: Chassis No. 276 has been prepared by crew chief Mike Shiplett and the #43 Charter crew for this weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway. This Ford Fusion ran as the #44 for Richard Petty Motorsports in the November race at Phoenix International Raceway last season.
  #48-Jimmie Johnson: Chassis number 558 will be the primary for Sunday's race at Martisnville Speedway and is a brand new chassis. Johnson last drove backup chassis #520 to a 36th-place result at Richmond International Raceway last May. Prior to that event, Johnson had driven the car four times, winning each event (2008 fall races at Richmond, Martinsville and Phoenix, and 2009 spring race at Martinsville).
  #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: This weekend at Martinsville, crew chief Lance McGrew and the #88 crew will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-562. This is a brand new chassis that the team tested in February at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C.
  #98-Paul Menard: Crew chief Slugger Labbe and the #98 Menards crew have prepared chassis No. 619 for this weekend’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. This chassis is brand new, but was tested in Rockingham, N.C. last week. NIBCO, Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of flow control products for residential, commercial construction, industrial, and irrigation markets, will makes its first appearance on the hood of the #98 Ford for this week’s event at Martinsville Speedway.
  #99-Carl Edwards: The #99 crew will unload RK-605 for the weekend. Edwards raced this car at Phoenix last spring where he finished 10th.(from team PR's if reported)(3-25/28-2010)

• Lowest-finishing, non-wrecked car to be inspected: NASCAR has instituted a new postrace inspection policy for Sprint Cup races in which the first car out of the race that is not involved in an accident will be held for teardown, much like the cars that currently finish in the top five. That meant that Aric Almirola’s #09 Phoenix Racing’s Chevy was thoroughly inspected after the Las Vegas Motor Speedway race. His engine was taken to be torn down later this week at the NASCAR R&D center in Concord, NC. The policy is expected to impact the start-and-park teams – teams that typically bring a car but don’t have funding to run the entire event. These teams often are not in the top 35 in owner points, so they are required to qualify on speed. The new policy means it is likely that one of the cars that qualify on speed for every race will end up getting torn down. NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said Sunday the move was not to discourage start-and-park teams. “We’re just expanding our inspection process and making sure that everybody feels like everybody is on the same playing field, that’s all,” Pemberton said. “It’s all about making sure that the guys who get beat that don’t make the race understand that the guys who get in the race, for the most part, are doing everything right.” The move could cost these teams money, as they will have to pay for an engine rebuild that they might not have needed if they didn’t run many laps. Pemberton said the engine might not be torn down weekly but acknowledged it could cost teams $30,000 for a rebuild. That could lead to those teams racing more instead of risking the cost of a rebuild. Or it could lead to those teams not showing up if they can’t afford to have the motor rebuilt.(SceneDaily)(3-1-2010)

• NASCAR Revises Green-White-Checkered Race Procedure: NASCAR announced a revision to one of its race procedures, allowing a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the White Flag under NASCAR's Green-White-Checkered flag finish. If the leader has taken the White Flag and the caution flag is displayed, the field is frozen and the race will not be restarted. Previously, there was only one restart attempt. The new procedure will be implemented beginning with today's running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' Gatorade Duel at Daytona and will apply to all three national series. NASCAR officials met with drivers and teams Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway to discuss the change and get their input. The announcement was made during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' drivers and crew chiefs meeting Thursday morning. "We want to do all we can to finish our races under green flag conditions – the fans want to see that and so do the competitors," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "We felt that putting a cap at three attempts to finish the race under green is the way to go. It gives the fans what they want and it also gives the teams a better opportunity to prepare for their end of race strategy." The change amends procedure 9-14C of the 2010 NASCAR rulebook.(NASCAR)(2-11-2010)

• Jayski's - 2010 Sprint Cup Race Results Page and from last season: Jayski's - 2009 Sprint Cup Race Results Page
  (pole and race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race)

• NASCAR tweaks wave-around rule: NASCAR has tweaked its rule on wave-around cars under caution. The new rule now dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around. The change began last week with the Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway after a situation came up in the Nationwide Series race that was new to the double-file restart system instituted in June. In the Nationwide race, Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards was penalized for speeding under green, and then the caution came out. He stayed out and didn't pit and then was among those cars on the end of the lead lap. He then got the "wave around" the caution car (along with the rest of the cars that had stayed out and were on the end of the lead lap) to get to the rear of the line of lead-lap cars. Edwards then went to the end of the line to serve his penalty. That move would not be allowed anymore. The driver would not get the wave around and would start a lap down at the rear of the field on the restart, the penalty for a driver who had a speeding penalty under green but never served it before the caution came out. The new rule in general is any driver under penalty is no longer eligible for the wave around.(SceneDaily)(10-11-2009)

