Race: Sunday, April 18, 2010 in Fort Worth, TX

Title Sponsor: Samsung

Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 3:16pm/et

NASCAR Pre-race: FOX - 2:00pm/et

Television Race Coverage: FOX, 3:00pm/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: 12:00pm/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
Wednesday, April 21 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

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

This Week - Performance Racing Network (PRN) and XM Sirius Satellite

• goprn.com

• sirius.com

• Co-Anchors: Mark Garrow, Doug Rice

• Garage/Pit Reporters: Steve Richards, Brett McMillan

• Turn Announcers: Chuck Carland, Rob Albright, Brad Gillie

• Practices:
  Friday, April 16, 1:00 - 2:30 pm/et, TV-SPEED
  Saturday, April 17, 12:30 - 1:15 pm, TV-SPEED

• Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Saturday, April 17, 1:50 - 2:50pm/et, TV-SPEED

• Qualifying Draw: Friday, April 16, 12:00pm/et

• Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Friday, April 16 at 4:40pm/et, TV-SPEED, scheduled re-air at 10:30pm/et;
  AND live via radio at PRN Radio only on NASCAR.com.

• Hamlin wins at Texas: #11-Denny Hamlin won the Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway taking the lead with 12 laps to go after a mutli-car wreck caused a 19:13 red flag. It is Hamlin's 2nd win of 2010, 1st at Texas and 10th of his career. Hamlin is the 16th driver to win a Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. #48-Johnson was coming fast towards the end and finished 2nd, followed by #18-Busch, #2-Busch, #9-Kahne, #5-Martin, #29-Harvick, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #56-Truex Jr. and #16-Biffle. Only 13 cars finished on the lead lap after a late multi-car wreck late in the race took out #24-Gordon who led 212 laps and pole sitter #14-Stewart who led 73 laps, who finished 31st and 32nd respectfully. #48-Johnson increased his points lead to 108 points over #17-Kenseth. The top five drivers in points stay the same. There were 7 cautions for 32 laps [16:50 under caution], a red flag for 19:13 and 29 lead changes among 12 drivers.
  See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Texas Race Results/Awards page.(4-19-2010)

• Texas Facts and Notes:
  • Denny Hamlin won the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. It was Hamlin's 10th series victory in his 159th start. He joins Jimmie Johnson as only the second multiple-race winner of the season. It was Hamlin's first win at Texas in his 10th start there.
  • Hamlin led once for the final 12 laps.
  • With the victory, Hamlin moved from 18th to 11th in the Sprint Cup standings.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing posted its 48th career Cup win overall and just its second win at Texas.
  • It was Toyota's first win at Texas. It was the manufacturer's second victory in eight races this season.
  • The top 10 consisted of four Chevrolets, three Toyotas, two Fords and one Dodge.
  • Jimmie Johnson (second) has finished first or second in five of the past eight races at Texas. Johnson became the 14th driver in series history to surpass 10,000 laps led. Johnson leads the points by 108 over Matt Kenseth.
  • Kyle Busch (third) scored his best finish of 2010.
  • Kurt Busch (fourth) scored his third top-5 at Texas and in 2010.
  • Kasey Kahne (fifth) broke a streak of three finishes outside the top 15.
  • Greg Biffle (10th) has finished in the top 10 in seven of eight races in 2010, most of all drivers.
  • Tony Stewart finished 32nd in his 400th career Cup race after winning his first pole in more than four years. Stewart led 74 laps.
  • Jeff Gordon (31st) led a race-high 124 laps before being involved in a late-race wreck.
  • Jeff Burton (12th) was running at the end of the race for the 500th time in 555 career races.
  • There were 29 lead changes, tying the previous record set in 2000.(ESPN.com)(4-20-2010)

• Race Fast Facts - Texas Motor Speedway:
  #11-Denny Hamlin won the Samsung Mobile 500, his 10th victory in 159 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
  This is his second victory and second top-10 finish in 2010.
  This is his first victory and seventh top-10 finish in ten races at Texas Motor Speedway. Hamlin has won three of the past four NSCS races run on a Monday including the last two; today and at Martinsville Speedway.
  #48-Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 14 races at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his sixth top-10 finish in 2010.
  #18-Kyle Busch (third) posted his fifth top-10 finish in 11 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
  #38-Kevin Conway (27th) was the highest finishing rookie.
  Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 108 points over Matt Kenseth.(NASCAR Statistics)(4-19-2010)

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings:
  [after Texas, race 8 of 36]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, [3 wins] 1248
  2) #17-Matt Kenseth, 1140, -108
  3) #16-Greg Biffle, 1120, -128
  4) #29-Kevin Harvick, 1107, -141
  5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 1028, -220
  6) #18-Kyle Busch, 1020, -228
  7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 1013, -235
  8) #31-Jeff Burton, 1005, -243
  9) #2-Kurt Busch [1 win], 999, -249
  10) #5-Mark Martin, 994, -254
  11) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 973, -275
  12) #99-Carl Edwards, 942, - 306
  Chase for the Sprint Cup - Contenders:
  13) #20-Joey Logano, 941, 1 point out of the chase
  14) #14-Tony Stewart, 941, -1
  15) #33-Clint Bowyer, 940, -2
  2009 Chaser Drivers not in top 15
  16) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 932, -11
  19) #83-Brian Vickers, 835, -107
  22) #9-Kasey Kahne, 821, -121
  24) #42-Juan Montoya, 789, -153
  See standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(4-19-2010)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Talladega:
  Changes: #34-Kvapil finished 24th at Texas and is 34th and has a guaranteed spot at Talladega, #37-Gilliland drops to 35th, 1 points ahead of #7-Gordon, who finished 26th and dropped to 36th and will have to qualify by speed
  31) #78-Smith/Furniture Row: 680, +67
  32) #71-Labonte/Buckler: 680, +67
  33) #38-Conway/Front Row: 628, +15
  34) #34-Kvapil/Front Row: 617, +4
  35) #37-Gilliland/Front Row: 614, 1 point ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
  36) #7-Gordon/RGM/BAM: 613, 1 point out of 35th
  37) #26-Stremme/Latitude43: 457, -157
  38) #36-Sauter/Baldwin: 445, -169
  39) #13-Papis/Germain: 408, -206
  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.(4-19/21-2010)

• Penalty Report - Texas:
  Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty
  20, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, engine change
  83, 78, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  21, 82, Running the stop and go sign/light, 1 lap
  83, 100, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  77, 112, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  77, 112, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, tail end
  31, 113, Commitment Line Violation, tail end
  00, 311, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  43, 317, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  99, 317, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  20, 317, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  99, 317, Pulling up to pit, 1 lap
  20, 317, Pulling up to pit, 1 lap
  (NASCAR Statistics)(4-19-2010)

• Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Texas: (and their finish)
  Caution 1: #37-Gilliland, 29th
  Caution 2: #34-Kvapil, 24th
  Caution 3: #12-Keselowski, 14th
  Caution 4: #32-Sorenson, 39th
  Caution 5: #39-Newman, 11th
  Caution 6: #39-Newman (2), 11th
  Caution 7: NONE as the drivers up for it caused the caution
  (4-19-2010)

• Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Texas (or seemed to)?
  43rd: #55-Blaney, 20 laps run
  42nd: #09-Bliss, 50 laps
  41st: #55-McDowell, 60 laps
  40th: #87-Nemechek, 75 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)(4-19-2010)

• Races postponed until Monday: the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series races have been postponed until Monday, April 19th, with the Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway rescheduled to start at 12:00noon/et [11:00am/local time] and the Nationwide Series race scheduled for 5:00pm/et. FOX will televise the Sprint Cup race live and ESPN2 will cover the Nationwide race live with PRN and Sirius covering the races on radio.
  There is supposedly a competition caution 25 laps into the Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup Series race unless the is a caution before, so teams can make adjustments and check tires. For more weather links and information see the Texas Race Info Page - Weather Link section.
  WEATHER FORECAST UPDATE: for the Fort Worth/Justin TX area on Monday, April 19th is much better then the mess on Sunday. Cloudy. High 66F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.(4-18-2010)

• Notice from TMS: A persistent rain, coupled with an ominous forecast for the remainder of the day, has forced the postponement of Sunday’s Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series event until Monday at Texas Motor Speedway. The Samsung Mobile 500 will begin at 11:00am/ct [12noon/et] and will be followed by the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at 4:00pm/ct. Fans holding tickets for either race will be allowed to enjoy both events. The Samsung Mobile 500 will be broadcast live on FOX while the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 will be shown live on ESPN2.
  “It was the fan friendly thing to do in terms of allowing our fans with either ticket to stay for both races,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “The weather has inconvenienced all of them and for those who are able to stay they may as well enjoy 801 miles (501-mile Samsung Mobile 500, 300-mile O’Reilly Auto Parts 300) of NASCAR racing. We expect to accommodate all of those ticketholders and are optimistic that they will respect each other and find a nearby seat if they have the identical one.” The only time in the 14-year history of Texas Motor Speedway that a NASCAR event had to be run on Monday occurred in 2002. The Samsung/RadioShack 500 was run on April 8, 2002 and was won by #17-Matt Kenseth.
  The gates will open at 9:00am/ct. The Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series garages, track credential office and TMS ticket office all will open at 8:00am/ct. The credential office will close at 11:00am/ct. Fans looking to purchase tickets for this unique NASCAR doubleheader can do so at the TMS ticket office, starting as low as $91. For those requiring additional ticket information, please contact the TMS ticket office at (817) 215-8500.(TMS PR)(4-19-2010)

• Some Track Dryers Facts:
  8 ServiceMaster Clean jet dryers in use today to dry 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway oval
  50 minutes – amount of time ServiceMaster Clean jet dryer will operate on full tank of fuel
  150 minutes -- minimum time needed to dry a 1.5-mile track after a significant rainfall
  175 gallons of fuel needed to fill the tank of a ServiceMaster Clean jet dryer
  4,500 ServiceMaster Clean franchise locations around the world
  20,000 gallons of jet fuel available on Texas Motor Speedway premises for use in track drying efforts.(ServiceMaster)(4-18-2010)

• Parts confiscated from #13 and #47 teams: NASCAR confiscated the lower radiator pans from Max Papis' #13 Toyota and Marcos Ambrose's #47 Toyota during post-qualifying Sprint Cup Series inspection. The pans are considered "unapproved ballast weight mounting" according to Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby and is in violation of NASCAR Rule 20-2.3 (added car weight). Darby said the violation could carry a penalty. The piece confiscated on the #13 Toyota was 45.2-pounds, while the #47 Toyota's pan weighed 25.7 pounds. One crew chief who was observing the steel pieces in the NASCAR hauler after they were confiscated said the pans "should weigh a couple of pounds at best" and be composed of one-eighth inch aluminum. Frank Kerr, crew chief of the #47 Toyota said it was the same radiator pan the team has used all season. "We asked the inspectors when we first put it on the car at California if it was 'OK' and they said it was 'on the edge, but OK.' There hasn't been any question about the piece until now."(FoxSports)(4-17-2010)

• Gossage not a fan of start-and-parkers: Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage said the so-called start-and-park teams in each NASCAR race are "stealing money" and steps should be taken to stop them. A few teams enter Sprint Cup events each week with no intention of running the entire event. Some of them don't even have a pit crew or extra tires. They qualify for the race, run a few laps and park the car to collect the large purse money. "The start-and-parkers are simply stealing," Gossage said Saturday. "I don't blame them for finding the loophole, but they are going to steal a half a million dollars here tomorrow [in the Samsung Mobile 500] of our money. "They add nothing to the show, not one darn thing. They're stealing. I want real racers, but they're not racing." Gossage pointed specifically to the #66 Toyota owned by Phil Parsons. The team has competed in six Cup events this season. The car finished 41st or worse in five races, completing less than 20 percent of the laps in those events. "NASCAR has an obligation to the fans to not allow this," Gossage said. "People are stealing in broad daylight in front of 150,000 fans in the grandstands and millions of people watching at home." Gossage has two suggestions for eliminating the problem: Reduce the Cup field from 43 to 36 cars (the last seven finishers a year ago at TMS made over $580,000 total), or change the way purse money is distributed. "Last place here Sunday is going to pay about $85,000," Gossage said. "That should be $10,000 and the rest of that money should go to the top finishers."(ESPN)(4-17-2010)

• Pit Stall Selections - Texas: The selections of pit stalls for the Samsung 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #14-Stewart chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
  Outside pole sitter #77-Hornish Jr., took stall 14, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].
  #16-Biffle, who starts 3rd took the 13th pit stall, the first stall with an opening behind it.
  The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #31-Burton, who starts 6th.
  To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Terxas Pit Stall Selection chart.(4-17-2010)

• Race Coverage of the Samsung 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, April 18, 2010.
  Television (TV): FOX at 3:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 2:00 pm/et; green flag approx 3:16pm/et
  Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128
  Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
  SPEED, Wednesday, April 21 at 12:00pm/et

• 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), see rules and notes on my Green-White-Checker rule page.(2-11-2010)

• 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)

• 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)

• Texas Pit Stall Selections

• Stewart wins pole at Texas: #14-Tony Stewart won the Coors Pole for the Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway with a speed of 191.327mph for his 1st pole of 2010, 1st in 155 races [since Martinsville in Oct 2005] and 11th of his 400 race career. #77-Hornish Jr. will start 2nd followed by #16-Biffle, #48-Johnson, #9-Kahne, #31-Burton, #18-Busch, #33-Bowyer, #88-Earnhardt Jr. and last weeks race winner #39-Newman.
  The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #87-Nemecehk, #55-Blaney, #13-Papis, #66-McDowell, #09-Bliss, #34-Kvapil, #21-Elliott and #32-Sorenson
  The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (3): #26-Stremme, #46-Cook and #36-Sauter.
  See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Texas Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(4-16-2010)

