Camping World Truck Series Martinsville 2017 NASCAR Race Info
Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions
Martinsville Speedway
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race #20 of 23 for the 2017 season
Race: Saturday, October 28, 2017 in Martinsville, VA
Title Sponsor: Texas Roadhouse presented by Alpha Energy Solutions
Race Time: 1:00pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 1:16pm/et
TELEVISION COVERAGE
Television Race Coverage: FOX Sports 1 – 1:00pm/et
TV Listings, Links and Info: Jayski’s TV Listings Page
TV Racer Armed Forces Network – Search NASCAR
RADIO COVERAGE
Motor Racing Network (motorracingnetwork.com) and SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90 (siriusxm.com)
ONLINE STREAMING
FOX Sports GO. All NASCAR programming on FOX and FOX Sports 1 is streamed live through the FOX Sports GO app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content. Requires a participating TV provider. MRN Live Streaming SiriusXM Internet Radio is available via any internet connected device, with a subscription.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Times are local to the Track and subject to change
Friday, October 27
9:00 AM 10:30 AM NCWTS HAULERS ENTER (EQUIPMENT UNLOAD)
10:00 AM 5:00 PM NCWTS REGISTRATION OPEN
10:30 AM 6:00 PM NCWTS GARAGE OPEN
12:00 PM NCWTS ROOKIE MEETING, SPOTTER MEETING, & RANDOM DRAWING
1:00 PM 1:55 PM NCWTS 1ST PRACTICE
3:00 PM 3:55 PM NCWTS FINAL PRACTICE
5:00 PM 5:45 PM NCWTS AUTOGRAPH SESSION
5:00 PM NCWTS HAULERS EXIT
Saturday, October 28
6:00 AM 1:30 PM NCWTS REGISTRATION OPEN
6:00 AM NCWTS GARAGE OPENS
10:00 AM NCWTS QUALIFYING (MULTI-VEHICLE / THREE ROUNDS)
11:15 AM NCWTS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING
12:30 PM NCWTS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
1:00 PM NCWTS RACE (200 LAPS, 105.2 MILES)
NCWTS = NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
RACE INFORMATION
Gragson wins Martinsville: #18-Noah Gragson won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Texas Roadhouse 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday after he made a pass on #88-Matt Crafton on the outside following a restart. The win was the first of his career. Crafton finished second, followed by #21-Johnny Sauter, #51-Harrison Burton, #46-Todd Gilliland, #52-Stewart Friesen, #33-Kaz Grala, #4-Christopher Bell, #27-Ben Rhodes, and #19-Austin Cindric in the top-10.
#8-John Hunter Nemechek was the only Round of 6 playoff driver outside of the top-10. He finished 30th after being involved in an accident on lap 37.
There were six caution flags for 45 laps and six lead changes among five leaders.
See results on the Martinsville race results page(10-28-2017)
Martinsville Truck Series Race Fast Facts:
Noah Gragson won the 19th Annual Texas Roadhouse 200 Presented by Alpha Energy Solutions, his first victory in 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and 12th top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in two races at Martinsville Speedway.
Matt Crafton (P) (second) posted his 19th top-10 finish in 32 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 14th top-10 finish in 2017.
Johnny Sauter (P) (third) posted his 11th top-10 finish in 20 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Gragson (first) was the highest finishing rookie.
Christopher Bell (P) leads the point standings by 3 points overJohnny Sauter (P).
