March 29 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 29, 2015

• • • Hamlin wins at Martinsville: #11-Denny Hamlin won the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway for his 1st win of the season, 5th win at Martinsville Speedway and his 25th career win.
      #2-Keselowski finished second, the rest of the top 10: #22-Logano, #20-Kenseth, #18-Ragan, #78-Truex, Jr., #10-Patrick, #4-Harvick, #24-Gordon, and #1-McMurray.
      #25-Chase Elliott, making his Sprint Cup debut, was involved in an early accident and spent some time behind the wall for repairs. He finished 38th.
      #42-Regan Smith, filling in for Kyle Larson, overcame a spin midway through the race to finish 16th.
      Harvick’s 8th place finish is his first finish outside the top 2 since Martinsville in October last year.
      Harvick continues to hold the Chase points lead, now 24 points over #22-Logano.
      There were 31 lead changes among 13 drivers. There were 16 cautions for 112 yellow flag laps.
      The average speed was 68.843mph.
      See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
      See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).(3-29-2015)
    • 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Standings:
      [after Martinsville, race 6 of 36]
      (by wins, then by points)
      1) #4-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 263
      2) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 239, -24
      3) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 206, -57
      4) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win], 172, -91
      5) #48-Jimmie Johnson [1 win], 168, -95
      6) #78-Truex Jr., 231, -32
      7) #5-Kasey Kahne, 193, -70
      8) #31-Ryan Newman, 180, -83
      9) #27-Paul Menard, 173, -90
      10) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 172, -91
      11) #43-Aric Almirola, 170, -93
      12) #20-Matt Kenseth, 168, -95
      13) #18-David Ragan, 163, -100
      14) #13-Casey Mears, 161, -102
      15) #1-Jamie McMurray, 154, -109
      16) #10-Danica Patrick, 148, -115
      (ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc)
      See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).(3-29-2015)
    • JD Gibbs being treated for symptoms impacting areas of brain function UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing announces today that J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, is starting treatment for symptoms impacting areas of brain function. Gibbs has undergone a series of tests after experiencing a gradual onset of symptoms that includes speech and processing issues. Gibbs’ doctors believe the complications he has experienced were triggered by head injuries likely suffered earlier in life, but no specific injury was referenced or identified. Gibbs has always enjoyed an active life participating in several sports including mountain biking, snowboarding, football, racing, and other extreme-type sports. Gibbs will be undergoing more testing and receiving treatments to help manage the symptoms. During that time, it is expected that his presence at the race track will be limited; however, he will continue many of his day-to-day responsibilities at JGR’s headquarters in Huntersville, NC as well as involvement with his various ministry endeavors.(Joe Gibbs Racing)
      Statement from Brian France: “All members of the NASCAR and France family extend our thoughts and prayers to J.D. Gibbs and his loved ones. We’ve all watched J.D. grow up within our community, and he always has represented himself, his family, the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization and NASCAR with the utmost professionalism, enthusiasm and energy. We wish him the best during this time and eagerly anticipate his recovery.”(NASCAR)(3-25-2015)
      UPDATE: Joe Gibbs addressed the media Sunday morning at Martinsville:
      “J.D. at our team meeting earlier this week, he got up and basically he said, ‘I know God has a plan and God puts us through things for a reason.’ I think J.D. gains his strength from the fact that he has a personal relationship with the Lord and I have to tell you that he’s my hero. I kind of watch him and I don’t know if anybody has ever dealt with anything as crazy as J.D. does. He went through a situation with his son Taylor having leukemia at two and we fought through that for about three or four years. By the way, appreciate all of you all’s prayers for Taylor and Taylor’s doing great today. Like I said, J.D. through his entire life has probably been the craziest person that I’ve ever been around or knew. Basically, his situation medically – there’s very few answers. We’ve been dealing with this for about six months and basically what the doctor’s say is that they really don’t know. J.D. has lived a very active lifestyle. All the things that he’s done in his life physically he’s loved all sporting events and it’s everything from football to snowboarding, racing cars, racing motor bikes – he’s lived in a lot of ways for him, he loved all those things. We can’t point to any one serious thing that happened to him, certainly any injury is a possibility that led us into some of the symptoms that he’s experiencing now.