• Qualifying Fast Facts - Texas:
  #14-Tony Stewart won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Samsung Mobile 500 with a lap of 28.224 seconds, 191.327 mph.
  This is his 11th pole in 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. His last pole came 155 races ago in October 2005 at Martinsville Speedway.
  This is his first pole and fourth top-10 start in 2010.
  This is his first pole in 17 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
  #77-Sam Hornish Jr. (second) posted his third top-10 start of 2010 and his first in five races at Texas Motor Speedway. This is Hornish's best qualifying effort. He qualified third a week ago at Phoenix International Raceway.
  #16-Greg Biffle (third) posted his sixth top-10 start at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his third in eight races this season.
  #38-Kevin Conway (40th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(4-16-2010)

• Coverage of Qualifying for the Samsung 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is scheduled for Friday, April 16, 2010 at 4:40pm/et.
  Television (TV): SPEED 4:30pm/et
  Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) only on NASCAR.com
  Jayski.com: Jayski's Semi-Live Qualifying Page
  Qualifying Re-Air: 10:30pm/et

• Qualifying Order for the Samsung 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor 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 #6-Ragan.
  The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #38-Conway.
  The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #66-McDpwell with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #34-Kvapil.
  See the full qualifying order on the Texas Qualifying Page.(4-16-2010)

• Friday's practice: for the Samsung Mobile 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes, some results:
  #16-Biffle 190.813
  #14-Stewart 190.201
  #88-Earnhardt Jr. 189.567
  #33-Bowyer 189.394
  #48-Johnson 189.235
  slowest: #36-Sauter 181.123 and #38-Conway 185.014
  See practice speeds, avberage speeds, laps run on my Texas Practice Speeds page.(4-16-2010)

• Texas practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:
  if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:
  #13-Max Papis, 25th fastest
  #09-Mike Bliss, 31st
  #87-Joe Nemechek, 32nd
  #21-Bill Elliott [PC], 33rd
  #55-Dave Blaney, 37th
  #32-Reed Sorenson, 38th
  #26-David Stremme, 39th
  #34-Travis Kvapil, 41st
  these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:
  #66-Michael McDowell, 43rd
  #46-Terry Cook, 44th
  #36-Johnny Sauter, 46th/last
  [PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

• The Entry List for the Samsung 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
  Not in top 35 of owners points for the first five races in 2010:
  #09-Mike Bliss (2009 race winner as owner)(45/7)
  #13-Max Papis (39/7)
  #21-Bill Elliott [past champ 1988](46/2)
  #26-David Stremme (2009 race winner as owner)(37/7)
  #32-Reed Sorenseon (53/1)
  #36-Johnny Sauter (38/7)
  #34-Travis Kvapil (36/7)
  #46-Terry Cook (44/7)
  #55-Dave Blaney (42/7)
  #66-Michael McDowell (43/7)
  #87-Joe Nemechek (41/7)
  In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:
  the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 26,09,21,34,36,13,87,55
  missing the race would be [3]: #'s 66,46,32
  See the full entry list at my Jayski's Texas Entry List.(4-12/14-2010)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Texas:
  30) #77-Hornish/Penske 625 +104
  31) #71-Labonte/Buckler 586 +65
  32) #78-Smith/Furniture Row 580 +59
  33) #38-Gilliland/Front Row 546 +25
  34) #37-Conway/Front Row 538 +17
  35) #7-Gordon/RGM/BAM: 528, 7 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
  36) #34-Kvapil/Front Row 521 7 points out of 35th
  38) #26-Said/Stremme/Latitude43: 426 -102
  37) #36-Bliss/Baldwin: 420 -108
  39) #13-Papis/Germain: 361 -167
  40) #90-Riggs/Key 304 -224
  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.(4-10-2010)

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings:
  [after Phoenix, race 7 of 36]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins] 1073
  2) #17-Matt Kenseth 1037, -36
  3) #16-Greg Biffle 981, -92
  4) #29-Kevin Harvick 961, -112
  5) #24-Jeff Gordon 948, -125
  6) #33-Clint Bowyer 885, -188
  7) #31-Jeff Burton 873, -200
  8) #99-Carl Edwards 873, -200
  9) #14-Tony Stewart 869, -204
  10) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 866, -207
  11) #20-Joey Logano 862, -211
  12) #18-Kyle Busch 855, -218
  Chase for the Sprint Cup - Contenders:
  13) #5-Mark Martin 844, 11 points out of chase
  14) #2-Kurt Busch [1 win] 834, -22
  15) #98-Paul Menard 811, -44
  16) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win] 802, -53
  17) #83-Brian Vickers 786, -69
  18) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win] 783, -72
  2009 Chaser Drivers not in top 18
  21) #42-Juan Montoya 723, -132
  26) #9-Kasey Kahne 666, -189
  See standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(4-10-2010)

• What happens if qualifying gets canceled/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

• Kyle Busch going for Nationwide record: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs/Conn's Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series, has won four consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, and the "Drive for Five" will take place during Saturday's O'Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway. In the four victories, Busch led a combined 657 of 800 laps available to him, meaning he has been at the point for 82% of the Nationwide Series circuits conducted at Texas since 2008. Only two other drivers – Jack Ingram and Dale Earnhardt – have won five consecutive Nationwide Series races at one track. Ingram, the 1982 and 1985 Nationwide Series champion, won at South Boston Speedway in July 1985 and then won four more races at the .357-mile oval in southern Virginia in April, May, June and July of 1986. Earnhardt won the February Nationwide Series event at Daytona every year from 1990 to 1994.(JGR)(4-17-2010)

• April 2009 Pole Sitter: #00-David Reutimann, 190.517mph, finished 11th

• November 2009 Pole Winner: #24-Jeff Gordon, 191.117 mph, finished 13th

• Track Pole Record: #25-Brian Vickers, 196.235, 11/3/2006

• Oldest Pole Winner: Bill Elliott, 46 years, 6 months, 0 days, 4/08/2002

• Youngest Pole Winner: Brian Vickers, 23 years, 0 months, 12 days, 11/05/2006

• April 2009 Race Winner: #24-Jeff Gordon, 145.372mph, started 2nd

• November 2009 Race Winner: #2-Kurt Busch, 147.137mph, started 3rd

• Track Race Record: Carl Edwards, Nov 2005, 151.055mph

• Slowest Race Record: Jeff Burton, 1997, 125.102mph

• Oldest Race Winner: Dale Jarrett, 44 years, 4 months, 6 days, 4/1/2001

• Youngest Race Winner: Ryan Newman, 25 years, 3 months, 22 days, 3/30/2003

• Most Wins: 3 - Carl Edwards

• Most Poles: 2 - Ryan Newman, Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton

• Most Top 5s: 7 - Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth

• Most Top 10s: 10 - Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Mark Martin

