March 28, 2015
- Larson taken to hospital Saturday after fainting UPDATE: #42-Kyle Larson fainted toward the end of an autograph session at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday and had to be taken to a local hospital for evaluation. A Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates official told Alex Cavanna of FOX Sports that Larson was “being checked out at a local hospital. He was awake and alert on the way to the hospital.” The Ganassi official added that the team believes he will be fine, although doctors were still completing their evaluation of him at the time the statement was made. The official also said that “at the moment,” the team has “no reason” to believe Larson won’t be in the #42 Ganassi Chevrolet for Sunday’s STP 500 at Martinsville.(FoxSports)(3-28-2015)
UPDATE NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Larson will need to have “medical clearance from the attending physician” to race in Sunday’s STP 500.(USA Today)(3-28-2015)
- Final practice for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 50 minutes, the top five, slowest two and some notes:
#41-Busch 97.098
#48-Johnson 96.810
#24-Gordon 96.726
#11-Hamlin 96.652
#31-Newman 96.597
slowest: #33-Kennedy 94.055 & #23-Yeley 93.943
notes: #16-Biffle spun out and made light contact with the outside wall.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 Consecutive Lap Average on the Martinsville practice 3 speeds page (pdf).(3-28-2015)
- First Saturday practice for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 55 minutes, the top five, slowest two and some notes:
#11-Denny Hamlin 97.113
#48-Jimmie Johnson 96.988
#24-Jeff Gordon 96.884
#5-Kasey Kahne 96.815
#19-Carl Edwards 96.711
Most laps run: #6-Bayne 91 & #55-Moffitt 73.
slowest: #83-DiBenedetto 94.195 & #23-Yeley 94.064.
notes: #25-Chase Elliott 20th fastest as he enters his first Cup race this weekend.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 Consecutive Lap Average on the Martinsville practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(3-28-2015)
- Are some teams tampering with tires? UPDATE: Hendrick crew chiefs Alan Gustafson and Chad Knaus talked to the media Friday morning at Martinsville Speedway:
The last two weeks NASCAR has taken tires from teams. After Fontana they sent some of those tires off to an independent laboratory. NASCAR said that is a part of a regular tire audit. What do you guys make of what is going on there? Do you thing they are looking for something specific?
GUSTAFSON: “It’s hard to speculate because that is all I could do. In my experience there is a lot of smoke around that. There is a lot of talk, there is a lot of dialogue and there are a lot of rumors in the garage. Yeah, I think it is obvious that some people think something is going on and is NASCAR reacting to that? Or do they feel uncomfortable with what is going on? I don’t know that answer. But I do think that it is something that is on the forefront of a lot of people minds. Obviously NASCAR is trying to make sure that we are all on level playing field and if anybody is violating that they will pay the price, which they reminded us this morning is very stiff. That is all I know. Anything beyond that is speculation besides the fact it is a hot topic.”
So they warned you?
GUSTAFSON: “I don’t want to say warned. Warned may not be the right term, just reminded.”
Do you think something is going on?
GUSTAFSON: “Do I think something is going on? I mean I’m busy on Sunday’s. I don’t really watch what is going on. It’s hard for me to say. I don’t feel that I have enough information that would warrant a comment.”
KNAUS: “I don’t know. I don’t know if there is anything or not. I really don’t. Like Alan said, I’m busy on Sunday and I don’t have a lot of friends in the garage. So, I don’t talk too much. I don’t talk to anybody else either so it’s okay. My friends are outside of racing. So, I don’t know what is going on. I really don’t. I know I sent Richard Buck (Managing Director of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series) a text and said ‘hey man could we poke holes in our tires is that okay?’ He sent me a text back and said ‘absolutely not’. So that is all I know.”(Chevy Racing PR)(3-27-2015)
UPDATE: Alan Gustafson, Jeff Gordon’s crew chief, termed it a “reminder.” But those who may have engaged in alleged unapproved “bleeding” of air pressure from their racing tires-the source of prevalent rumors in the garage-would be well-advised to interpret it as a stern warning. When NASCAR assembled Sprint Cup Series crew chiefs for a Friday morning meeting at Martinsville Speedway one of the topics covered was to “remind” teams of the three primary taboos of NASCAR racing:
” Don’t alter the engines in a manner outside the rule book.
” Don’t do anything to alter the fuel provided by Sunoco.
” Don’t make any unapproved alterations or treatments to the tires provided by Goodyear.