      We’ve been dealing with this for about six months so as far as the management team for Joe Gibbs Racing, we have a senior management team and most of our people have been in place for the full 24 years – it’s amazing really. I think very few people have noticed anything or any difference in the way we operate with the race team. The good thing there is that J.D. and I share the same responsibilities. If I’m not there for a particular reason, J.D. will be there and if J.D. is not there for some reason, I’ll be there. As he goes through treatment, he will probably be doing less at the race track because he has a full week that demands quite a bit from him as he goes through treatment. You will probably see less of him at the race track, but he’ll be there on a day-to-day basis with the race team and be in all of our meetings and all of the key decisions that we make, J.D.’s going to have a huge impact on that.(Toyota Racing)(3-29-2015)
    • Larson taken to hospital Saturday after fainting UPDATES: #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)
      UPDATE 2: “After evaluating him, doctors at Martinsville Memorial Hospital felt that everything checked out well for Kyle Larson, however, just to be safe, they felt he should also be evaluated by a neurologist. Martinsville Memorial Hospital did not have one available so they decided to have Larson make the short trip to Carolina’s Medical Center (CMC) in Charlotte to be evaluated by one. Larson arrived late this evening to Charlotte, feels fine and is just awaiting a final evaluation at CMC which we hope to have the results of later this evening.”(Chip Ganassi Racing)(3-29-2015)
      UPDATE 3: After fainting yesterday at an autograph session in Martinsville, VA, Kyle Larson was first evaluated at a local hospital in Martinsville and ultimately evaluated at a Charlotte hospital. Although all tests came back negative and Larson feels completely fine, the doctors felt he should be held for more testing today. Subsequently, Larson will be unable to race today in the STP 500 in Martinsville. Regan Smith has agreed to fill-in for Larson today in the #42 Target Chevrolet SS.(Chip Ganassi Racing)(3-29-2015)
    • American Cancer Society featured on the #23: There will be an important message turning laps at Martinsville this weekend. For the first time, the American Cancer Society is partnering with a race team and will have a presence during the race at the STP 500. March is colon cancer awareness month and NASCAR Driver #23-JJ Yeley will be sporting the America Cancer Society logo around the track. This car has personal meaning for Richard Turner. A colon cancer survivor and now a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, Turner says it all came together perfectly. They want this car to be a voice for those who have survived cancer and to remind others to always be up to date with their check ups.(WDBJ), see an image of the car on the #23 team paint schemes page.(3-29-2015)
    • Logano has won in all 3 Series: #22-Joey Logano became the 26th driver to win in all three National Series when he won the Truck Series race Saturday at Martinsville. He now has 9 Sprint Cup wins and 22 XFINITY Series wins to go with the CWTS victory.(3-29-2015)
    • DiBenedetto, Stewart not happy with each other after practice UPDATE: 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)
      UPDATE: Sprint Cup Series rookie Matt DiBenedetto says all is fine now between he and three-time champion Tony Stewart, but that wasn’t the case Friday after the two crossed paths on and off the racing surface at Martinsville Speedway. During Friday’s lone NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, a relatively innocent-looking run-in between DiBenedetto and Stewart led to some harsh words and further explanation afterward. Explaining the situation to Stewart afterward, DiBenedetto said the veteran listened to him, and DiBenedetto believes Stewart now understands the situation better. “He didn’t say a whole lot,” DiBenedetto said. “I explained what happened and he didn’t have much to say, since I explained the whole deal. It is what it is. It was kind of dumb, a little bit of an overreaction. It’s all over with now. In reality it’s such a small issue. I felt like it was something minor,” said DiBenedetto, adding that he was more frustrated for his team than taking it personally. “If I was in his situation I would have kind of blown it off, especially since I made an effort to get out of his way. It is what it is. I guess it’s understandable. We’ll just move on.”(FoxSports)(3-29-2015)
    • Penske warns teams not to mess with tires: Roger Penske has warned his NASCAR team to stay out of any controversy regarding the possible manipulation of tires used during races. The team owner is aware of rampant industry speculation that some crews are drilling tiny holes in tires to allow air to escape during a race, a process known as “bleeding tires.” NASCAR has confiscated tires the last two weeks, including those of Team Penske driver #22-Joey Logano following the race at Phoenix. “It’s my understanding that there could be ways to have the tires lose pressure over a stint,” Penske said Saturday at the IndyCar Series event at St. Petersburg. Obviously with softer tires, you are going to have better grip and better performance. I’ve told our guys ‘Hey, let’s stay out of this.’ I can tell you this: we are not making any adjustments to our tires for that type of activity.” Penske didn’t know what NASCAR was looking for when it took Logano’s tires after the March 15 race at Phoenix. He also doesn’t know if anyone in the Sprint Cup Series garage is actually bleeding tires. “I can’t ever point my finger at anyone else. At the end of the day, guys go fast for different reasons, and someone has an idea that that’s going on,” Penske said. “I’ve seen no evidence at this point, at least it hasn’t been show to me, to say ‘this is happening.’ The only finger I’m pointing is at my own guys to make sure we’re not involved in anything like that.”(Associated Press)(3-29-2015)
    • Martinsville Speedway Notes & Facts – Sunday – race:
      · There have been 132 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.
      · 48 different drivers have won at Martinsville Speedway, led by Richard Petty with 15; Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon lead the series among active drivers with eight wins each.
      · 24 drivers have multiple wins at Martinsville Speedway only five active drivers have multiple wins: Jimmie Johnson (eight), Jeff Gordon (eight), Denny Hamlin (four), Tony Stewart (three) and Kurt Busch (two).
      · Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 22.
      · There have been five NSCS green-white-checkered finishes at Martinsville Speedway: fall 2007 (500/506), fall 2008 (500/504), fall 2009 (500/501), spring 2010 (500/508), and spring 2012 (500/515).
      · Chevrolet leads series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 54 victories – including the last eight consecutive races.
      · Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is the April 1, 2007 race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.065 second.
      (NASCAR)(3-29-2015)

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