• Most Cautions: 12 - 4/2/2000 and 11/5/2006

• Fewest Cautions: 5 - 11/2/2008 and 11/8/2009

• Most Caution Laps: 73, 4/6/1997

• Fewest Caution Laps: 26, 11/2/2008 and 11/8/2009

• Most Running at the Finish: 40 - 11/6/2005 & 11/2/2008

• Fewest Running at the Finish: 29 - twice, most recently 4/5/1998

• Most Lead Changes: 29 - 4/2/2000

• Most Leaders: 17 - 4/2/2000

• Fewest Lead Changes: 13 - 11/8/2009

• Fewest Leaders: 4 - 11/8/2009

• Most Wins by Manufacturer: 9 - Ford; 6 - Chevy; 3 - Dodge; 0 - Toyota

• Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 1 [of 334] - Jeff Burton 4/15/2007

• Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 278 [of 334] - Tony Stewart, 11/5/2006

• Worst Starting Spot to Win: #17-Matt Kenseth, 2000, started 31st

• Races won from starting pos 1: 1
• Races won from starting pos 2: 3
• Races won from starting pos 3: 3
• Races won from starting pos 4: 2
• Races won from starting pos 5: 2
• Races won from starting pos 7: 1
• Races won from starting pos 8: 2
• Races won from starting pos 16: 1
• Races won from starting pos 19: 1
• Races won from starting pos 30: 1
• Races won from starting pos 31: 1
• Races won from the top 5: 11 of 18
• Races won from the top 10: 14 of 18

• At Texas Motor Speedway:
  · Construction began in 1995.
  · The first NASCAR race was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 5, 1997.
  · The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was on April 6, 1997.
  · There have been 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, one per season from 1997 through 2004 and two races per year since 2005.
  · Four drivers have competed in all 18 Texas races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.
  · Jeremy Mayfield was the first pole winner, in 1998. Qualifying for the inaugural race in 1997 was canceled.
  · Jeff Burton won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
  · 12 drivers have scored poles, led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon with two.
  · 15 drivers have won races, led by Carl Edwards, with three. Jeff Gordon won at Texas for the first time, last season. Gordon has won at every track he has run except Homestead-Miami Speedway.
  · 14 of 18 races have been won from a top-10 starting position. Only one has been won from the pole (Kasey Kahne in 2006).
  · Matt Kenseth started 31st en route to his victory at Texas in 2002, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started.
  · Both Jeff Burton (1999) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) scored their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Texas.
  · Five of the last seven races have had a margin of victory under one second.
  · Matt Kenseth (9.3) is the only active driver to average a top-10 finish.
  · Roush Fenway Racing leads all owners in victories, with seven. Hendrick Motorsports is second, with three wins.
  · There has been one season sweep, by Carl Edwards in 2008. Edwards is looking to break a 43-race winless drought.
  * There have been 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Texas.
  * 72 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Texas.
  * There have been seven race winners from Texas in NASCAR’s three national series.

• Pole Winners at Texas
  11/2009: Jeff Gordon (2), #24 Chevy, 191.117 mph, finished 13th
  4/2009: David Reutimann, Toyota, 190.517, finished 11th
  11/2008: Jeff Gordon, #24 Chevy, 188.469, finished 2nd
  4/2008: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2), #88 Chevy, 190.907, finished 12th
  11/2007: Martin Truex Jr., #1 Chevy, 193.105, finished 3rd
  4/2007: none, rained out
  11/2006: Brian Vickers, #25 Chevy, 196.235, finished 27th [record]
  4/2006: Kasey Kahne, #9 Dodge, 190.315, finished 1st
  11/2005: Ryan Newman (@), #12 Dodge, 192.947, finished 25th
  4/2005: Ryan Newman, #12 Dodge, 193.882, finished 16th
  2004: Bobby Labonte (2), #18 Chevy, 193.903, finished 25th
  2003; Bobby Labonte, #18 Chevy, 193.514, finished 37th
  2002: Bill Elliott, #9 Dodge, 194.224, finished 9th
  2001; Dale Earnhardt Jr, #8 Chevy, 190.678, finished 8th
  2000: Terry Labonte, #5 Chevy, 192.137, finished 8th
  1999: Kenny Irwin Jr, #28 Ford, 190.154, finished 15th
  1998: Jeremy Mayfield, #12 Ford, 185.906, finished 23rd
  1997: none, rained out

• Race Winners at Texas
  11/2009: Kurt Busch, #2 Dodge, 147,137mph, started 3rd
  4/2009: Jeff Gordon, #24 Chevy, 145.372, started 2nd
  11/2008: Carl Edwards (3), #99 Ford, 144.219, started 16th
  4/2008: Carl Edwards (2), #99 Ford, 144.814, started 2nd
  11/2007: Jimmie Johnson, #48 Chevy, 131.219, started 8th
  4/2007: Jeff Burton (2), #31 Chevy, 143.359, started 2nd
  11/2006: Tony Stewart, #20 Chevy, 134.891, started 8th
  4/2006: Kasey Kahne, #9 Dodge, 137.943, started 1st
  11/2005: Carl Edwards, #99 Ford, 151.055, started 30th
  4/2005: Greg Biffle, #16 Ford, 130.055, started 5th
  2004: Elliott Sadler, #38 Ford, 138.845, started 19th
  2003: Ryan Newman, #12 Dodge, 131.517, started 3rd
  2002: Matt Kenseth, #17 Ford, 142.453, started 31st
  2001: Dale Jarrett, #88 Ford, 141.804, started 3rd
  2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr, #8 Chevy, 131.152, started 4th
  1999: Terry Labonte, #5 Chevy, 144.276, started 4th
  1998: Mark Martin, #6 Ford, 136.771, started 7th
  1997: Jeff Burton, #99 Ford, 125.111, started 5th

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PAINT SCHEME NEWS

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Car#/Driver	Sponsor/Scheme/Promo	Image Link
#5-Mark Martin	GoDaddy.com	#5 Team Schemes Page
#7-Robby Gordon	Monster Energy Drink	#7 Team Schemes Page
#11-Denny Hamlin	FedEx Ground (green)	#11 Team Schemes Page
#14-Tony Stewart	Office Depot	#14 Team Schemes Page
#16-Greg Biffle	Post-It	#16 Team Schemes Page
#17-Matt Kenseth	Crown Royal Black	#17 Team Schemes Page
#18-Kyle Busch	Interstate Batteries	#18 Team Schemes Page
#19-Elliott Sadler	Hunt Brothers Pizza	#19 Team Schemes Page
#24-Jeff Gordon	National Guard - Special Forces	#24 Team Schemes Page
#39-Ryan Newman	Army ROTC	#39 Team Schemes Page
#43-A.J. Allmendinger	Insignia / Best Buy	#43 Team Schemes Page
#47-Marcos Ambrose	Tom Thumb/Viva	#47 Team Schemes Page
#71-Bobby Labonte	Texas Gov. Rick Perry	#71 Team Schemes Page
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr	AMP Energy Drink	#88 Team Schemes Page
#99-Carl Edwards	Scott's Turfbuilder	#99 Team Schemes Page

