March 24, 2015
- Martinsville Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Martinsville this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams ran at this track last October . . . Martinsville is the only track where NASCAR teams are scheduled to 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.(Goodyear). See tire codes, pressures and more on the Martinsville Race Info – Goodyear section.
- NASCAR increases time of first round qualifying at most tracks: NASCAR issued a bulletin to teams on Tuesday that will extend the time of first round qualifying at short and intermediate tracks from 15 to 20 minutes. The change applies to Sprint Cup, XFINITY, and the Truck Series.(3-24-2015)
- NASCAR could return to single-car qualifying at Talladega: After a mostly disastrous run of group qualifying for restrictor-plate races, NASCAR is considering a hybrid version more similar to the traditional format. As first reported Tuesday morning by Jim Utter of the Charlotte Observer, there is a strong possibility that single-car qualifying will be used for the May 3 race at Talladega Superspeedway. A NASCAR official confirmed Tuesday to NASCAR Talk that it still could feature a knockout format with multiple attempts and rounds. There also could be multiple cars on track but likely not in the formation of packs that have caused problems at Talladega and Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR still is reviewing the policy change with drivers, teams and tracks.(NBC Sports)(3-24-2015)
- Fontana TV Ratings: Opposite the NCAA Tournament, overnight ratings held steady for NASCAR on FOX. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Fontana (CA) earned a 4.0 overnight rating on FOX Sunday afternoon, even with last year (4.0), down 11% from 2013 (4.5), and tied as the lowest overnight for the race in four years – since rain-shortened coverage drew a 3.4 in 2011. Overall, the 4.0 is tied the second-lowest overnight for NASCAR from Fontana since 2000 – not including the fall race that was run from 2004-10. Despite the relatively low numbers, the race was the fourth of five NASCAR Sprint Cup telecasts to avoid a year-over-year decline in overnight ratings. It was also the weekend’s top sporting event on any network, outside of the NCAA Tournament.(Sports Media Watch via Sports Business Daily)(3-24-2015)
- Sherwin-Williams renews as ‘Official Paint Of NASCAR’: NASCAR and Sherwin-Williams, the nation’s largest specialty retailer of paint and paint supplies, announced a three-year extension to their Official Partnership. The newly signed extension will designate Sherwin-Williams as the “Official Paint of NASCAR” through 2017. Sherwin-Williams, a FORTUNE 500 company, will continue to leverage its designation for architectural paint and the power of NASCAR’s intellectual property at its more than 4,000 stores nationwide and ignite the passion of its customers – many of whom are fiercely brand-loyal fans of the sport. By continuing as an Official NASCAR Partner, Sherwin-Williams will also retain its designation in the “Official Automotive Paint of NASCAR” and the “Official Transportation Finishes of NASCAR” categories. Through its renewal, Sherwin-Williams maintains its role as a Contingency Sponsor in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Touring & Weekly Series. As part of the Contingency Program, Sherwin-Williams will be title sponsor of the Fastest Lap Award in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.(NASCAR)(3-24-2015)
- Top 10 Driver Ratings at Martinsville Speedway:
#48-Jimmie Johnson 122.5
#24-Jeff Gordon 119.8
#11-Denny Hamlin 110.1
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 101.2
#14-Tony Stewart 97.6
#18-Kyle Busch 96.2
#15-Clint Bowyer 95.0
#4-Kevin Harvick 91.8
#31-Ryan Newman 87.4
#22-Joey Logano 85.1
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (20 total) among active drivers at Martinsville Speedway. Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.<
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)
- FLASR sponsoring Sieg for 2 races: FLASR, the 4-oz. pocket-size, portable spittoon company, will join driver Ryan Sieg and RSS Racing as the primary sponsor of the #39 car during NASCAR Xfinity series races at Texas Motor Speedway on April 10, 2015 and Bristol Motor Speedway on August 21, 2015. This is the second NASCAR sponsorship for FLASR. The company previously partnered with NASCAR driver Reed Sorenson and Tommy Baldwin Racing for his race at Phoenix International Raceway last November. In just five months, FLASR has announced six major partnerships and embarked on a multimillion dollar media campaign. Available in an extensive selection of elegant styles, pocket spittoons from FLASR make it easy to enjoy snuff, dip or chew on the go.(RSS Racing), see an image if the car on the #39 team paint schemes page.(2-24-2015)