Tires, in particular, have been the center of attention since NASCAR made what it termed a routine “audit” of tires two weeks ago at Phoenix International Raceway. The consensus in the garage is that certain teams have been drilling minute holes in the tires to bleed off air pressure as it builds throughout a tire run. By maintaining consistent air pressure, it’s easier to maintain the balance of the car.(NASCAR Wire Service)(3-28-2015)
- Could the Chevy Malibu return to NASCAR? With Holden winding down its production ventures for 2017, the departure of the rear-wheel drive, 6.2-liter V8 powered Chevrolet SS will soon be upon us. That means that Chevy will no longer be interested in promoting it by using it as the body for their NASCAR Sprint Cup cars, so they will have to find a replacement. Lately, Toyota and Ford have used NASCAR to promote their mid-size models, with the two brands running the Camry and Fusion, respectively. Chevrolet will start taking the mid-size segment much more seriously when they pull the veil from the 2016 Malibu in New York next week, so it would make sense if they switched to a new Malibu body for their next Sprint Cup car to help boost sales. Chevrolet’s director of car marketing, Steve Majoros, recently told Reuters they are sitting “seventh or eighth place,” in the mid-size market and acknowledged they “have tremendous opportunity to grow.” The Camry and Fusion are some of the strongest mid-size nameplates around in regards to sales and if Chevy wants to contest them in the showroom, they might as well take it to the track, as well. It wouldn’t be the first time the Malibu nameplate appeared in professional stock car racing. The Malibu was Chevrolet’s NASCAR body style from 1973 until 1983, when the automaker switched to the more performance oriented Monte Carlo.(GM Authority)(3-28-2015)
- Earnhardt, Jr. talks about safety efforts:
What are your thoughts on the new tire barriers right in front of pit road? are you surprised that there are still spots in some tracks where there is absolutely nothing but concrete in places where drivers could potentially end up?
#88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. “I think that the changes that were made in the last 10 to 15 years to help safety have been great. We put barriers where we felt like were common places the cars hit. But as we found out over the last couple of years, specifically, we’ll find all the empty spots where there aren’t any barriers. And I think that NASCAR is taking some steps to make it right. The tracks are taking some steps to move it along. You never can be safe enough. You never can do enough to be safe and keep the competitors safe and keep the fans safe. You never can do enough. So you shouldn’t ever stop trying. But unfortunately, it takes an accident like that to wake everybody up and make things happen. I know that NASCAR was very disappointed that there wasn’t a SAFER barrier on the wall at Daytona and that Kyle (Busch) was injured. And it’s real unfortunate to have to go through that whole process to really fire this thing kind of back up and get people moving on it.
“But, at the same time, I appreciate the things that they’re doing. And I know that the tire stuff is temporary. The tires are better than the concrete wall, but at the same time those tires can be a problem when you get into those. So I guess their intent, over time, is to get SAFER barriers where they feel like they need it. And until then, we’ll have these tires in those areas. I’m happy with the things the tracks are doing. You look back at the cockpit of these cars when I first started driving them, and look at the advances we’ve made inside the cars and outside the cars, and when I was racing in 1998 and ’99 and 2000; and when I was racing Late Models without headrests and neck restraints, I never once was worried about anything ever happening to me. You get complacent, I think.(Chevy Racing)(3-28-2015)
- DiBenedetto, Stewart not happy with each other after practice: Matt DiBenedetto was just looking for an opening on the track during practice – that’s when he aroused the wrath of #14-Tony Stewart on Friday. On the track the three-time champion flipped off the rookie and yelled at him. Off the track when the driver of the #83 BK Racing Toyota tried to explain what happened, DiBenedetto’s attempt was futile. “I went up to him to apologize and explain the situation to him,” DiBenedetto told Motorsport.com. “I’m not an idiot. I wouldn’t just pull in front of him. I told him the 19 pulled out in front of me on the racetrack. That checked up all of my momentum and by that time – things happen so fast around here – that when I got to Turn 3, he was getting a few car lengths of me so I just pulled over to let him go. He didn’t understand. I tried to tell him what happened, but he just told me I just needed to get out of the way and whatever. He really just didn’t know what to say. He’s just an arrogant prick,” DiBenedetto said. “He has anger issues and needs to focus on driving the race car other than dedicating the whole practice session to blocking somebody when it wasn’t something I did intentionally. I don’t care who he is, he’s barking up the wrong tree.”(Motorsport)(3-28-2015)
- Martinsville Speedway Notes & Facts – Saturday – drivers:
· 602 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville; 380 in more than one.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty has the all-time most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Martinsville with 67; Jeff Gordon has the most starts among active drivers with 44.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes at Martinsville Speedway with seven; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with five, followed by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson with four.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 30; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 28, followed by Jimmie Johnson with 18.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 37; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 35, followed by Jimmie Johnson with 22.
· Jeff Gordon leads active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with a 7.318. Denny Hamlin (9.500) and Ryan Newman (9.654) are the only other active drivers with an average starting position at Martinsville inside the top 10.
· Three active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top 10 at Martinsville: Jimmie Johnson (6.231), Jeff Gordon (6.841) and Denny Hamlin (8.722).
· Jeff Gordon has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway without a DNF (44).