• Special Forces scheme for Gordon: The National Guard will honor Special Forces on the hood of the #24 Chevy this weekend at Texas. The Army National Guard Special Forces is an unconventional combat arms organization filled with trained, seasoned professional Soldiers that receive some of the best training in the Army National Guard. Special Forces Soldiers are carefully selected and among the most versatile Special Operations Soldiers in the World. Visit www.NATIONALGUARD.com/JeffGordon to learn more.(HMS) see images of the scheme on my #24 Team Schemes page.(4-18-2010)

• Blue colors for Martin at Texas: The blue and black colors of Hendrickcars.com return to the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy of Mark Martin this week. Hendrickcars.com has up to 5,000 top quality used cars online with up to 90 photos, videos, free CARFAX reports and manufacturer-certified used vehicles. It's a quick, easy and affordable way to buy the best used car (HMS), see images of the scheme on my #5 Team Schemes page.(4-18-2010)

• Interstate Batteries back on the #18: Along with the familiar Interstate Batteries green on Kyle Busch’s Toyota this weekend, special logos will adorn the #18 Toyota promoting “I am Second,” an Internet-driven outreach tool (www.iamsecond.com) supported by market-exclusive advertising campaigns featuring video testimonies of hope, inspiration and transformation by individuals from all walks of life, based on their personal faith journeys. Interstate Batteries Chairman Norm Miller, a key supporter of the project that includes participants such as American Idol contestant Jason Castro, former Korn band member Brian “Head” Welch and Texas Rangers All-Star Josh Hamilton. Since the site launched in December 2008, I am Second has had nearly 1 million unique visitors from 191 countries. Dallas-based e3 Partners Ministry, which created I am Second, has complemented the Web site with creative, targeted billboard, TV and radio media buys and kiosk advertising in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and plans to expand the campaign into other markets later this fall.(JGR), see images of the scheme on my #18 Team Schemes page.(4-18-2010)

• Army ROTC scheme for Newman at Texas: Ryan Newman's #39 U. S. Army Chevy will have a different look at this weekend's Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Adorning the hood and rear quarter panels of the Stewart-Haas Racing car will be the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps logo (Army ROTC). Army ROTC is a college-based officer commissioning program designed as an elective focusing on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning and professional ethics. Army ROTC is the largest military branch within the Department of Defense ROTC programs.(Stewart Hass Racing PR), see an image of the car on my #39 team schemes page.(4-13-2010)

• National Guard returns to the #24 in 2010: For the second year in a row, Gordon and the #24 team will be sponsored by the National Guard for eight Sprint Cup Series events. In addition to this weekend at Atlanta, Gordon will partner with the National Guard at seven other venues:
  Texas on April 18
  Darlington on May 8
  Michigan on June 13
  Richmond on Sept. 11
  New Hampshire on Sept. 19
  Martinsville on Oct. 24, and
  Talladega on Oct. 31.
  In eight outings last year with the National Guard on the hood of his #24 Chevy, Gordon scored an average finish of 4.375. His best effort was a win at Texas Motor Speedway in April, while he scored runner-up finishes at Atlanta in March, Michigan in June and Chicago in July. He finished fifth at Darlington in May, third at Richmond in September and fifth at Martinsville in October. Visit the National Guard's www.JeffGordonGuardGarage.com Web site to get free downloads and view exclusive photos of Gordon at the track and sign up for the Fan Club for a chance to win one-of-a-kind prizes.(HMS), see image of the basic scheme on my #24 Team Schemes page.(3-3-2010)

• Hunt Brothers to sponsor Sadler: looks like Hunt Brothers Pizza, who sponsored Richard Petty Motorsports on the #44 car in 2009, will return in 2010, sponsoring Elliott Sadler for six races on the #19 Ford:
  Atlanta (3/7)
  Texas (4/18)
  Darlington (5/8)
  All-Star Race (5/22)
  Bristol (8/21) and
  Talladega (10/31).
  See images on my #19 Team Schemes page.(1-12-2010)

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

• Track Specifications:
  Track/Race Length: 1.5-mile quad oval, 334 laps, 501 miles
  Track Size: 1.5 miles
  Race: 334 laps, 501 miles
  Width: 58 feet (minimum)
  Turns: 750-foot radius
  Degree of Banking: Turns: 24 degrees
  Straightaways/dogleg: Banking: 5 degrees;
  Straights: Front Straight - 2250 feet; Back Stretch - 1330 feet
  Front Straightaway Grandstand: 66 rows, 112,522. Includes: PSL seats (36,000 w/armrests); and Handicapped Seating (1,595 – Row 28 at portal entrances)
  Back Straightaway Grandstand: 12 rows, 9,855
  Luxury Suites: 144 with seating for 9,992
  Victory Lane Club Suites: 50 with seating for 3,152
  Condominium Seating: 2,571
  Infield Capacity: Approx. 53,000
  Grandstand Seating: 122,377
  Total Permanent Seating: 138,122
  Total Estimated Capacity: 191,122 Pit Road: 45 pit stalls for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
  Pit Road Speed: 45mph
  Pace Car Speed: 55mph
  Opened: 1997

• Carry-in items:
  Coolers: allowed (14-inch by 14-inch by 14-inch limit)
  Glass containers: not allowed
  Alcoholic beverages: allowed
  Cameras/binoculars: allowed

• Race Festivities/Officials:
  Grand Marshal: ?
  Command to start engines: ?
  Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: ?
  Invocation: ?
  National Anthem: Country music artist Charley Pride
  Military Flyover: 4 F-15C Eagles
  Pace Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, driven by Dallas Stars center Mike Modano

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

• Websites:
  Texas Motor Speedway
  Speedway Motorsports
  ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: Texas Motor Speedway
  Texas Motor Speedway - Facebook
  Texas Motor Speedway - Twitter
  Texas Motor Speedway - MySpace
  for info on the old Texas shareholder vs NASCAR lawsuit, see my Lawsuit's Page

• April 2009: see my Texas Race Info page

• November 2009: see my Texas Race Info page

• Fan Texting — Need Help?:
  If you have an issue or need assistance you can now text it to Texas Motor Speedway. Follow these simple instructions:
  • Send a text message to 69050
  • In the body of the message type TMSFan and then a
  • Type in your issue and location
  • Press SEND
  Your issue or concern will be dispatched to the appropriate personnel.