- Irwindale Speedway likely to be demolished for outlet mall: City officials Wednesday will likely approve plans to demolish the iconic Irwindale Speedway to pave way for a 700,000-square-foot outlet mall. City Council will hold a public hearing about the project at a meeting where officials are also expected to approve a development agreement with Irwindale Outlets Partners, LLC, change the site’s zoning code to commercial and certify the final Environmental Impact Report. The Irwindale Outlet Center project, which includes design plans for an outdoor shopping center, entertainment stage, a central plaza and dining courtyard, is expected to generate thousands of jobs and bring a new heartbeat to the community. The 63-acre site, bordered by the San Gabriel Valley Freeway and Live Oak Avenue, has changed uses several times since the 1960s, when it was a quarry, mined for sand and gravel by Pacific Rock. When the mining operation ended in the mid ’70s, it was converted into a 200-foot deep landfill of mainly construction waste for nearly 20 years. It later became home to the Irwindale Speedway in 1999. When Irwindale Outlet Partners, LLC purchased the property for $22 million in September 2013, the owner extended the lease with 211 Enterprises, which operates the Irwindale Event Center, on a year-by-year basis.(Pasadena Star News)(3-24-2015)
- Army Herald Trumpet Band to perform Anthem before STP 500: The United States Army Training and Doctrine Command Band Herald Trumpets will perform a traditional version of the National Anthem prior to the start of Sunday’s STP 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. The TRADOC Herald Trumpets are a fanfare ensemble of 14 trumpeters and a snare drummer based out of Fort Eustis. The TRADOC Heralds are comprised of both soprano and tenor instruments. The ensemble produces the sound of a full-bodied orchestral brass section. The TRADOC Heralds are part of the larger TRADOC Band that serves as an outreach asset for the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Members of the band have passed a highly selective audition and are among the finest musicians in the Army band program. The majority of band members have studied music at some of the finest colleges, universities, and conservatories in the United States and abroad.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-24-2015)
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway adding SAFER barriers: Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials plan to install 1,560 additional feet of SAFER barriers at the 2.5-mile facility before on-track activities commence in May for the Indianapolis 500. IMS, which was the first to install the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction system in 2002, will add protection, track president Doug Boles said, around sections of a curved wall that serves as an emergency vehicle entrance point on the backstretch and in the short chute, to the drivers’ left, between Turns 3 and 4. The upgrades, Boles said, had been planned before but expedited in the wake of Kyle Busch sustaining a compound fracture of the right leg and breaking left foot while slamming into an uncushioned concrete wall at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener in February. Construction is underway on the additions at IMS, Boles said. The facility currently utilizes around 9,000 feet of SAFER barriers, he said.(USA Today)(3-24-2015)
- Daytona begins removing backstretch seats: On Monday morning, Daytona International Speedway began to remove the backstretch grandstand as part of the DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project. The full removal process will be completed later this year. By moving all seating to the frontstretch, all attendees will now have the opportunity to enjoy a full race day experience including pre-race ceremonies, pit road action and the facility’s new amenities. Beginning in January 2016, Daytona International Speedway will feature approximately 101,000 permanent, wider and more comfortable seats.(DIS)(3-24-2015)
- Lilly Diabetes sponsoring Spring Bristol XFINITY race: Bristol Motor Speedway officials announce a multiyear sponsorship renewal with Lilly Diabetes for the April 18 NASCAR XFINITY Series race, now known as the Drive to Stop Diabetes 300. Paired with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Pitt Lite 125, the event kicks off a Saturday racing doubleheader with a sponsorship that highlights the growing epidemic of diabetes not only in Tennessee, but nationwide. Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to make or effectively use insulin. It impacts nearly 30 million Americans with Tennessee ranking fifth nationally in percentage of adults diagnosed. A chronic condition, diabetes leads to serious complications if not properly managed and causes more deaths each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. A simple Diabetes Risk Test is available at www.drivetostopdiabetes.com. In 2013, Lilly Diabetes became the presenting sponsor of the American Diabetes Association’s Drive to Stop Diabetes (D2SD). NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ryan Reed is the voice of the initiative Reed, now age 21, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 17. He drives the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing.(BMS)(3-24-2015)
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