• NASCAR’s Robin Pemberton explains restart rules: NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton gave an explanation last June [2009] of the double-file restart rules. Here are excerpts of the conversation with the media and his answers to some questions ask.
  SD: What is the procedure for double-file restarts?
  Pemberton: “When the caution comes out, the field will be frozen as it is today. The free-pass car will be identified as it is today and it will be the same format. As the cars are gathered behind the pace car, the pit road is opened for leaders, the second time by it will be open for the lap-down cars, and that is how it is today. And when we come to the one [lap]-to-go [until the green drops], the cars that have elected not to pit that are lap-down cars that will be in front of the lead-lap cars that have pitted, will be waved around to join the field at the tail end. The lineup will be on the double-file restart, lead-lap cars to the front, lap-down cars, … then it will be the free-pass car, then it will be the cars that have been waved around and then it will be the penalty cars.
  SD: If a guy on the lead lap opts not to pit, he’s the leader?
  Pemberton: Correct. Still P1 [the leader].
  SD: Is there an option for the lead car to select which lane?
  Pemberton: When we give the 1-to-go, the leader throughout the entire race will get lane choice, high or low. He has to make that choice when we come to the 1-to-go at the stripe. One other thing we have added is the free pass will take place from start to finish throughout the entire race.
  SD: If a car on the lead lap pits a second time with the lap-down cars, does he restart with the lap-down cars?
  Pemberton: He will start in his respective track position how he came off of pit road. If you have a lead-lap car who makes multiple pit stops to work on his car, he is not in that lead-lap group that pitted that first-time by. He’ll be scored where he comes off pit road [with lapped cars]
  SD: The lap-down cars that don’t pit and the get the wave around the leader, do they get to come all the way around to rear of the field?
  Pemberton: That’s correct but they will not be able to hit pit road for tires and fuel. Pit road won’t be closed but they will forfeit their wave-around status if they hit pit road for tires and fuel.
  SD: At tracks like Martinsville and Bristol and you’re waiting for the 1-to-go, are you anticipating that the wave around could be hard to be completed?
  Pemberton: There could be issues. Every track has its different set of challenges. We’ll have to address those when we get to them. The whole field will be double file so they won’t be as strung out.
  SD: If multiple lead-lap cars stay out, do the lap-down cars that don’t pit still get waved around?
  Pemberton: The only way you can be waved around is if you are between the leader and the pace car. As pit stops take place, you need to be in front of the lead-lap cars. You get waved around regardless if you’re one or two or three laps down [or more].
  (SceneDaily)(6-7-2009)

• Martinsville Pit Stall Selections

• Happy Hour practice: for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over, after 60 minutes of practice, the top five and some notes:
  #1-McMurray 95.869
  #31-Burton 95.854
  #33-Bowyer 95.767
  #24-Gordon 95.762
  #11-Hamlin 95.728
  slowest: #13-Papis 92.244 and #38-Conway 93.543
  incidents: #7-Gordon lost an engine at the end of practice, the team will put in a new motor.
  See fastest speeds, average speeds, laps run on my Martinsville Practice Speeds page.(3-27-2010)

• Saturday's first practice: for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over, after 45 minutes of practice, the top five and some notes:
  #5-Martin 96.010
  #31-Burton 96.010
  #83-Vickers 95.912
  #42-Montoya 95.903
  #24-Gordon 95.801
  slowest: #37-Gilliland 93.308 and #38-Conway 93.387
  See fastest speeds, average speeds, laps run on my Martinsville Practice Speeds page.(3-27-2010)

• Qualifying rained out at Martinsville: Qualifying for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway was rained out: so the field was set by the rules books / 2010 owners points / race attempts. #29-Harvick starts first, followed by #17-Kenseth, #48-Johnson, #16-Biffle, #14-Stewart, #2-Busch, #31-Burton, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #98-Menard and #18-Busch. #39-Newman, who was fastest in Friday's practice, will start 26th. Missing the race are #90-Mears, #46-Cook and #35-Sauter. See the starting lineup on my Martinsville Lineup/Qualifying page.(3-26-2010)

• Coverage of Qualifying for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled for Friday, March 26, 2010 at 3:10pm/et.
  Television (TV): SPEED 3:00pm/et
  Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) only on NASCAR.com
  Jayski.com: Jayski's Semi-Live Qualifying Page
  Qualifying Re-Air: 9:30pm/et on SPEED

• Qualifying Order for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.
  The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #99-Edwards.
  The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #42-Montoya.
  The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #87-Nemechek with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #90-Mears.
  See the full qualifying order on the Martinsville Qualifying Page.(3-26-2010)

• Friday practice for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes, some results, top five fast and notes:
  #39-Newman 96.934
  #5-Martin 96.859
  #47-Ambrose 96.849
  #24-Gordon 96.815
  #11-Hamlin 96.770
  slowest: #38-Conway 93.664 and #13-Papis 94.242
  See fastest speeds, average speeds, laps run on my Martinsville Practice Speeds page.(3-26-2010)