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• Country music legend Charley Pride will sing the National Anthem on Monday: Country music legend Charley Pride will return to Texas Motor Speedway on Monday to sing the National Anthem during the abbreviated pre-race activities for the Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Pride originally was scheduled to sing the National Anthem on Sunday before the Samsung Mobile 500 was postponed due to inclement weather. The Samsung Mobile 500 will take the green flag at 11:00am/ct on Monday. Pride, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, was the first African-American superstar in country music and has continued to serve as a pioneer in the industry so much so that he was honored by the Academy of Country Music with its Pioneer Award in 1994, one of numerous accolades Pride has received throughout his career. Fans holding tickets for either the Samsung Mobile 500 or O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 will be allowed to enjoy both events. Those looking to purchase tickets for this unique NASCAR doubleheader can do so at the TMS ticket office, starting as low as $91. The TMS ticket office will open at 8 a.m.<TMS Facebook)(4-19-2010)

• Notice from TMS: A persistent rain, coupled with an ominous forecast for the remainder of the day, has forced the postponement of Sunday’s Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series event until Monday at Texas Motor Speedway. The Samsung Mobile 500 will begin at 11:00am/ct [12noon/et] and will be followed by the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at 4:00pm/ct. Fans holding tickets for either race will be allowed to enjoy both events. The Samsung Mobile 500 will be broadcast live on FOX while the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 will be shown live on ESPN2.
  “It was the fan friendly thing to do in terms of allowing our fans with either ticket to stay for both races,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “The weather has inconvenienced all of them and for those who are able to stay they may as well enjoy 801 miles (501-mile Samsung Mobile 500, 300-mile O’Reilly Auto Parts 300) of NASCAR racing. We expect to accommodate all of those ticketholders and are optimistic that they will respect each other and find a nearby seat if they have the identical one.” The only time in the 14-year history of Texas Motor Speedway that a NASCAR event had to be run on Monday occurred in 2002. The Samsung/RadioShack 500 was run on April 8, 2002 and was won by #17-Matt Kenseth.
  The gates will open at 9:00am/ct. The Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series garages, track credential office and TMS ticket office all will open at 8:00am/ct. The credential office will close at 11:00am/ct. Fans looking to purchase tickets for this unique NASCAR doubleheader can do so at the TMS ticket office, starting as low as $91. For those requiring additional ticket information, please contact the TMS ticket office at (817) 215-8500.(TMS PR)(4-19-2010)

• NHL star Modano to drive pace car at Texas: Dallas Stars center Mike Modano, the leading American-born goal scorer and points producer in NHL history, will be honored by Texas Motor Speedway by receiving the rare opportunity to drive the official pace car that will lead the 43-car field to the green flag for Sunday’s Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Traditionally, honored race guests such as Modano get the chance to ride in the lead pace car or drive a secondary pace vehicle, but NASCAR has granted Texas Motor Speedway special permission for Modano to wheel the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro pace car that will lead the Sprint Cup Series field to the green flag. NASCAR’s customary pace car driver Brett Bodine, a former Sprint Cup Series driver, will provide Modano with a mandatory on-track orientation prior to the race. Modano is only the second celebrity in the 14-year history of Texas Motor Speedway to be given the honor of leading the field. The first was movie star Vince Vaughn, who paced the field to the green flag for the Dickies 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in November of 2007.(TMS)(4-18-2010)

• TMS fans can help Samsung and Sprint break a Guinness World Record: Samsung Mobile and Sprint are attempting to break the Guinness World Records mark to collect mobile phones Thursday-Sunday (April 15-18) at the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The joint effort is part of Samsung Mobile’s March to a Million program to collect and recycle one million mobile phones by the end of the year and Sprint’s Recycle for Victory recycling program. Additionally, Samsung Mobile is offering every NASCAR fan that donates an old mobile phone during the Samsung Mobile 500 weekend a limited edition 3D Samsung Mobile 500 pin, and, if they donate an old cell phone before Sunday, the opportunity to win one of three prizes.ccThe drop-off area for race fans who want to recycle their old cell phones throughout the race week will be the Samsung Mobile booth located at Gate 4. Samsung Mobile will accept all makes and models of cell phones. (TMS)(4-17-2010)

• Texas Governor Perry, Fort Worth Mayor Moncrief Help Kick Off 2010 TMS Season With A Bang : Texas Governor Rick Perry and Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief issued state and city proclamations, respectively, to Texas Motor Speedway officials Thursday in a public ceremony in Sundance Square to officially kick off the speedway’s 2010 race season and acknowledge its importance as an economic engine both locally and statewide. With the Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR doubleheader weekend beginning today at Texas Motor Speedway, Governor Perry and Mayor Moncrief honored Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith and speedway president Eddie Gossage for their efforts to make the speedway a viable economic force for the state since it opened in 1997. Mayor Moncrief presented Gossage with the City of Fort Worth proclamation while Smith accepted the state proclamation from Governor Perry as both government officials declared it race week locally and statewide.
  Smith and Gossage were praised for the economic impact of the NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway, which generate approximately $75 million in economic benefit regionally and are annually the largest-attended, single-day sporting events in the state of Texas. In its 13 years of existence, Texas Motor Speedway has brought to Fort Worth and surrounding areas the economic impact of hosting 46 Super Bowls. Joining the dignitaries were NASCAR drivers and native Texans Bobby Labonte and Colin Braun. Labonte, the 2000 Sprint Cup Series champion from Corpus Christi, and Braun, the rising Nationwide Series star from Ovalo, drove the dignitaries in style as each got behind the wheel of a NASCAR-themed Molly The Trolley. The trolleys featured oversized rear spoilers that read “Follow Me To The Samsung Mobile 500,” waist-up images of NASCAR superstars Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the windows, window netting decals on the driver’s side windows and some tire rub decals on the side of the vehicles.
  Labonte and Braun presented the governor and mayor with event-decaled race helmets signed by them and then Gossage let the event finish with a bang. He handed Governor Perry and Mayor Moncrief Turnbull 45 Colt-style revolvers that Sunday’s Samsung Mobile 500 race winner will fire in Victory Lane to celebrate his win in true Texas fashion. Governor Perry and Mayor Moncrief gave the six shooters a solid test run as they emptied out the chamber of blanks by firing them into the air to conclude the ceremony. Thursday’s festivities was just part of the effort by the city of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau to show their appreciation for the race fans that will be visiting for the Samsung Mobile 500 weekend. The city is doing their part to provide a Texas-sized greeting to race fans by featuring “Welcome Race Fans” signage across the Fort Worth area and downtown hotels will provide welcome ribbons and buttons.
  Labonte enjoys returning to his home state track and this weekend he is being backed by one of the most visible and influential Texans in the state. The Perry re-election campaign committee is sponsoring Labonte’s #71 TRG Motorsports Sprint Cup Series car for the Samsung Mobile 500. Tickets for the Samsung Mobile 500 race week, featuring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Samsung Mobile 500 and Nationwide Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300, are available by calling the speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(4-16-2010)