(NASCAR Statistics)(10-28-2017)
Camping World Truck standings following Martinsville:
The Round of 6 began at Martinsville
1) #4-Christopher Bell, 5 wins, 3083
2) #21-Johnny Sauter, 2 wins, 3080, -3
3) #88- Matt Crafton, 1 win, 3068, -15
4) #27-Ben Rhodes, 1 win, 3049, -34
Two drivers will be eliminated after Phoenix:
5) #19-Austin Cindric, 1 win, 3038, -45
6) #8-John Hunter Nemechek, 2 wins, 3021, -62
See complete standings on Driver points standings page and the owner’s standings are posted on the Owner points standings page. (10-28-2017)
Stage Information:
Stage 1 – lap 50, winner, #88-Matt Crafton
Stage 2 – lap 100, winner, #21-Johnny Sauter
Stage 3 – lap 200, winner, #18-Noah Gragson
Free Pass – Who got a lap back on each caution at Martinsville: (and their finish)
Caution 1: #45-Abbey, 22nd
Caution 2: #49-Chavous, 21st
Caution 3: #92-Smith, 14th
Caution 4: #49-Chavous, 21st
Caution 5: #1-Anderson, 24th
Caution 6: #92-Smith, 14th
(10-28-2017)
QUALIFYING, PRACTICE, AND ENTRY INFORMATION
Briscoe on Truck pole at Martinsville: #29-Chase Briscoe won the pole for Saturday’s Texas Roadhouse 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway with a speed at 95.762mph. #88-Matt Crafton will start second. #27-Ben Rhodes, #21-Johnny Sauter, #18-Noah Gragson, #19-Austin Cindric, #16-Ryan Truex, #33-Kaz Grala, #86-Mason Diaz, and #51-Harrison Burton close out the top-10.
Remaining Round of 6 playoff drivers not in the top-10: #4-Christopher bell will start 15th and #8-John Hunter Nemechek will start 17th.
Failed to qualify: #57-Mike Senica.
The starting lineup is posted on the Martinsville starting lineup page(10-28-2017)
Martinsville Qualifying Fast Facts:
Chase Briscoe won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 19th Annual Texas Roadhouse 200 Presented by Alpha Energy Solutions with a lap of 19.774 seconds, 95.762 mph.
This is his third pole in 20 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his third pole and 14th top-10 start in 2017.
This is his first pole in two races at Martinsville Speedway.
Matt Crafton (P) (second) posted his 17th top-10 start of 2017 and his 15th in 32 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Ben Rhodes (P) (third) posted his second top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 15th in 20 races this season.
Briscoe (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics) (10-28-2017)
Qualifying will consist of two multi-truck rounds. Qualifying rules
Friesen paces final Martinsville Truck practice: #52-Stewart Friesen was fastest during final practice for Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 94.713mph. #51-Harrison Burton, #21-Johnny Sauter, #27-Ben Rhodes, #33-Kaz Grala, #18-Noah Gragson, #88-Matt Crafton, #29-Chase Briscoe, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, and #24-Justin Haley. Of the Playoff drivers not in the top-10, #19-Austin Cindric was 13th and #4-Christopher Bell was 15th. 33 trucks practiced during the session. See complete results on the Practice 2 speeds (pdf)(10-28-2017)
Crafton fastest in opening Martinsville Truck practice: #88-Matt Crafton was fastest during the opening practice for Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 94.073mph. #4-Christopher Bell, #46-Todd Gilliland, #21-Johnny Sauter, #27-Ben Rhodes, #51-Harrison Burton, #29-Chase Briscoe, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #18-Noah Gragson, and #15-Gray Gaulding were the remainder of the top-10. The remaining Playoff driver not in the top-10 was #19-Austin Cindric,in 17th. 32 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Practice 1 speeds (pdf)(10-27-2017)
Truck Series entry list: There are 34 trucks entered for Saturday’s race at Martinsville Speedway. The #0 and #11 are TBA. Jeffrey Abbey is in the #45. Mason Diaz is in the #86. Cale Gale is in the #99.
See the complete list on the Martinsville entry list page (pdf).(10-23-2017)
GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES
Tire:: Goodyear Eagle Short Track Radials
Set limits::
Cup: 4 sets for practice, 1 set for qualifying/start of race and 8 sets for race;
Truck: 5 sets for the event
Tire Codes::
Left-side — D-4588; Right-side — D-4722
Tire Circumference::
Left-side — 87.44 in. (2,221 mm);
Right-side — 88.62 in. (2,251 mm)
Minimum Recommended Inflation::
Left Front — 10 psi; Left Rear — 10 psi;
Right Front — 23 psi; Right Rear — 22 psi
Storyline – Multiple Challenges Packed Into Short Track at Martinsville: The tire set-up at Martinsville Speedway is a prime example of Goodyear’s testing program and how the tiremaker keeps up with tracks. Because of the time of year the NASCAR Cup circuit races at Martinsville, cool temperatures usually prevail. With that, and the added challenge of laying rubber down on the smooth, concrete corners of the half-mile oval, Goodyear tested at Martinsville in advance of the 2017 season and brought a new right-side tire to the track for the spring race. The results were spot on as the tire set-up laid down rubber, making for multiple racing grooves and better racing on what was already one of the most exciting tracks on the schedule. In addition to the tread compound being important, the tire construction brought to Martinsville is equally so, handling the harsh demands of acceleration, deceleration and cornering required on the long straightaways and tight, flat turns.