• Martinsville practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:
  if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:
  #66-Dave Blaney. 28th fastest overall
  #87-Joe Nemechek, 29th
  #09-Aric Almirola, 34th
  #26-David Stremme, 35th
  #35-Johnny Sauter. 36th
  #46-Terry Cook, 39th
  #90-Casey Mears, 40th
  #7-Robby Gordon, 41st
  these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:
  #36-Mike Bliss, 42nd
  #55-Michael McDowell, 43rd
  #13-Max Papis, 45th.(3-26-2010)

  NOTE: the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is the first race of the 2010 season that will utilize the 2010 Owners Points to set the top-35 and the starting lineup if qualifying is canceled.

• The Entry List for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
  David Gilliland is listed in the #37 Ford and Kevin Conway is listed in the #38 Ford
  Not in top 35 of owners points in 2010 owners points:
  #09-Aric Almirola (2009 race winner as owner)(45/5)
  #7-Robby Gordon (36/5)
  #13-Max Papis (39/5)
  #26-David Stremme (2009 race winner as owner)(37/5)
  #35-Johnny Sauter (49/1)
  #36-Mike Bliss (38/5)
  #46-Terry Cook (46/5)
  #55-Michael McDowell (40/5)
  #66-Dave Blaney (41/5)
  #87-Joe Nemechek (42/5)
  #90-Casey Mears (44/5)
  In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:
  the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 26,09,7,36,13,55,66,87
  missing the race would be [3]: #'s 90,46,35
  See the full entry list at my Jayski's Martinsville Entry List.(3-22/25-2010)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Martinsville:
  After Bristol, the current (2010) OWNERS points are used to determine the Top-35 in owners points and the guaranteed starting positions. #37-Conway was able to move back in the top 35 after falling out last week. Teams that started the 2010 season in the top-35 and fell out after five races include #7-Gordon and #26-Said/Stremme. Two drivers/teams were not in the top-35 starting the season and are now in, #82-Speed is solidly in the top-35 at 18th in 2010 Owners points and #71-Labonte who is 29th, 82 points ahead of 36th. Where things stand in the top 35 of Owners Points after Bristol:
  30) #12-Keselowski/Penske: 424, +78
  31) #38-Gilliland/Front Row: 417, +71
  32) #47-Ambrose/JTG: 413, +67
  33) #77-Hornish/Penske: 392, +46
  34) #34-Kvapil/Front Row: 374, +28
  35) #37-Conway/Front Row: 355, 9 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
  36) #7-Gordon/RGM/BAM: 346, 9 points out of 35th
  37) #26-Said/Stremme/Latitude43: 343 -12
  38) #36-Bliss/Baldwin: 307 -48
  39) #13-Papis/Germain: 275 -80
  40) #55-McDowell/Waltrip/Prism: 230 -140
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(3-21-2010)

• What happens if qualifying gets rained out?
  After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
  #1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
  #2) - Last Years Sprint Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
  #3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #5) - ALL Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [is NOT charged against the 6 past champ provisionals]
  #6) - Qualifying Attempts [not starts] with Owners points as the tie breaker, if still tied then by best finish
  #7) - Qualifying Order Position
  (all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)

• Qualifying Rules/Notes/News page

• Go or Go Home Drivers to Qualify Together: Teams outside the top 35 in owners points will qualify together at the end of the qualifying session. The thought is that nobody would have an advantage in track conditions.

• How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

• How to break a tie during qualifying? (same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings (not drivers points).

• Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Sprint Cup Series [NSCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NSCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NSCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
  The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Sprint Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
  If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the Sprint Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
  Through the first five races of the season for the Sprint Cup, the top 35 in the NSCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)
  Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers in the top 35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Sprint Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]

• Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Sprint Cup: See my 2010 Past Champions Provisional Page for more