• Turnbull Manufacturing Company to help Texas winners celebrate Texas style: The Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winner and pole winner will receive new and unique firearms from the Turnbull Manufacturing Company to commemorate their accomplishments during the April 15-18 race week at Texas Motor Speedway. The Samsung Mobile 500 race winner will fire a pair of Turnbull 45 Colt-style, single-action revolvers with ivory grips during the post-race Victory Lane celebration. The pistols, which resemble the original Colt pistols of the late 1880s, are custom engraved with a modified Colt factory 'A' pattern, crossed checkered flags on the front of the frame, the State of Texas outline on the breech ball and Texas Star on the loading gate. The race winner also will be given his own special-edition pair in a custom-fitted, glass-panel front handgun display case. The Samsung Mobile 500 pole winner will be presented with a Turnbull model 1886 deluxe take down rifle in Victory Lane following The Dallas Morning News Qualifying Day on Friday, April 16. The rifle, which has a 26-inch half round, half octagon barrel in .45-70 caliber, will feature a gold-colored inlaid panel on the butt stock to be custom engraved with the Texas Motor Speedway logo and the tagline, "The Great American Speedway!"(TMS PR)(4-11-2010)

• Charlie Pride to sing National Anthem at Texas: Legendary country music artist Charley Pride will perform the national anthem prior to the start of the Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, April 18. Pride, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, was the first African-American superstar in country music and has continued to serve as a pioneer in the industry so much so that he was honored by the Academy of Country Music with its Pioneer Award in 1994, one of numerous accolades Pride has received throughout his career. Pride is just one of the legendary artists performing prior to the Samsung Mobile 500. One of rock-n-roll’s most recognized guitarists, Peter Frampton, will take to the frontstretch stage for an hour concert set to begin at 12:30 p.m. CT. His performance will highlight the three-hour pre-race show leading up to the Samsung Mobile 500 that begins at 2 p.m.(TMS PR)(4-9-2010)

• Peter Frampton to perform pre-race concert at Texas: Peter Frampton, a Grammy Award-winning artist and one of rock-n-roll’s legendary guitarists, will be the headliner of the pre-race show for the Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday, April 18, at Texas Motor Speedway. Frampton will take to the stage on the frontstretch at 12:30 pm/ct and perform an hour concert that will highlight the three-hour pre-race show. The concert will lead into the running of the Samsung Mobile 500, which will start at 2:00pm/ct. Frampton, known for his innovative guitar skills and trademark “talk box” guitar sound, has been entertaining fans across the world for nearly a half century. His most recognizable album, “Frampton Comes Alive!” shattered records in 1976 as it sold over 16 million albums worldwide to make it the highest-selling live album at the time.
  Fans can get close to the legendary rocker’s performance by purchasing a special $79 “mosh pit” ticket that allows fans exclusive access stage-side for all the pre-race festivities leading up the Samsung Mobile 500, including the concert and driver introductions. A Samsung Mobile 500 grandstand ticket must be accompanied with a “mosh pit” ticket. To purchase a “mosh pit” ticket or tickets to the Samsung Mobile 500, visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com or call the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500.(TMS)(3-14-2009)

• AAA to sponsor Texas fall race: AAA Texas will serve as the title sponsor of the fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway through 2014 as part of one of the most comprehensive race entitlement packages in the sport. The five-year agreement between AAA Texas and Texas Motor Speedway will showcase the title sponsorship of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the eighth event in the prestigious 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and also feature official and exclusive status as well as unique branding opportunities at the world-class motorsports facility. The centerpiece of the deal, formerly known as the Dickies 500, will be re-titled the AAA Texas 500 and makes its debut under the new name on Sunday, Nov. 7. The AAA Texas 500 will headline that NASCAR triple-header weekend at Texas Motor Speedway and this year’s race will mark the sixth running of the Sprint Cup Series event that debuted in 2005. AAA members will enjoy special benefits at Texas Motor Speedway events, including special offers on event tickets and “AAA Fast Lanes,” special spectator entrances where fans with AAA membership cards can avoid the lines at the entry gates with exclusive access to express lines into the facility. Also, AAA will provide shuttle buses and trams to help fans more easily move around the massive Texas Motor Speedway during major event weekends. In addition to the race entitlement, AAA Texas will be the Official Auto Club and Insurance Company of Texas Motor Speedway. No financial terms of the five-year agreement were disclosed.
  Individual tickets for the AAA Texas 500 will go on sale Wednesday, April 28, and will be available by calling (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com. Information about AAA at www.AAA.com.(TMS)(3-1-2010)

• Texas race times pushed back two hours: Texas Motor Speedway received approval from NASCAR to move the start times of its two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for the upcoming season to be consistent with the Western Region start times. The Samsung Mobile 500 on April 18 and the Lone Star 500 on Nov. 7 will now have 2:00 pm Central Time starts, moving both races ahead two hours from their originally announced 12 noon CT times. The move was a result of Texas Motor Speedway petitioning NASCAR on behalf of its fans requesting a later start time as well as potential logistical issues posed by the earlier start. “On behalf of our fans, we greatly appreciate NASCAR, along with television broadcast partners FOX (Samsung Mobile 500) and ESPN (Lone Star 500), hearing their collective voice and making the time changes to better suit their wishes and needs,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “NASCAR has made it clear that they are going to a ‘back to basics’ approach, and accommodating their promoters on behalf of their fans as well as avoid some potential logistical issues defines that new approach.”
  The time change for both races will complement NASCAR’s move to uniform start times for all its races this season. NASCAR is just shifting Texas Motor Speedway from an “Eastern/Central Region” designation to a “Western Region” one, where it joins Infineon Raceway (California), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Nevada), Auto Club Speedway (California) and Phoenix International Raceway (Arizona) for standardized 3:00pm/et (2:00pm/ct) starts. The remaining Sprint Cup races in the “Eastern/Central Region” (with the exception of night races) will begin at 1:00pm/et (12Noon/ct). Tickets for the Samsung Mobile 500 and Lone Star 500 race weekends are available by calling (817) 215-8500 or visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(2-4-2010)

• Gossage Dons University Of Alabama Hat While Raising Talladega Flag At TMS: Less than 12 hours after the University of Texas’ 37-21 loss to the University of Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game, Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage was feeling the sting of the defeat once again. Despite freezing temperatures in the teens and high winds, Gossage settled his bet with Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey on Friday morning as he personally raised the Alabama speedway’s flag in front of the Texas Motor Speedway administration building. Gossage, donning a University of Alabama ball cap, was hoisted up on a scissor lift to the top of the 25-foot flag pole, where he hung the Talladega Superspeedway flag alongside the flags of the United States, state of Texas and Texas Motor Speedway. As part of the bet, the Talladega flag will fly throughout the weekend. Gossage also had a small, wooden University of Alabama gnome on hand to serve as a stand-in for Humphrey, who was not in attendance for the “ceremony.”
  In keeping with the tradition of state versus state bets and offering up a special fare from the loser’s locale, Gossage also will be sending Humphrey and his staff Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse beef brisket next week to celebrate the victory. “I’m very excited to know that the Talladega Superspeedway flag is flying over Texas Motor Speedway,” Humphrey said. “But more importantly, I’m excited for the University of Alabama and the pride that a national championship brings to our state. I love Talladega Speedway and I love the Alabama Crimson Tide. Today is a great day for both of us.” See images and a video at the texasmotorspeedway.com website. Tickets can be purchased for TMS races online at www.texasmotorspeedway.com or by calling (817) 215-8500 and for Talladega visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TMS/TSS)(1-8-2010)