· Mike Bliss (09/27/1998), Travis Kvapil (10/24/2004) and Michael McDowell (3/30/2008) are active drivers that made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Martinsville Speedway.
· 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Martinsville Speedway. Fred Lorenzen won four NSCS races straight (the most) from the fall of 1963 through the spring of 1965. Jimmie Johnson is the most recent driver to win consecutive races (Fall of 2012 / Spring of 2013) at Martinsville.
· All eight active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Martinsville Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Tony Stewart won at Martinsville (2000) with the fewest previous appearances (three).
· Ryan Newman competed at Martinsville Speedway 20 times before winning in the spring of 2012; the longest span of any the eight active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
· Two active drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Martinsville Speedway: Kevin Harvick (19) and Ryan Newman (20).
· Danica Patrick is the only female driver to compete at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Below are Patrick’s stats at Martinsville.
(NASCAR)(3-28-2015)
- Smithley looking to run XFINITY races: Garrett Smithley’s ties with Brad Keselowski and Derrike Cope added up to getting into a NCWTS ride with a Mittler Brothers team that has helped lay the bedrock for some big names in NASCAR. Carl Edwards ran for them in 2002, Jamie McMurray in 2000, Kenny Irwin Jr. in 1996, and Brad Keselowski in 2006. Smithley is already working his connections and trying to use his one start in the #63 to parlay him into a higher series. “We’re looking at running the Xfinity Series at Texas and at Charlotte. It all depends on sponsorship and stuff like that. We’re looking at running the Xfinity Series and a few Truck races. We’re hoping by the end of the year to be full-time in Xfinity. There’s a couple of teams we’re talking too. Nothing is in stone yet.”(WSB Radio)(3-28-2015)
- Logano wins at Martinsville: #29-Joey Logano won the Kroger 250 at the Martinsville Speedway on Saturday after taking the lead following a final restart with 2 laps to go. The yellow waved after contact between #88- Matt Crafton and #00-Cole Custer. #88-Crafton went on to finish second followed by: #4-Erik Jones, #98-Johnny Sauter, #19-Tyler Reddick, #51-Daniel Suarez, #31-James Buescher, #05-John Wes Townley, #25-Matt Tifft, and #54-Justin Boston. There were 9 caution flags for 61 laps and 14 lead changes among 5 leaders.
Logano started the race from the pole and led 150 of the event’s 258 laps.
With the win, he became the 26th driver to win a race in all three of NASCAR’s national series.
Complete results are on the Martinsville race results page (pdf).(3-28-2015)
- Martinsville Race Fast Facts:
Joey Logano(i) won the 17th Annual Kroger 250, his first victory in seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in one race at Martinsville Speedway.
He is the 26th driver to win a race in all three of NASCAR’s national series.
His victory was his first in seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts.
Matt Crafton (second) posted his 15th top-10 finish in 27 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his third top-10 finish in 2015.
Erik Jones (third) posted his third top-10 finish in four races at Martinsville Speedway.
Erik Jones (third) was the highest finishing rookie.
Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 2 points over Tyler Reddick.
(NASCAR Statistics)(3-28-2015)
- Driver standings following Martinsville:
1) #88-Matt Crafton, 128
2) >#19-Tyler Reddick, 126, -2
3) #4-Erik Jones, 122, -6
4) #98-Johnny Sauter, 112, -16
5) #31-James Buescher, 100, -28
6) #05-John Wes Townley, 90, -38
7) #13-Cameron Hayley, 84, -44
8) #07-Ray Black, Jr., 58, -29
9) #23-Spencer Gallagher, 84, -44
10) #11-Ben Kennedy, 83, -45
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(3-28-2015)
- Owner Standings following Atlanta are posted (pdf).(3-28-2015)
- Logano on pole at Martinsville: #29-Joey Logano won the pole for Saturday’s Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 97.088mph. #00-Cole Custer will start second, followed by: ##13-Cameron Hayley, #4-Erik Jones, #05-John Wes Townley, #33-Brandon Jones, #19-Tyler Reddick, #92-David Gilliland, #98-Johnny Sauter, and #02-Tyler Young.
Fastest in the second round of qualifying was #00-Custer with a speed 96.112mph.
#29-Logano was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 94.913mph..
#94-Wendell Chavous, #86-Brandon Brown, #74-Paige Decker and #87-Charles Buchanan Jr. failed to qualify for the race. See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(3-28-2015)
- Martinsville Qualifying Notes:
Joey Logano(i) won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 17th Annual Kroger 250 with a lap of 19.504 seconds, 97.088 mph.
This is his first pole in seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2015.
This is his first pole in one races at Martinsville Speedway.
Cole Custer (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2015 and his third in three races at Martinsville Speedway.
Cameron Hayley (third) posted his first top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his second in three races this season.
Cameron Hayley (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(3-28-2015)
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