• March 2009 Race Winner: #48-Jimmie Johnson, 75.938, started 9th

• October 2009 Race Winner: #11-Denny Hamlin, 73.633mph, started 17th

• Track Race Record: Jeff Gordon, Sept 1996, 82.223mph

• Oldest Race Winner: Harry Gant, 51 years, 8 months, 12 days, 9/22/1991

• Youngest Race Winner: Richard Petty, 22 years, 9 months, 8 days, 4/10/1960

• March 2009 Pole Sitter: #24-Jeff Gordon, none, canceled by rain, finished 4th

• October 2009 Pole Sitter: #39-Ryan Newman, 95.000mph, finished 7th

• Track Qualifying Record: Tony Stewart, October 2005, 98.083mph

• Oldest Pole Winner: Morgan Shepherd, 45 years, 6 months, 14 days, 4/26/1987

• Youngest Pole Winner: Ricky Rudd, 24 years, 7 months, 14 days, 04/26/1981

• Most Wins - Active Driver: Jeff Gordon, 7; Jimmie Johnson, 6

• Most Wins - All Time: Richard Petty, 15

• Most Poles - Active Driver: Jeff Gordon, 7

• Most Poles - All Time: Darrell Waltrip, 8

• Most Top 5s: 30 - Richard Petty; Active leader - 22 - Jeff Gordon

• Most Top 10s: 37 - Richard Petty; Active leader- 28 - Jeff Gordon

• Lead Lap Finishes (all time): Rusty Wallace 29 in 44 races

• Lead Lap Finishes (active): Jeff Gordon 27 in 34 races

• Laps Led (all time): Cale Yarborough - 3,851

• Laps Led (active): Jeff Gordon - 2,796 laps

• Most Cautions: 19 - 10/23/2005

• Fewest Cautions: 1 - 3 times, most recently 4/25/1971

• Most Caution Laps: 125, 10/24/2004

• Fewest Caution Laps: 3, 4/25/1971

• Most Running at the Finish: 42 - 4/18/1999 and 4/1/2007

• Fewest Running at the Finish: 4 - 5/6/1951

• Worst Starting Spot to Win: Kurt Busch, Oct 2002, started 36th

• Most Lead Changes: 25 - 9/28/1980

• Fewest Lead Changes: 1 - 3 times, most recently 4/9/1961

• Most Leaders: 14 - 10/15/2001

• Fewest Leaders: 2 - 11 times last on 9/26/1976

• Most Wins by Manufacturer: 46 - Chevy; 26 - Ford; 10 - Dodge; 3 - Toyota; 40 - Others

• Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 4 - John Andretti 4/18/1999

• Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 493 - Fred Lorenzen, 9/27/1964

• Races won from starting pos 1: 18 [of 122] 14.754%
  
• Races won from starting pos 2: 15
  
• Races won from starting pos 3: 14
  
• Races won from starting pos 4: 12
  
• Races won from starting pos 5: 5
  
• Races won from starting pos 6: 8
  
• Races won from starting pos 7: 7
  
• Races won from starting pos 8: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 9: 3
  
• Races won from starting pos 10: 4
  
• Races won from starting pos 11: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 12: 3
  
• Races won from starting pos 13: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 14: 5
  
• Races won from starting pos 15: 3
  
• Races won from starting pos 16: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 17: 4
  
• Races won from starting pos 18: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 19: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 20: 3
  
• Races won from starting pos 21: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 23: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 24: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 36: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos unknown: 4
  
• Races won from the top 5: 64 of 122 - 52.459%
  
• Races won from the top 10: 88 of 122 - 72.131%

• At Martinsville Speedway:
  

  · Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.

  · The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.

  · The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.

  · The track was paved in 1955.

  · The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.

  · Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976.

  · There have been 122 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.

  · Curtis Turner won the pole for the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville in 1949.

  · Red Byron won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

  · 55 drivers have won poles, led by Darrell Waltrip with eight. Jeff Gordon, with seven poles, can tie that mark this weekend.

  · Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and Darrell Waltrip share the consecutive pole record, each with three.

  · 45 different drivers have won, led by Richard Petty’s 15.

  · Jeff Gordon leads active drivers with seven wins. Jimmie Johnson has six.

  · 18 races have been won from the pole, the last by Jimmie Johnson in October 2008.

  · Petty Enterprises has won 19 races, more than any other organization. Hendrick Motorsports, with 18 wins, can tie that mark this weekend.

  · Kurt Busch won the 2002 fall race from the 36th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.

  · Three active drivers average a top-10: Jimmie Johnson (5.1), Jeff Gordon (6.8), Denny Hamlin (7.2).

  · The last three races that have ended under green have had a margin of victory under one second.

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PAINT SCHEME NEWS

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Car#/Driver	Sponsor/Scheme/Promo	Image Link
#00-David Reutimann	Tums	#00 Team Schemes Page
#5-Mark Martin	CARQUEST	#5 Team Schemes Page
#11-Denny Hamlin	FedEx Freight	#11 Team Schemes Page
#14-Tony Stewart	Old Spice	#14 Team Schemes Page
#16-Greg Biffle	U.S. Census	#16 Team Schemes Page
#18-Kyle Busch	Snickers	#18 Team Schemes Page
#19-Elliott Sadler	Stanley - Petty blue	#19 Team Schemes Page
#33-Clint Bowyer	BB&T	#33 Team Schemes Page
#34-Travis Kvapil	A&W	#34 Team Schemes Page
#37-David Gilliland	Gander Mountain	#37 Team Schemes Page
#43-A.J. Allmendinger	Charter Communications	#43 Team Schemes Page
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr	AMP Energy Sugar Free Lightning	#88 Team Schemes Page