• Cancer in remission for TMS president: During NASCAR race weekend in April, Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage gathered a small handful of friends in his office overlooking Turn 1 to share some news. Usually when Gossage has something to say, drum rolls and neon lights aren't enough. But this time, the master promoter was void of fanfare. He was understated and to the point. "He told us he had cancer," said Kyle Petty, a longtime close friend of Gossage. "It was four or five guys sitting in that office and we're a lively bunch when we're together. We were quiet. It was hard to take. Honestly, I was shocked, crushed and devastated. I think when anybody tells you that they've been diagnosed with cancer, your mind goes to the worst place." Gossage knew he'd need his friends if he was to get through a difficult year of hospital visits and chemotherapy. He wasn't sure what to expect, only that doctors caught the cancer early enough to treat it aggressively. Now, seven months later, Gossage is doing what he's done since the track opened in 1997: Trying to sell as many tickets as he can for a NASCAR race in Texas. Prior to Sunday's Dickies 500, he'll take pride in stepping on a makeshift frontstretch stage to welcome fans and drivers at prerace introductions. "The cancer is now in remission," said Gossage, who still won't disclose what type of cancer he had. "I'm just thankful to all my friends. They really helped me get through it. I've never been through anything like that in my life." At the time he told his buddies, Gossage and his wife, Melinda, had decided to keep the news private. Only a few folks in the TMS management group were even aware at the time of Gossage's condition. Gossage returned to work around Labor Day and is back to a normal schedule. He's lost 30 pounds and doesn't want to gain them back. The beard has returned, with more gray than before. And Gossage has what looks like a buzz cut. He has several Texas Motor Speedway hats that he wears in public.(in part from ESPN.com, see full article there)(11-7-2009)

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

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials

Number of Tires: Sprint Cup: Left-side – 1,500, Right-side – 1,500; Nationwide: Left-side -- 575, Right-side -- 575

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4392; Right-side -- D-4398

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.1 in.; Right-side -- 88.2 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation: Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi; Right Front -- 50 psi; Right Rear -- 47 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front -- 23 psi; Left Rear -- 21 psi; Right Front -- 49 psi; Right Rear -- 45 psi

Estimated Pit Window: Every 50-55 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup).

Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same combination of left- and right-side tires at Texas this weekend . . . this is the first time teams have run either of these two tire codes . . . compared to the tire set-up NASCAR teams ran at Texas in 2009, this left-side tire features a new construction, mold shape and compound to offer more grip, while this right-side tire features a new construction that brings it in line with what has been run at Las Vegas and Charlotte and a new compound to improve wear . . . this tire combination came out of a Goodyear tire test at Texas this past January 19-20 . . . teams and drivers participating in that test were the No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge with Kurt Busch, No. 14 Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet with Tony Stewart, No. 16 Roush-Fenway Ford with Greg Biffle and No. 83 Red Bull Racing Toyota with Brian Vickers . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Texas . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

• Bliss named to the #09 ride UPDATE: Mike Bliss and Tommy Baldwin Racing [#36 Checy] have parted ways, effective immediately. Bliss will replace Aric Almirola at Phoenix Racing. Bliss ran five of the first seven races for Baldwin. He failed to qualify at Bristol and last week at Phoenix. TBR is currently 38th in owner points. "Mike has been rock solid in qualifying with a Cup car," Phoenix crew chief Marc Reno said. "We were struggling and we have to make races to keep our guys working. We're trying to survive until we can land a sponsor. Everybody loves Aric. But we needed someone that could qualify for races. (Owner) James (Finch) has helped Aric out in trucks and if we were in a better position, we'd love to bring him up to speed in Cup as well."(FoxSports)(4-13-2010)
  UPDATE: Mike Bliss told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Tuesday that just moments after parting company with Tommy Baldwin Racing this week, he was offered a chance to return to the #09 Phoenix Racing Chevy. "We missed a couple of races, and last week (at Phoenix) obviously didn’t go too good," said Bliss. "I did a lot of thinking about what I thought was wrong with the car, and honestly I wondered for a while if it was me. I had a meeting with Tommy Baldwin on Monday, and obviously didn't feel very good about the way that meeting went. The ironic thing is that for the third time in my career, James Finch called before I was hardly even out the door to offer me a job." Bliss said the team may be forced to continue as a start-and-park entry this weekend at Texas, but, "James wants to run (the full race) at Talladega where they won a year ago with Brad Keselowski. They are talking with one sponsor in particular that they are hopefull will pay off."(Sirius Speedway)(4-14-2010)

• New driver for the #36 at Texas/Talladega: Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) has tapped Johnny Sauter to drive the #36 Wave Energy Drink Chevrolet for this weekend’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The race will mark Sauter’s first time behind the wheel of the #36, which was driven by Mike Bliss for the season’s first seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Sauter has driven the #35 TBR Chevy in three races in 2010, including last week at Phoenix International Raceway, where he finished 41st after qualifying in the 37th position. Sauter will also take control of the #36 for next week’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. “I’m excited about having Johnny in the #36 for the next couple of races and look forward to seeing what he can do,” said team owner Tommy Baldwin. “He has been strong at Texas, especially in the Truck series, and I’m confident he can give us a solid performance in the Sprint Cup car. We will have him for a couple of races here before he will need to focus on his Truck Series team, and we hope to have a full-time driver for the #36 named here in the near future,” he added.(Tommy Baldwin Racing)(4-13-2010)

• Braun Racing to run some Sprint Cup races UPDATE 2 skips Atlanta: Nationwide Series team, Braun Racing announced they will enter five NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2010. Dollar General, which sponsors the team's #32 entry in the Nationwide Series, will serve as primary sponsor for five races throughout the 2010 season, including Daytona (February), Atlanta (March), Chicago (July), Indianapolis (July) and Charlotte (October). Reed Sorenson, who drives the #32 Dollar General Toyota on a limited basis in the Nationwide Series, has been named as the driver. Learn more about Dollar General at www.dollargeneral.com.(Braun Racing)(1-14-2010)
  UPDATE: the team decided not to run Atlanta and will instead run at Texas in April.(3-2-2010)
  UPDATE 2: The #32 Dollar General team will make its next attempt at Sprint Cup racing at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in April. Given the fact that NASCAR is doing away with the wing and returning to the spoiler on the NSCS car, team owner Todd Braun and crew chief, Trent Owens, both agreed that it made more sense to skip this weekend’s Atlanta race and focus on the changing technology. The open test session at Charlotte Motor Speedway (March 23-24) will give the new NSCS team the chance to test for the April, 18 event at TMS.(Braun Racing), see images of the car on my #32 Team Schemes page.(3-5-2010)

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