“Goodyear will bring the same tire set-up to Martinsville for the October race that was debuted in the spring,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing. “This combination was developed specifically for Martinsville, and its unique, flat, concrete corners. The package features a right side tread compound formulated to lay rubber quickly on this tricky surface, which leads to multiple racing grooves. During the spring race, the tire did exactly that, turning the light-colored concrete corners to black, and opening up the outside groove which made for great side-by-side racing all afternoon.”
Notes: Teams in both the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will run the same tire set-up at Martinsville this weekend . . . this is the same tire set-up teams in these two series ran at this track in April . . . this left-side tire code (D-4588) has been run at this track since April 2013, while this right-side tire code (D-4722) debuted this spring . . . this is the only track at which NASCAR teams will run either of these two tire codes . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville.
NASCAR NEWS & NOTES
Marching Into Martinsville
After the off-week, the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs heads to Martinsville Speedway to begin the Round of 6 with the Texas Roadhouse 200 Presented By Alpha Energy Solutions on Saturday, October 28 (1 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Johnny Sauter is the defending race winner and proved to be a title-contender in last year’s race.
John Hunter Nemechek (third-place finish) and Christopher Bell (fourth-place finish) both finished inside the top-five at Martinsville last year.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champions – Where Bell Stacks Up
There is no arguing Christopher Bell is having a stellar season that could result in a 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship. Through 19 races this season in the No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra, Bell has five wins, 13 top-five finishes and 17 top-10 finishes. He’s led 739 laps.
Here is how Christopher Bell’s 2017 season compares to the last five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champions:
With four races remaining in Bell’s 2017 championship campaign, he already has more wins, is tied for top fives, is second in laps led and has the best average finish of the last five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champions through their complete seasons.
Bell will look to advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and has three chances to do it, beginning with this week at Martinsville.
Last season, Bell finished fourth at Martinsville, 11th at Texas and seventh at Phoenix to advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead.
Racing At Martinsville Speedway – Advantage, Veterans?
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series former champions Matt Crafton (2013 and 2014) and Johnny Sauter (2016) appear to have the veteran advantage at Martinsville Speedway.
Crafton owns multiple track records at the 0.526-mile track. He has the most NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts (31), top 10s (18), lead lap finishes (27) and laps completed (6,915). He has two wins there (fall 2015 and spring 2014) and eight top fives.
Sauter is equally as impressive. In 19 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Martinsville, Sauter has three wins (most among active series drivers), seven top fives and 10 top 10s. He’s led 398 laps, which is the most among active NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers.
Between Crafton and Sauter, the two combined for at least one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win at Martinsville over the last four seasons.
Fall, 2016 – Sauter
Fall, 2015 – Crafton
Spring, 2014 – Crafton
Spring, 2013 – Sauter
Sauter’s other Martinsville Speedway win came in 2011 when he won the Keystone Light Pole and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Both Crafton and Sauter will be looking to win at Martinsville and punch their ticket to the Championship 4.
2017 NASCAR Playoffs Outlook Update: Post-Talladega
Following the elimination race at Talladega Superspeedway, below is an updated NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs grid heading into the Round of 6:
2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Round of 6 Drivers:
As the Round of 8 wrapped up at Talladega Superspeedway, below are some quick hits and 2017 statistics on the Round of 6 drivers:
1. Christopher Bell: The top seed heading into the Round of 6, Christopher Bell has been the top of his class this season. His five wins this season are the most in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He has led a season-high 739 laps and has 13 top fives and 17 top 10s in 19 starts.
2. Johnny Sauter: Last season’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Johnny Sauter is gearing up for another strong championship run this season. He has two wins on the season and has yet to finish outside the top 23 all year. The next two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs races in the Round of 6 are at Martinsville and Texas. Last year’s winner at both? Johnny Sauter.