• Gander Mountain Sponsors Gilliland at Martinsville: Gander Mountain will be the primary sponsor of Front Row Motorsports' #37 Sprint Cup entry at the Martinsville Speedway on March 28. The car will be piloted by David Gilliland, currently 35th in driver point standings in the Sprint Cup Series. Gander Mountain became a sponsor because of the number of NASCAR fans who also enjoy the outdoors, according to Steve Uline, Gander Mountain's executive vice president of marketing. The company will also sponsor Gilliland's car for the August 1 Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway. "David Gilliland is an avid outdoorsman, as are many NASCAR fans," Uline said. "One of David's favorite pastimes outside of NASCAR is fishing. He understands Gander Mountain's 'We Live Outdoors' culture and is the perfect driver to help us take our message to race fans." Gander Mountain, with 119 stores in 23 states, is the nation's largest retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, boating, camping, marine and outdoor lifestyle apparel, products and services. The company offers thousands of products in its online store and now includes free standard shipping. In addition, the site now offers a firearms department with a broad selection of ammunition, rifles, handguns, shotguns and accessories. Gander Mountain is also the parent company of Overton's (www.overtons.com) a leading catalog and Internet based retailer of products for boating and other water sports enthusiasts.(Front Row Motorsports/Breaking Limits), see images of the car on my #37 Team Schemes page.(3-22-2010)

• Special scheme for Dale Jr at Martinsville: Dale Earnhardt Jr is scheduled to drive the #88 AMP Energy Sugar Free Lightning Chevy at Martinsville Speedway on March 28, 2010. See image of the scheme on my #88 Team Schemes page.(3-20-2010)

• Census colors for Biffle next three races UPDATE: Starting at Atlanta the 2010 Census will take over as primary sponsor of Greg Biffle's #16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford for three races [Atlanta, Bristol and Martinsville]. For every one percent increase in census mail response, taxpayers will save an estimated $85 million. Those funds would otherwise be required to send census takers to collect responses in person from households that don't mail back the form. Census data are used to reapportion congressional seats to states and directly affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments.(RFR), see an image of the scheme on my #16 Team Schemes page.(3-3-2010)
  MORE: The U.S. Census Bureau announced an agreement with Roush Fenway Racing to serve as the primary sponsor of the #16 Ford Fusion driven by Greg Biffle for three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. The agreement will see the #16 carry a special 2010 Census livery in Sprint Cup Races at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 7, Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 21, and Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, March 28. To increase awareness and encourage participation in the upcoming 2010 Census, the three-race sponsorship schedule lines up with key census mail-out and mail-back dates. The 2010 Census #16 Ford Fusion will feature the familiar Post-It Brand notes of primary sponsor 3M carrying both the 2010 Census logo and "Mail It Back" on the hood, rear quarter panels and rear bumper. In addition, Director Groves will visit Atlanta Motor Speedway this coming weekend for the Kobalt Tools 500. Biffle recently filmed a racing-themed 2010 Census Public Service Announcement that can be viewed online at mediadownload.census.gov/content/greg-biffle. For more information on the 2010 Census visit 2010census.gov.(RFR), see image of the scheme on my #16 Team Schemes page.(3-5-2010)

• Carquest returns to sponsor #5 team: Carquest Auto Parts has extended its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and the #5 Chevy driven by Mark Martin through the 2011 NASCAR season. The two-year pact will showcase Carquest with primary sponsor placement in eight points races annually beginning in 2010. When its red, white and blue shield is not on the hood, Carquest will maintain a significant presence on the #5 Chevys as a major associate sponsor. "Carquest is pleased to be an eight-race primary sponsor of Mark Martin and the #5 team for the 2010 NASCAR season," said Temple Sloan III, president and CEO of General Parts/Carquest Auto Parts. "In our eight years as a partner of Hendrick Motorsports we have enjoyed many successes, and this year has been tremendous. As the Official Auto Parts supplier to Hendrick Motorsports we are proud to have Mark, Alan Gustafson (crew chief) and the team partnering with us. Winning is the goal our team strives for every day, both on the track and in our stores." For more information about Carquest, visit www.Carquest.com.(Hendrick Motorsports)
  The CARQUEST Auto Parts #5 Impala is scheduled to race in 2010 at:
  Martinsville in March
  Charlotte in May
  New Hampshire in June
  Daytona in July
  Bristol in August
  Atlanta in September
  California in October and
  Texas in November.
  See an image of the scheme on my #5 Team Schemes page.(11-13-2009)

• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery

• Track Specifications:
  Track Size: 0.526 Mile
  Race: 500 laps, 263 miles
  Degree of Banking: Turns: 12 degrees
  Straightaways: Banking: 0 degrees(flat)
  Straights: 800 feet
  Backstretch: 800 feet
  Grandstnd Seating: 61,000
  Pit Stalls: 43 pits, 14-feet wide by 28-feet long
  Speed Limits: Pit Road, 30 mph; Pace Car, 35 mph
  Opened: 1947

• Attendence:
  March 2010: 40,000 [Monday]; 58,000 [Sunday - rain out]
  October 2009: 64,000
  March 2009: 63,000
  October 2008: 64,000
  March 2008: 63,000 October 2007: 66,500
  March 2007: 66,500 (as reported on NASCAR Race Results pages)

• Race Festivities/Officials:
  Grand Marshal: Sunday: VA Gov. Bob McDonnell
    ?? NASCAR Legend Buddy Baker
  Command to start engines: Monday: Benny Summertin
  Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: ?
  Invocation: Joey McNeill
  Sunday:Roger Marsh, Executive Director, National Fellowship of Raceway Ministries
  National Anthem: Monday: Martinsville High School Jazz Band
  Sunday: Virginia Military Institute Glee Club
  Military Flyover: Sunday: F-18 Super Hornets, Strike Fighter Squadron Three One, VFA-31, Oceana Naval Air Station, Norfolk, VA
  

• For the season race officials by track, see my Race Officials page

• Track Websites:
  Martinsville Speedway
  ISC Motorsports
  ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: Martinsville Speedway
  Facebook - Martinsville Speedway
  Twitter - ms1947

• March 2009: see my Martinsville Race Info page

• October 2009: see my Martinsville Race Info page

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• Martinsville would like new spring date: Clay Campbell, track president of Martinsville Speedway and he said he would like to have a new date for this spring race (the track had a mid-April date for a number of years until moving up earlier in the schedule in 2007). Here's what he said: "March, it's a tough time period here, so yes, I'm talking to see if there's any chance of something being done (spring date moved). I don't know if there is. Years ago we were the last week of April. That's a good time of the year around here. I know NASCAR has a tough time juggling the schedule around because if they move one (date), it takes two to move. I understand that, and I understand that NASCAR has issues, too. It's not an easy thing to do, and I'd say the chances are slim of any movement happening, but I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't try to improve what we've got here.'' Of course, there could be a good bit of movement to the schedule next year if the legal issues around Kentucky Motor Speedway get resolved and Bruton Smith moves a Cup date there. Also, International Speedway Corp., wants a second date for Kansas Speedway but has not said from what track it will take it from. ISC owns Martinsville Speedway. Certainly, there could be a good bit of changes to the schedule next year and this is about the time of the year that NASCAR officials begin working on the next year's schedule.(Virginian Pilot)(3-29-2010)

• F-18s To Provide Flyover for Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500: One of the Navy’s oldest and most decorated squadrons will provide the flyover for Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Strike Fighter Squadron Three One will supply the flyover support with F-18 Super Hornets after the Virginia Military Institute’s Glee Club performs the national anthem prior to the start of the race. Based at Oceana Naval Air Station near Norfolk, the VFA-31 recently spent an eight-month deployment aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The Tomcatters dominated the skies above Afghanistan during the deployment, flying over 6,000 hours and 2,000 sorties in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Strike Fighter Squadron Three One has a long and distinguished history. The squadron has served in every major conflict since its inception. The squadron was aboard the USS Enterprise during the bombing of Pearl Harbor as well as the Battles of Wake Island, Marcus Island, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal and the Eastern Solomons. The squadron has seen aerial combat over the Philippines, Formosa, Okinawa and China. Tickets for the races are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or going to martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-23-2010)

• Kids Zone Returns at Martinsville: One section of Martinsville Speedway’s display area has again been declared a “Kids Zone” for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend with games, souvenirs and food aimed at the younger crowd. There will be two inflatable games for the youngsters to play on, The Moon Walk and The Slide. The concession items in the Kids Zone will not only be kid favorites, but kid priced. There will be chicken nuggets, hot dogs, cotton candy, chips, fruit cups and Capri Sun juice boxes. Nothing will be over $2. There will also be plenty of youth oriented souvenirs … three trailers full. Digger, FOX TV’s racing cartoon star, will have a trailer, along with the Kid’s Stop trailer and the Kidz Rock trailer. There are some great ticket prices for kids during the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend. Children’s tickets in the Clay Earles Tower are only $10 when purchased with an adult ticket. Children 12 and under will be admitted free to the Kroger 250 on Saturday, March 27 and Duracell Battery Kroger Pole Day on Friday, March 26. Tickets for the races are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or going to martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-23-2010)

• Virginia Military Institute Glee Club to perform Martinsville National anthem: The Virginia Military Institute Glee Club will perform the National Anthem for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on March 28, guaranteeing racing fans a traditional version of the Star Spangled Banner. The VMI Glee Club, which has been in existence since 1858, has entertained groups from coast-to-coast, singing for everything from gubernatorial inaugurations to the National Shrine in Washington, DC, to PGA Tournaments. Their version of the anthem is authentic and traditional. The VMI Glee Club is made up of 30 cadets from all classes, academic majors and ROTC affiliations at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. It is the oldest performing group at VMI. VMI is the nation’s oldest state supported military college, founded in 1839. Martinsville Speedway tickets may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(3-22-2010)

• Martinsville Family 4 Pack Gives Fans Chance at good and food at low price: Martinsville Speedway is famous for three things: great racing, great hot dogs and great prices. The track has combined all three for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on March 28. The new $99 Family 4 Pack is the most inexpensive way for a family of four to spend the day at Martinsville Speedway and enjoy the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500. The Family 4 Pack includes two adult tickets two children’s tickets (12 and under) to the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 along with vouchers for The Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog (four) and four Pepsi products. The Family 4 Pack seats are located in rows 6 through 14 of the Clay Earles Tower. Order your Family 4 Pack by calling 877-RACE-TIX (877-722-3849) and mentioning the Family Four Pack offer or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-8-2010)

• Martinsville expands ticket Office hours: Martinsville Speedway has expanded its ticket office hours to give fans plenty of time to purchase tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on March 28. The ticket office hours have been broadened to include Saturdays from now until the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500. The speedway ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays in addition to its normal daily hours of 9 to 5. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-8-2010)

• NASCAR Honors Martinsville Speedway for Recognition of Race Fans: Martinsville Speedway and Darnell Communications were honored by NASCAR Friday with the first-ever “Fan Recognition Award” for making the fans the grand marshal and honorary starter for last fall’s TUMS Fast Relief 500. It was the first time in the history of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing that the fans had been given the duties of grand marshal and honorary starter. To make sure it was an authentic experience, every fan was given a replica green flag to signal the start of the race. And when the race began, the grandstands were a sea of green. “It was a moving moment for me to see all of those green flags waving. I’ve been around this sport all my life and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it before,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “We’ve always said that fans come first at Martinsville Speedway and this was just a way we could take that another step. We are honored to be recognized by NASCAR, but this award is for the fans. They are the ones who keep this sport rolling.” Darnell Communications, which provides public relations and media strategies and services in motorsports for the TUMS brand, produced the concept to feature the fans and TUMS management quickly gave approval. Darnell Communications, the staff of Martinsville Speedway and TUMS officials spent almost a year working on the fan initiative. The final result was so popular it will be repeated at the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 24.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-25-2010)

• Goody's, TUMS Sign Two-Year Renewal with Martinsville: One of the most enduring relationships in NASCAR grew a little stronger today with the announcement that Goody’s Headache Powders and TUMS® are renewing their sponsorship of the spring and fall Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway through the 2012 season. Goody’s sponsorship of the spring race will continue with the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 while TUMS will extend its sponsorship of the fall race with the TUMS Fast Relief 500. The sponsorship extensions are another chapter in a decades-long history between GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare (makers of Goody’s and TUMS) and the historic half-mile oval. The two joined forces in 1983 when Goody’s Headache Powder first sponsored the Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Since then Goody’s and TUMS have sponsored a total of 23 races in several different divisions at Martinsville Speedway. TUMS has been the sponsor of the fall event at Martinsville since 2008. This year’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 is scheduled for Sunday, March 28 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500 is set for Sunday, October 24. The Goody’s Fast Relief Zone is an interactive NASCAR experience for fans to enjoy and sample Goody’s Headache Powders at select NASCAR races, including the next two Goody’s Fast Relief 500 races at Martinsville. Also recently, Martinsville Speedway president W. Clay Campbell announced today that Karen Parker has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing.(Martinsville Speedway)(1-18-2010)

• Fans will again wave green flag at Martinsville: In response to the overwhelming feedback from the fans, NASCAR community and motorsports industry, TUMS and Martinsville Speedway announced that all fans attending the 2010 TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Oct. 24 will serve as the "Official Starter" for the event. In 2009 and for the first time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, TUMS designated all fans attending the event as the "Official Starter". More than 64,000 fans participated in the unique event, waving their commemorative green flag to start the 500-lap event at the storied racing facility. All fans attending the Oct. 24, 2010, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event will receive a commemorative green flag when they arrive at their seats. Following the lead of the NASCAR flagman, fans will participate in the official start of the race. Many other special activities are being planned to make the 2010 TUMS Fast Relief 500 a memorable event for the fans.(Martinsville PR)(12-21-2009)