3. Matt Crafton: Two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Matt Crafton has quietly been flying under the radar this season. His lone win of the year came unexpectedly at Eldora as Crafton is known for being a 1.5-mile paved track master. Since the Playoffs began at New Hampshire, Crafton has three-consecutive top-10 finishes. Martinsville and Texas are both places where Crafton has visited Victory Lane.
4. John Hunter Nemechek: John Hunter Nemechek survived Talladega to advance to the Round of 6 and now will look for a way to continue advancing. Nemechek has two wins this season and just finds ways to get it done when he needs to. He’s led 100 laps this season and has seven top fives and 10 top 10s.
5. Ben Rhodes: Ben Rhodes impressively captured his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Round of 8. Now, Rhodes will look for an opportunity to get to Homestead. Ranked fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs standings, Rhodes finished top-20 or better at Martinsville, Texas and Phoenix last season. Will that be enough to get him to Homestead? Rhodes has six top fives this season, with 11 top 10s and has led 160 laps on the year.
6. Austin Cindric: Austin Cindric is the only remaining NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Sunoco Rookie left in the 2017 Playoffs field. Since the Playoffs started, Cindric has proved he belongs with the rest. He has finished in the top eight or better in all three races so far and will look to continue that in the Round of 6. He has six top fives this season and 12 top 10s. He has not finished outside the top-15 since Texas in early June.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs By Round
As the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series begins its Round of 6 at Martinsville Speedway this weekend, below is a look at the remaining NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs rounds and which tracks line up per round.
ROUND OF 6
Texas Roadhouse 200 Presented By Alpha Energy Solutions at Martinsville Speedway
(Saturday, October 28 at 1 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
JAG Metals 350 at Texas Motor Speedway
(Friday, November 3 at 8 p.m. on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway
(Friday, November 10 at 8:30 p.m. on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
CHAMPIONSHIP 4
Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
(Friday, November 17 at 8 p.m. on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Martinsville Speedway Quick Facts
As the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Martinsville Speedway for the Texas Roadhouse 200 Saturday (1 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), below are some series quick facts at the 0.526-mile track:
Races: 37
Pole Winners: 25
Youngest Pole Winner: Cole Custer (10/31/2015 – 17 years, 9 months, 8 days)
Oldest Pole Winner: Joe Ruttman (04/07/2001 – 56 years, 5 months, 10 days)
Race Winners: 26
Youngest Winner: Darrell Wallace Jr. (10/26/2013 – 20 years, 0 months, 18 days)
Oldest Winner: Jim Hensley (04/17/1999 – 53 years, 6 months, 6 days)
Races Won from Pole (or 1st Starting Position): 9
Last Race Won from Pole (or 1st Starting Position): Chase Elliott (04/01/2017)
Race Record: Jimmy Hensley – 74.282 mph (04/17/1999)
Qualifying Record: Joey Logano – 97.088 mph (03/28/2015)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Etc.
No Rookie Stripes For These Sunoco Rookies: All nine NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders have made previous series starts at Martinsville Speedway. Chase Briscoe (11th), Wendell Chavous (23rd), Austin Cindric (21st), Cody Coughlin (19th), Grant Enfinger(17th), Stewart Friesen (25th), Noah Gragson (fourth), Kaz Grala (15th) and Justin Haley (26th) raced in the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season.
NASCAR Next Drivers Looking To Play Spoiler At Martinsville: NASCAR Next and NASCAR K&N Pro Series drivers Todd Gilliland and Harrison Burton will both be racing for Kyle Busch Motorsports this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Gilliland will be in the No. 46 Toyota Tundra, while Burton will be in the No. 51 Toyota Tundra. Gilliland scored a career-best finish (third) at New Hampshire earlier this season, while Burton has a string of top-20 finishes in his five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts this season.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Owner Standings Update:Kyle Busch Motorsports’ No. 4 Toyota Tundra leads GMS Racing’s No. 21 Chevrolet Silverado by a narrow 20 points in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner standings after 19 races this season. Kyle Busch’s second entry, the No. 51 Toyota Tundra (-25), ThorSport Racing’s No. 88 Toyota Tundra (-33) and NEMCO Motorsports’ No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado (-35) round of the top five.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Manufacturer Standings Update: Through 19 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races this season, Toyota leads Chevrolet by 42 points in the manufacturer standings, 713-671. In third place, Ford sits at 602 points.