• 65,000-Plus Fans Will Give Starting Command at Martinsville: For the first time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, all fans attending the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway Sunday will serve as the ‘Grand Marshals’ and ‘Official Starters’ for the event. Tums, Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR and the Sprint Cup Series drivers and crews will salute the fans during pre-race activities leading up to the final honors of giving the command ‘Gentlemen, Start Your Engines’ and the waving of the green flag for the start of the 500-lap event. During pre-race ceremonies, the 43 drivers and crews will thank the fans for their support with a special salute. The drivers and more than 400 crew members will take part in the tribute to say thank you to all race fans. On a few occasions, fans have been invited to join the designated Grand Marshal in giving the command ‘Gentlemen, Start Your Engines’. At the Tums Fast Relief 500, fans will not only give the command to start the engines, but also participate in starting the race. All fans attending Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event will receive a 12” x 15” commemorative green flag when they arrive at their seats. Following the lead of the NASCAR flagman, all 65,000 fans will participate in the start of the 500-lap race, waving their own green flag. Sprint Vision will present congratulatory messages from several drivers and the NASCAR community throughout the morning leading up to the start of pre-race ceremonies. Fans also will see the VIP introductions at the opening of the driver’s meeting on Sprint Vision. Tums returns as the title sponsor for the fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at the .526-mile track for the second consecutive year. The Tums Fast Relief 500 is the sixth of 10 races that make up the Chase for the Sprint Cup and the final short-track race of the season.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-21-2009)

• Kids' Zone To Make Debut at Martinsville Speedway: Martinsville Speedway has been considered a family track for all if its 62 years, but for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 25, it will be just a little more child friendly than in the past. One section of the display area has been declared a “Kids' Zone” for the Tums Fast Relief 500 weekend with games, souvenirs and food aimed at the younger crowd. There will be two inflatable games for the youngsters to play on, The Moon Walk and The Slide. The concession items in the Kids' Zone will not only be kid favorites, but kid priced. There will be chicken nuggets, hot dogs, cotton candy, chips, fruit cups and Capri Sun juice boxes. Nothing will be over $2. There will also be plenty of youth oriented souvenirs … three trailers full. Digger, FOX TV’s racing cartoon star, will have a trailer, along with the Kid’s Stop trailer and the Kidz Rock trailer. There are some great ticket prices for kids during the TUMS Fast Relief 500 weekend. Children’s tickets in the Clay Earles Tower are only $10 when purchased with an adult ticket. Children 12 and under will be admitted free to the Kroger 200 on Saturday, October 24 and Farm Bureau Pole Day on Friday, October 23. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, October 25, the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, October 24 and the Farm Bureau Insurance Pole Day on Friday, October 23 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Ticket prices range from $25 to $77 for the TUMS Fast Relief 500.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-20-2009)

• New emergency texting available to race patrons: International Speedway Corporation (ISC) has partnered with InStadiumSolutions to implement a text-message based communication system at all of its 12 motorsports facilities. The service was introduced last weekend during the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at Darlington Raceway. The system allows fans to communicate with the racetrack's command post if assistance is needed inside the facility. The technology was tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway last November during the final weekend of the NASCAR season. Instructions will be posted throughout each racetrack and will be broadcast through audio and video public announcements. Besides Darlington and Homestead-Miami, ISC owns and/or operates Daytona, Talladega, Michigan, Richmond, Auto Club Speedway, Kansas, Phoenix, Chicago, Martinsville and Watkins Glen. The Fan Text Messaging Service is also being used by several professional and college teams, as well as at events such as the Super Bowl, BCS National Championship and World Baseball Classic.(Associated Press)(5-14-2009)

• Past track news: posted in the past at Jayski's Past Track News/Rumors - Martinsville Speedway

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Short Track Radials (Sprint Cup);
Goodyear Wrangler Short Track Radials (Camping World Truck)

Number of Tires:
Sprint Cup: Left-side – 1,500, Right-side – 1,500;
Camping World Truck: Left-side -- 325, Right-side -- 325

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4312; Right-side -- D-4314

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.2 in.; Right-side -- 88.6 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 25 psi; Left Rear -- 25 psi;
Right Front -- 25 psi; Right Rear -- 25 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 10 psi; Left Rear -- 10 psi;
Right Front -- 23 psi; Right Rear -- 22 psi

Estimated Pit Window: Every 125-135 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup).

Notes: Teams in both NASCAR series in action at Martinsville this weekend will run the same tire codes, though the Sprint Cup tires will be branded "Goodyear Eagle," while the Camping World Truck tires will be branded "Goodyear Wrangler" . . . this is the first time NASCAR teams will run either of these two tire codes . . . the most significant change from the tire set-up run at Martinsville last year is in the right-side construction, which has been modified to be more resistant to brake heat, always a factor at Martinsville . . . the compounds on both the left- and right-side tires remain unchanged from 2009 . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville.

• See the Sprint Cup Series Team / Driver Chart, which has links to past news for each team and info on each team.